this blue Suzuki reminded me just how much fun and exhilarating the smooth curves of asphalt can be . It made me fall in love with road riding all over again , and for that alone , it ’ s earned a happy place in my memory . The GSX-8S is a surprisingly easy bike to live with . I made a couple of tweaks to enhance the experience , notably a Scottoiler X-System to keep chain maintenance practically hands-free and a Quadlock phone mount with wireless charging for convenience . Both were simple to set up and worked a treat . Beyond that , I found myself wishing for a couple of optional extras ; cruise control and maybe some heated grips for those colder Wellington mornings . Still , even without those features , the bike is a solid package . It would make an excellent step up for anyone looking to graduate from a LAMS bike , delivering just the right mix of performance , comfort , and usability .
What started as a planned threemonth test , somehow , evolved into an 11.5 month journey , like a holiday that got extended just long enough to feel like home . It ’ s been a ride , in every sense of the word . This bike has proven itself as a solid companion , a dependable machine that handled everything I threw at it with surprising ease and more than a touch of charm .
SAD TO SEE IT GO ? Well , that ’ s a complicated question . Yes , because it ’ s been such a fun and engaging bike to ride . Every time I threw a leg over , it greeted me with that same playful , responsive engine and nimble chassis . It has this uncanny ability to make you feel like a superstar on twisty roads ; carving up the Rimutakas is absolute bliss . The GSX-8S is the kind of bike that can turn even the most mundane errand into a little
A TRUE TEST Over those 11 or so months I ’ ve put it through its paces , that ’ s for sure . It became the weekday commuter , weekend escape artist , road trip buddy , grocery hauler and my daily ride . Whether it was playing the role of a weekend warrior or tackling the monotony of a trip to the shops , the GSX-8S performed admirably . There wasn ’ t much it couldn ’ t do , and , somewhere along the way , its sharp , angular looks , which initially felt a little polarising , started to grow on me . But much more than that , the GSX-8S did something I hadn ’ t expected ; it reignited my passion for road bikes . After a few years spent bouncing along dirt trails and crunching gravel ,
46 KIWI RIDER