It's first service time on the GSX - 600 miles reached. What have I learned?
As I mentioned it is heavier than an SV - by about 5 kg (I would have guessed more). It feels remarkably stable and less affected by crosswinds than my previous bikes. The gearbox simply isn't (yet?) as good as my SV although I think it's improving (imagination? possibly), up shifts are good but it prefers them to be quick (whereas the SV doesn't care), downshifts 6-5, 5-4 ok, 4-3 clunky and 3-2 similar.
I think part of this might be the fact it's ride-by-wire, a fact I was unaware of when I bought it. The way Suzuki have it set up is that initial throttle response is soft so to get a good engine "blip" you need to perform an exaggerated wrist movement. I also have a sneaking feeling that it varies depending what gear you're in (lower gears need more throttle twisting), I haven't got around to investigating that yet.
Mechanically it is noisy when cold and (with earplugs in) sounds awful to my ears at 3500 rpm - I can't decide if it sounds like something is starved of oil or the onset of piston slap - I don't like it. I negotiate local streets keeping the revs below 3500 for a couple of miles which is fairly easy. The noise goes when the engine (oil) is warm and it might be my earplugs emphasizing the frequency. I will mention it to the dealer.
Weather protection for the bike is pitiful - it hasn't been in the rain but has been on intermittently wet roads and it looked like I'd forded a river. I have now got a Pyramid fender extender but they have lost their minds too - the extender tapers down so it is narrower than the tyre at its lowest point. Yes, I've glued on a mudflap although it is much smaller than "the World's Largest Mudflap™ " I have on the SV. I have also added a Powerbronze hugger and an MRA flyscreen, the latter tidying up the looks of the front end (imho).
Naturally I've polished the headers but the engine runs too hot for them to stay polished and they yellow after 1 ride.
The bike's seat is hard yet doesn't seem to cause any discomfort and overall the bike is comfortable for someone of my reduced stature although the longest trip I've done was only 70 miles.
I have just started doing an occasional run up to 6000rpm (my rev counter is set to flash at that point) and I didn't notice the intrusive vibration that the demo bike had - or I got the revs wrong on that ride.
Fuel economy? Not as good as the SV - running in isn't the best time to check it (but I did it anyway) and I've had a couple of 73mpg and one 70 mpg. I regularly get 80 mpg out of the SV.
When starting with a cold engine and it's making water vapour - it carefully sprays it over the swing arm because Suzuki didn't angle the exhaust outlet enough - the swing arm is alloy so I suppose it won't rust
This is the only bike I've owned that I might consider an after market slip on exhaust (if available and/or possible), it is very, very quiet. Akrapovic make a full system but at an eye-watering price and I doubt I'd consider that.
Handling - I don't generally ride very quickly but I feel more confident cornering on this bike it seems to stick to whichever line you've picked. The XSR was ok on a smooth corner but didn't like bumpy ones and I'd say my SV is somewhere between the two.
I am not a fan of slip and assist clutches -I think they're an unnecessary complication and frequently seem to do "odd" things. I'm glad I experienced one on the Z900RS otherwise I'd be shouting warranty. In certain rev/speed combinations usually when downshifting the clutch lever, in its last 2 inches of travel, comes back to the bar with a click and with the feeling that the cable has snapped. The Kawasaki did the same.
Incidentally - there is no GSX-8S forum although there may be a sub-reddit. but I'm not a member of reddit. Either it's too new or (gasp) unpopular - the dealer says they are selling well (but he would say that).
Overall, I like it and have no regrets in getting rid of the Yam but, I still think the SV is better...
