essentially the Toyota Hilux of motorcycles — rugged , capable , but a bit of a compromise . When you need ground clearance for offroading , sure , sitting high in the saddle makes sense . But that height isn ’ t exactly ideal when you ’ re slicing through twisty mountain passes . And while a 21-inch spoked front wheel is a must for serious off-road adventures , if your route doesn ’ t take you off the beaten path , wouldn ’ t you rather enjoy the nimbleness of a 17-inch front wheel , a 14-litre fuel tank , and some sticky road tyres ?
NOT A CRISIS ... AN EXPLORATION For the past eight months , the GSX-8S has been my go-to ride . My Tenere 700 , once the bike I couldn ’ t imagine life without , has barely seen any action . My friends have started joking that I should just sell it , calling it unloved and underappreciated . If I ’ m heading out for a ride , chances are , I ’ m more like than not grabbing the keys for the Suzuki . If the Tenere is the Hilux of bikes , then the GSX is the sports car . Not a full-blown racer , of course , but something light , nimble , and undeniably fun , maybe a Mazda MX-5 or an MR2 , like the one my dad used to drive . It was that classic 80s wedge shape with the Targa top and a supercharger . Will my son look at the GSX-8S one day and think it ’ s just as cool as I found my dad ’ s MR2 ? I hope so . The GSX-8S does things my Tenere simply doesn ’ t — or at least doesn ’ t do well — and that ’ s what I ’ ve come to love about it . It ’ s made me rethink my own identity as a rider . Maybe I ’ ve been wrong about myself all along . Maybe I ’ m not just an adventure rider ? Maybe I ’ ve been pigeonholing myself , and it took a sporty roadster like the GSX to show me that every motorcycle has its place . It ’ s not about limiting yourself ; it ’ s about finding out what each bike excels at . If anything , this experience has taught me that we motorcyclists can be too tribal . Just because you ride a Harley doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t enjoy an adventure bike — or in this case , a sporty roadster like the GSX-8S . There ’ s room for all of it . The GSX-8S is simply a fantastic bike , and I
know I ’ ll miss it when it ’ s gone . But as if it ’ s all been written in a book years ago , none of us really know what the next chapter holds . Life happens , opportunities come along , and I ’ m excited to test out a few more bikes in this category before committing my hard-earned cash to what some might call a mid-life crisis bike . But if you ask me , it ’ s not about crisis — it ’ s about exploration . Thank you , Suzuki , for the chance to live with this machine . It ’ s great , and anyone would be lucky to own one . I stand by what I said a few months ago that this will be Suzuki ’ s next cult bike . It ’ s one of the best-selling models of the year above 650cc , and that ’ s a well-deserved accolade . As the sun starts shining again and we roll into the warmer months , do yourself a favour : take the Suzuki GSX-8S for a test ride . Forget about your self-image , and let go of any preconceptions you have about motorcycles or what you think you should be riding . Just find a twisty road and have some fun . You can thank me later .
80 KIWI RIDER