Suzuki announced the first wave of returning 2025 models in June, including the GSX-R family, Boulevard cruisers, the Burgman scooter, RM-Z motocross bikes, and youth dirtbikes. The second wave of returning Suzuki motorcycles includes the GSX-8R sportbike and the V-Strom 650, 650XT, and 650XT Adventure. This announcement includes new colors available for these returning models, as well as pricing.
2025 Suzuki GSX-8R
2025 Suzuki GSX-8R in Pearl Ignite Yellow
The Suzuki GSX-8R sportbike, which was introduced for 2024, makes its return for 2025 with a new color option. The GSX-8R is a sportier version of the naked GSX-8S introduced in 2023 and remains powered by a liquid-cooled 776cc parallel-Twin that makes a claimed 82 hp at 8,500 rpm and 57.5 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm.
The GSX-8R is fitted with Showa suspension (including a SFF-BP fork), Nissin brakes (including dual radial-mount 4-piston front calipers with 310mm discs), standard ABS, and Dunlop RoadSport 2 radial tires. The 8R features Suzuki Intelligent Ride System, which includes rider aids such as three ride modes, four-mode traction control, and the Easy Start and Low RPM Assist systems.
In addition to the returning Metallic Triton Blue and Pearl Ignite Yellow colors, the 2025 Suzuki GSX-8R will also be available in Metallic Matte Black No. 2, which replaces Metallic Matte Sword Silver for 2025. MSRP is $9,669.
2025 Suzuki V-Strom 650 Models
2025 Suzuki V-Strom 650 in Glass Sparkle Black
The three V-Strom 650 models (V-Strom 650, V-Strom 650 XT, and V-Strom 650 XT Adventure) return for 2025, also with new paint colors. These adventure bikes are powered by a liquid-cooled 645cc V-Twin with a 90-degree crankshaft. The 6-speed transmission has narrow 1st-5th gear ratios and a tall top gear. The V-Strom 650’s aluminum twin-spar frame and subframe include integrated mounting points for Suzuki’s accessory luggage.
2025 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT in Pearl Vigor Blue / Pearl Brilliant White
The V-Strom 650 models have an adjustable windscreen, a ground clearance of 6.7 inches, a seat height of 32.9 inches, and a claimed curb weight of 470 lb. Electronics include traction control, the Easy Start System, the Low RPM Assist system, and ABS.
The 2025 Suzuki V-Strom 650 will be available in Glass Sparkle Black with an MSRP of $9,299.
The V-Strom 650XT features blue-anodized aluminum rims on spoked wheels with tubeless radial dual-sport tires, handguards, and a protective engine cowl. It will be available in Pearl Vigor Blue / Pearl Brilliant White with an MSRP of $9,799.
2025 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Adventure in Glass Sparkle Black
The V-Strom 650XT Adventure has gold-anodized aluminum rims with tubeless spoked wheels, and it comes with aluminum side cases, a handlebar cross-brace, and mirror extensions. It will be available in Glass Sparkle Black with an MSRP of $10,999.
Visit Suzuki’s website for more information about all Suzuki motorcycles.
The muffler and catalytic converter are tucked away under the chassis for a cleaner appearance that exposes the 8R’s aluminum swingarm.
The Suzuki GSX-8R is the fully-faired sibling of the Suzuki GSX-8S, which was just released in 2023. Both bikes are powered by an all-new 776cc 4-stroke DOHC parallel-Twin that can also be found in the V-Strom 800 models. The tubular handlebar from the 8S is traded for a pair of clip-ons on the GSX-8R that are about 2 inches lower and a smidge farther away from a rider, and the KYB suspension on the 8S has been replaced with Showa suspension on the 8R.
To demonstrate the breadth of capabilities offered by the GSX-8R, Suzuki invited us to Palm Desert in California for a ride on rural and mountain roads, followed the next day by sessions at a racetrack. Watch the video below to see the 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R in action, and read our full review here.
An aggressive rider posture adapts the ergonomics on the 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R from open and comfy to quite sporty when required.
The Suzuki GSX-8R takes an ironic turn in the evolution of motorcycles. For decades we’ve extolled the virtues of sporty standard-style motorcycles over dramatically more aggressive pure sportbikes, but American riders largely turned up their collective nose at naked bikes and ignored them in favor of swoopier sportbikes.
The Honda 599 and 919 came and went seemingly without notice. Same for Kawasaki’s Z750, BMW’s F 800 R, Yamaha’s FZ8, and Aprilia’s Shiver. The only really successful naked bikes were the Ducati Monster and Suzuki SV650.
A set of forged-aluminum handlebar clamps provide a sportier riding position than the naked 8S, with the bars 60mm lower and 6mm forward.
But now the script has been flipped, and sales of pure sportbikes are but a blip on the radar, while every manufacturer successfully sells sporty nakeds. A recent example is Suzuki’s GSX-8S that debuted last year. Powered by a new 776cc parallel-Twin also found in the V-Strom 800, the 8S proved to be both sporty and utilitarian, capable of nearly any type of riding.
And now here we are with the new GSX-8R, which is a slightly sportier version of the 8S, but it’s a far cry from something like a GSX-R. You’ll notice the new fairing, but you might not notice the new Showa suspension, accounting for the $440 price increase over its stablemate’s $8,999 MSRP.
The GSX-8R is available in Metallic Matte Sword Silver and Pearl Ignite Yellow, as well as the Metallic Triton Blue of our test bike.
“We wanted,” says Suzuki, “to create a new middle-class standard in the sport segment that achieves high levels of practicality and rider-friendliness.”
Road and Track | Suzuki GSX-8R Review
To demonstrate the breadth of capabilities offered by the GSX-8R, Suzuki invited us to Palm Desert in California for a ride on rural and mountain roads, followed the next day by sessions at a racetrack.
First impressions were favorable, as the 8R displays nice fit and finish details that belie its sub-$10K price tag. Three colorways are available, and I think they all look great. For my steed, I chose the Metallic Triton Blue version that best represents Suzuki’s heritage. Scaling in at 452 lb with its 3.7-gal. tank full, it’s easy enough to wheel around but not exactly light. The seat is placed at 31.9 inches.
The GSX-8R carves corners like a sportbike but without the punishing ergonomics of a sportbike.
Our street ride took place on a chilly and damp day, climbing out of town from 440 feet above sea level on the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway, cresting at nearly 5,000 feet. I was grateful to be aboard the 8R rather than the 8S, as its fairing provided welcome shelter from the elements. The windscreen is low but reasonably effective, and I was also pleased with the airflow deflection offered by the fairing, which kept my legs shielded from the wind.
On a typically sunny California day, this road invites horizon-tilting lean angles, but damp sections and automobile bottle-ups thwarted sporting maneuvers. It was difficult to determine if the Dunlop Roadsmart 2 tires lacked grip or if it was simply the fault of the cool pavement. I switched the bike’s ride mode from A (active) to B (basic) to help moderate throttle response in conjunction with the traction-control system, which can be set independently if desired.
An attractive fairing is the key distinction between the GSX-8R and its naked sibling, the GSX-8S.
Antilock brakes provide another level of security, although the system doesn’t benefit from an IMU, so it doesn’t feature a cornering ABS function. Regardless, the triple-disc brakes are precise, allowing a rider to deftly apply just a hint of application to scrub off 1 or 2 mph while angling into corners. The Nissin radially mounted front calipers deliver a firm lever feel despite not using braided-steel lines.
The most frequently used rider assist on the 8R is the standard quickshifter, which allows clutchless upshifts and auto-blipping downshifts. It works reasonably well but not with the seamlessness as experienced with other quickshifters that benefit from data gathered by IMUs.
The muffler and catalytic converter are tucked away under the chassis for a cleaner appearance that exposes the 8R’s aluminum swingarm.
After descending the mountain road, we were faced with a boring straight one that provided the opportunity to settle in and evaluate the 8R’s cockpit and ergonomics.
The tubular handlebar from the 8S is traded for a pair of clip-ons that are about 2 inches lower and a smidge farther away from a rider. They deliver a sportier riding position but one that’s a mile away from truly aggressive, similar in ergos to the GSX-S1000GT sport-tourer. A moderately tight seat-to-footpeg distance might cramp riders long of leg, but the seat proved to be comfortable after hour-long stints in the saddle.
The 5-inch TFT instrumentation from the 8S is also used on the 8R, providing a bright and readable display with a large analog tachometer. It’s a modern but basic system that is easy and intuitive to navigate via switches on the left handlebar.
The GSX-8R uses the same highly readable 5-inch color TFT instrument panel as the 8S. The lower portion can be toggled to display coolant temperature, ambient air temperature, dual tripmeters, fuel consumption, and fuel range.
Motor’n | Suzuki GSX-8R Review
This was my first chance to sample Suzuki’s first all-new engine, and the 776cc parallel-Twin proved to be amiable and sweetly tuned. It uses the Low‐RPM Assist System that automatically increases engine speed as the clutch lever is released for smooth getaways. The patented Suzuki Cross Balancer mechanism, consisting of two counterbalancers, tames vibration beyond what’s experienced from most parallel-Twins.
The 8R’s clutch cover and magneto cover have dark gray finishes that complement the body colors, with the Suzuki name revealed in a contrasting machined silver. Note the stubby outlet from the stainless-steel exhaust system that muffles and cleans in a chamber below the chassis.
The engine is friendly and vibe-free, but what it isn’t is thrilling. It makes accessible and usable power, supplying the necessary grunt to elicit satisfaction while performing most street duties, but when pointed down a deserted road, it feels a little strangled at its top end. Power hounds will wish for more.
Suspenders Surprise | Suzuki GSX-8R Review
An upgrade from the 8S is the Showa suspension that replaces the Kayaba components. There are two surprises here. First, there isn’t any suspension adjustability other than rear preload. Second, it’s remarkable how well it works at providing comfortable bump absorption as well as respectable chassis composure.
The 41mm Separate Function Fork-Big Piston inverted fork nicely holds up its end of the bargain with 5.1 inches of travel. The SFF-BP design uses an oil-bathed spring in one fork leg, while the other leg uses a big-piston damping circuit, which saves a bit of weight while delivering more precise damping characteristics. The link-type rear suspension incorporates a Showa shock that has a single-rate spring rather than the progressive coil on the 8S. It uses a cam-style spring-preload adjuster for easier adjustments than the more basic locking-ring design.
The 41mm Showa SFF-BP inverted fork provides excellent front-end feedback despite its lack of adjustability. Nissin radial-mount brake calipers deliver reassuring feedback via 310mm rotors.
As set up, I noticed the rear end lacked a bit of rebound damping and consulted with Suzuki engineers. They told me the 8R is sprung for a 165-lb rider, so to accommodate for weightier American physiques, they added a step of preload on all the test bikes. My geared-up 155-lb mass doesn’t require as much spring, so I backed off the preload one position and enjoyed better rebound-damping balance.
The final portion of our street ride was accompanied by sunny skies and dry roads that culminated in a fun descent on Montezuma Grade into Borrego Springs. Finally, we could push the 8R like a sportbike, leaning into corners briskly enough to skim the pavement with footpegs. Good front-end feedback had me salivating for exploring the bike’s limits at the twisty Chuckwalla Valley Raceway.
A position light is placed above the stacked headlights rather than to the sides as on the 8S. A duct below the windscreen was incorporated to reduce turbulence hitting riders.
Chucky Cheese | Suzuki GSX-8R Review
When we arrived at Chuckwalla, I smiled as I saw a row of GSX-8Rs ready for flogging and fitted with Dunlop Sportmax Q5+ tires. With warm pavement and grippier rubber, I donned my leathers and soon began dragging knees.
Streetbike, commuter, lightweight sport-tourer, and trackday toy, the GSX-8R can do it all.
Sportbike snobs have disdain for motorcycles without aluminum frames, but just like the Kawasaki ZX-4RR I tested last year, motorcycles with steel frames have nothing to be ashamed of aside from some extra poundage. The 8R demonstrates its GSX-R heritage and provides a capable and secure platform to explore sporting limits.
I didn’t expect a 452-lb sportbike with sport-touring ergos to comport itself so well on the racetrack, but it wasn’t the first time I’ve been mistaken, as the missus often reminds me. A firm set of trustworthy brakes combines with neutral steering responses for trustworthy composure when leaned over all the way to – and sometimes beyond – the footpegs decking out and grinding on the tarmac.
A close look at the footpegs reveals beveled nubs, an indication of the fun that was had on the 8R as well as its racetrack limits.
It’s only on the straightaways where the 8R comes up a bit short. The 776cc Twin that works so well in the V-Strom 800 and in most street scenarios with the 8S and 8R feels a bit breathless when exploring the upper reaches of the tachometer. Its redline is just shy of 10,000 rpm, but it’s claimed to produce peak power at 8,500 revs, so there’s no advantage to screaming it out. When we dyno’d the identically tuned GSX-8S, it spat out 76 hp to its rear wheel at 8,300 rpm. I discovered the 8R gathers speed better when leaving some revs on the table and shifting at 9,000 rpm.
The 8R’s speed on a racetrack is limited only by cornering clearance and mundane engine output.
Regardless, I can attest that if you took a GSX-8R to a trackday, you’d be impressed by its composure and sure-footedness while scratching pegs. Chuckwalla has a fairly smooth surface, so the rudimentary suspension wasn’t greatly taxed and held up both ends without complaint.
Sum Up | Suzuki GSX-8R Review
The GSX-8R isn’t a fire-breathing dragon like its GSX-R siblings, but it has plenty of sporting potential.
The GSX-8R’s best attribute is that it straddles a wide line in the world of motorcycling – an all-in-one machine. It’s docile and friendly for commuting duties, but it’s also fun and engaging when ridden like a sportbike. Strap on some luggage, and it can be a reasonably comfy and capable sport-touring rig. Suzuki’s accessory line offers side cases, tankbags, a taller windscreen, and heated grips to help transport you to the next horizon in style and comfort.
Complaints about the 8R are few. I would’ve liked to have seen a mildly hot-rodded motor to up the ante from the 8S, and an aluminum frame would’ve trimmed a few pounds from a moderately portly curb weight. An IMU and fuller suspension adjustability would be welcome additions.
But all those things would add to Suzuki’s build costs, resulting in a bike that would likely push past $12K. In this era of ever-increasing prices, the GSX-8R’s MSRP of $9,439 hits a sweet spot of value and capabilities that set it apart from similar offerings on the market. To ease the way into 8R ownership, Suzuki is offering 1.98% introductory financing for it.
The GSX-8R is designed to appeal to riders across a wide range of ages and levels of experience.
Prior to testing the bike, the jaded and expert journalists at the launch didn’t seem terribly excited about riding what seemed to be a relatively tame motorcycle. After two days experiencing the GSX-8R on road and track, our preconceptions had been banished. It proved to be one of those rare machines that feel greater than the sum of its parts.
One year after Suzuki released the GSX-8S middleweight naked bike, the company has announced a fully faired sibling for 2024. The GSX-8R sportbike joins the lineup with the same 776cc parallel-Twin, slim chassis geometry, and Suzuki’s Intelligent Ride System rider aids, but with sporty ergonomics and styling that draws on the 35-year GSX-R heritage with a modern interpretation.
The 776cc parallel-Twin DOHC premiered in 2023 in the GSX-8S and the V-Strom 800DE with a claimed 83 hp peaking at 8,500 rpm and 57.5 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm. A 270-degree crankshaft configuration gives the engine a rumbly exhaust note, and the Suzuki Cross Balancer system allows for a compact and lightweight design.
When we tested the new engine in the 2023 V-Strom 800DE, our reviewer said, “When a twist of the throttle requests more power, the engine responds with a torquey forward rush, and the Suzuki Cross Balancer system does a great job of quelling any excessive engine vibration.”
Suzuki’s Cross Balancer system helps minimize vibrations.
The 8R’s has a steel-pipe frame and a cast-aluminum swingarm. The wheelbase is 57.7 inches, and the seat height is 31.9 inches. Suzuki describes the 8R’s ergonomics as “an upright, forward-leaning riding position.” The 8R has a 3.7-gallon fuel tank and a claimed curb weight of 452 lb.
The GSX-8R gets a different suspension setup than the GSX-8S to better suit sport riding. Up front is a 41mm Showa SFF-BIP fork, and out back is a Showa monoshock with a spring preload adjuster. There are 5.1 inches of travel both front and rear.
Braking comes in the form of dual 310mm front discs paired with radial-mounted Nissin 4-piston calipers and a single 240mm rear disc with a Nissin single-piston caliper. ABS is standard on both front and rear brakes, and the front brake lever is adjustable. The 8R rides on 17-inch cast aluminum wheels wrapped in Dunlop Roadsport 2 radial tires.
Like the GSX-8S, the 8R comes standard with the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System’s suite of rider aids, including a quickshifter, traction control, ride modes, and more.
A look from above shows the GSX-8R’s slim design.
The Suzuki Drive Mode Selector allows riders to choose three engine power output modes called A, B, and C, with A delivering the sharpest throttle response and C providing the gentlest throttle response, and ride modes can be changed while riding with mode and select switches on the left handlebar.
The Suzuki Traction Control System gives riders four traction control options. Mode 1 has the lowest sensitivity and allows rear wheel spin best suited for good road conditions. In Mode 2, traction control engages sooner for average conditions, and Mode 3 eliminates wheel spin for riding on wet or slippery roads. Additionally, STCS can be turned off altogether, and STCS modes can also be changed while riding.
The bi-directional Quick Shift System allows the rider to shift up or down without operating the clutch or throttle, and the Low RPM Assist System increases engine speed for smoother power delivery when taking off from a stop or while riding at low speeds. The 8R also comes equipped with the Suzuki Clutch Assist system that allows a small amount of clutch slip for smooth downshifts and increases plate pressure under acceleration.
The 5-inch TFT instrumentation displays ride modes and traction control modes. It also shows speed, a gear indicator, tachometer, fuel level, and a clock. The TFT can be set to automatically shift between Day Mode and Night Mode or can be switched manually, and the brightness can be adjusted. The bottom of the display can be set to show coolant temperature, ambient air temperature, odometer, dual tripmeters, fuel consumption, or riding range. The GSX-8R also comes with full LED lighting, including a stacked pair of hexagonal headlights supplied by Koito.
2024 Suzuki GSX-8R in Metallic Matte Sword Silver
The 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R will be available in Metallic Triton Blue, Metallic Matte Sword Silver, or Pearl Ignite Yellow with an MSRP of $9,439 and a 12-month, unlimited mileage warranty. Visit the Suzuki website for more information.
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