I think the designer got paid by the millimeter of length but only realised that when he'd finished the seat. Naturally he thought: "How can I make the bike longer?"
Having now ridden the GSX-8S on wet roads this bike definitely gets soiled very quickly, worse than any other bike I've owned and that's with a hugger and fender extender (+ mudflap of course
). Having a 2 ft tow hitch stuck out the back doesn't help at all.
I like the "R" front end better than my "S" but I wouldn't have bought one. I liked my curvy "S" but my wrists used to complain (I know, I know - you're not supposed to let your weight rest on the bars but I'm lazy).