Suzuki GSX-8R specifications
Suzuki · Standard
Motorcycle News says the 8R lands in a segment where Kawasaki's Ninja 650 and Honda's CBR650R were built with cheaper components, double-digit horsepower figures and sport-touring manners, and says the 8R is a little abrupt in rebound damping over rough roads and bumps, a small price for handling that makes it surprisingly capable.
The reviewer says the pegs are low and the bars high with loads of space in the cockpit. The seat is low enough for a shorter rider to get a foot or two down and comfortable enough for a long ride.
Suzuki GSX-8R
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2026 |
| Class | Supersport |
| Engine | 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC parallel-twin |
| Bore x stroke | 3.3 in x 2.8 in (84 mm x 70 mm) |
| Front brake | Dual 310mm discs, Nissin radial-mount 4-piston calipers, ABS |
| Seat height | 810mm (31.9 in) |
| Wet weight | 205kg (452 lb, curb) |
| Fuel capacity | 14.0L (3.7 gal) |
| Starting MSRP | $9,699 |
| Displacement | 776cc |
| Compression ratio | 12.8:1 |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Front suspension | KYB 41mm inverted fork |
| Front suspension travel | 5.1 in |
| Rear suspension | KYB link-type, adjustable preload |
| Rear suspension travel | 5.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 1,465mm (57.7 in) |
| Destination charge | $700 |
| Rear brake | 240mm disc, single-piston pin-slide caliper |
An owner adds that it has excellent handling, is easy to ride and has wonderful mid-range power, and that a dealer-fitted cruise control and a full Arrow exhaust made a difference. Acko Drive says the engine suits city traffic because the clutch action is light and the torque-heavy motor lets you chug at low speeds, and that the clip-on bar is not very low and the footpegs are not pushed far back.
So the position is sporty but never uncomfortable.
8R against the middleweight sportbikes
At $9,699 the 8R costs $300 more than Yamaha's YZF-R7 at $9,399, $2,800 less than the R9 at $12,499 and $500 more than Honda's CBR650R at $9,199. Its curb weight of 452 lb is 35 lb more than the R7's 417 lb. The Suzuki's mid-range torque and relaxed position make it the road-oriented choice against the R7's track focus.
GSX-8R against the YZF-R7 and CBR650R
Yamaha's YZF-R7 and Honda's CBR650R are the closest middleweight sportbike rivals.
Suzuki GSX-8R — specification reference2026 Suzuki GSX-8R compared to the GSX-8S
At $450 more than the GSX-8S as published, the GSX-8R is Suzuki's pick for a rider who wants wind protection and a sportier stance in this platform; the GSX-8S's upright bar and lower price target the rider who wants the same engine without the forward lean.
2026 Suzuki GSX-8R compared to the V-Strom 800
Suzuki fits the GSX-8R and V-Strom 800 with the same 776cc twin but very different chassis. The V-Strom's 20.0L tank holds 43% more fuel than the GSX-8R's 14.0L, and Suzuki's own page lists 185mm of ground clearance for the V-Strom, well above the sportbike: figures aimed at multi-day touring range and light off-road use the GSX-8R's low, sport-tuned chassis is not built for.
That taller chassis adds 18kg over the GSX-8R's curb weight as published, the tradeoff for the V-Strom's longer suspension travel and larger tank.
Suzuki’s GSX-8R specification lists a Showa SFF-BP fork and matching rear shock. The GSX-8S uses KYB suspension. The $450 base-price difference therefore is not solely the cost of a fairing.
- Model-year range
- 2024–2027
- Compared editions
- 4
- Specification entries
- 24
- Entries that differ
- 0
2026 Suzuki GSX-8R questions
Is the Suzuki GSX-8R comfortable?
Motorcycle News says the pegs are low, the bars are high and the seat is comfortable enough for long rides. Acko Drive calls the position sporty but never uncomfortable.
What is the difference between the GSX-8R and GSX-8S?
The 8R has full bodywork and a more committed position at $9,699; the 8S is the naked bike at $9,249. Both use the 776cc parallel twin and the same chassis.
The Suzuki GSX-8R is Suzuki's faired sportbike on the same 776cc parallel-twin and chassis platform as the GSX-8S, trading the naked bike's upright ergonomics for full bodywork and a more committed riding position. It weighs 205 kg (452 lb) at the curb, has a 810 mm (31.9 in) seat, and Suzuki lists it at $9,699 plus $700 destination.
The 8R shares the 8S's KYB 41 mm inverted fork and link-type rear shock with 5.1 in of travel each, its 1,465 mm (57.7 in) wheelbase, 810 mm seat and 14.0 L tank. It weighs 3 kg more than the 8S at 205 kg against 202 kg, and costs $450 more at $9,699 against $9,249. The price and destination charge both rose for 2026, from $9,669 and $600 to $9,699 and $700.
The GSX-8R adds a fairing and a lower, more committed riding position over the naked GSX-8S it shares its 776cc engine and chassis with. Suzuki's own pages put just 3kg between them at curb weight, so the fairing itself is not a heavy addition. The real difference a rider feels is ergonomic, not mechanical.
At $450 more than the GSX-8S as published, the GSX-8R is Suzuki's pick for a rider who wants wind protection and a sportier stance in this platform; the GSX-8S's upright bar and lower price target the rider who wants the same engine without the forward lean.