The supersport segment has transformed quite a bit in the last five years. Screaming inline-four motorcycles have made way for more versatile, mostly twin-cylinder offerings and the new segment’s roped in plenty of fans too. Hence, nearly all bikemakers have jumped aboard the trend—Honda with the CBR650R, Kawasaki with the Ninja 650R, Yamaha with the R7—leaving us with just Suzuki. However, the company's all-new 776cc engine looks like the perfect platform for a new sports bike - likely called the GSX-8R - to take on its contemporaries. And here's how it could pan out in real life, as imagined by designer/YouTuber Miche Superbike.
The Suzuki GSX-8R Takes Inspiration From The 2023 GSX-8S
The designer has based the GSX-8R on Suzuki’s latest streetfighter, the GSX-8S. You’ll find plenty in common between the two - wheels, vertically stacked headlight, front fender - but not without some notable differences. For starters, the front end now flexes an edgy fascia, complete with a tinted windscreen. This is topped by sporty side fairings, somewhat reminiscent of the BMW S 1000 RR. The RR flavor trickles to the rear too, courtesy of the sleek tail section and exposed sub-frame.
As for the mechanicals, everything you see here comes from the GSX-8S. This could very well be the case for the actual GSX-8R too, as it’ll help the manufacturer keep costs in check. It won’t be a surprise either, since the Yamaha R7 and Kawasaki Ninja 650 both do it already. Anyway, if so, the GSX-8R will likely belt out 82 horsepower and 57.5 pound-feet from the 776cc, twin-cylinder engine–considerably more than the R7’s 72 ponies and Ninja’s 67 ponies. It’ll be 10 down on the CBR650R, however.
On the underpinnings side, expect the new Gixxer to roll on KYB upside-down forks and monoshock, paired with 17-inch wheels, all from the 8S. We just hope the suspension is adjustable for the sports bike, so track duties are a piece of cake. Concurrently, we’d also appreciate rear-set footrests and low clip-ons, which seem like a no-brainer for a sports bike.
The Suzuki GSX-8R Could Arrive Next Year
So far, there’s been no official word on the GSX-8R. Suzuki has neither accepted nor denied the matter and that leaves us hanging in the middle. But the bikemaker has always been good at surprises (the revamped Hayabusa, GSX-8S, V-Strom 800DE), so there’s a high chance the 8R is already in the pipeline. After all, it makes perfect sense in the global market and could give the bikemaker a much-needed comeback in the mid-capacity sports bike segment. Even more so now that the GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 are on their deathbeds.