Hyosung GT650R - WOW!!!

Just back from a test ride on one for these and I am flabbergasted. Absolutely utterly flabbergasted. Cracking bike and looks really good from 10 feet away. Any closer and it looks a bit plasticky.

If my SVS handled anywhere near as good as this then I would still have it. It flies out the box. Has upside down forks and 3 level adjustable footrests. Full fairings, full compression adjustment on the front and its £3999 brand new. It's all Suzuki GSXR/SV switchgear apparently and it's a 650 90 degree twin. I think it's a direct copy of the sv engine they manufacture inhouse - sorry need to ask more about this. There's absolutely none of the boingy bouncy front end that I had on my SVs and it corners brilliantly. Turns really fast actually - maybe it was set up a bit on the nose down tail up side. But hey...I just couldn't believe how good this wee thing was. Came in with a big grin and the sales guy said I told you so. All the mechanics were raving about it. They're so impressed with it they have a couple they are modding for super stocks or something - didn't quite catch what he said. Looks a bit like a gixxer/cbr rr cross.

Bad points for me...the tank feels quite high and the clipons are a bit low - feels very race like position. Brakes left a bit to be desired and a bit plasticky on the finish. The LED speedo is green on black and not so nice to look at. Bit cluttered on the readout.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by stuartyboy

Just back from a test ride on one for these and I am flabbergasted. Absolutely utterly flabbergasted. Cracking bike and looks really good from 10 feet away. Any closer and it looks a bit plasticky.

If my SVS handled anywhere near as good as this then I would still have it. It flies out the box. Has upside down forks and 3 level adjustable footrests. Full fairings, full compression adjustment on the front and its £3999 brand new. It's all Suzuki GSXR/SV switchgear apparently and it's a 650 90 degree twin. I think it's a direct copy of the sv engine they manufacture inhouse - sorry need to ask more about this. There's absolutely none of the boingy bouncy front end that I had on my SVs and it corners brilliantly. Turns really fast actually - maybe it was set up a bit on the nose down tail up side. But hey...I just couldn't believe how good this wee thing was. Came in with a big grin and the sales guy said I told you so. All the mechanics were raving about it. They're so impressed with it they have a couple they are modding for super stocks or something - didn't quite catch what he said. Looks a bit like a gixxer/cbr rr cross.

Bad points for me...the tank feels quite high and the clipons are a bit low - feels very race like position. Brakes left a bit to be desired and a bit plasticky on the finish. The LED speedo is green on black and not so nice to look at. Bit cluttered on the readout.

Dont forget that Hyosungs fall apart after a year or two......

Well at least they used to.

I got an email from Cupar Suzuki (on their mailing list) and couldnt believe they were selling these things. This makes me think that Hyosung must have raised their game if someone like Cupar Suzuki is willing to risk their name and reputation on selling them, and they actually have a reputation to lose. They are only about £500 less than an SV too.

Think its a case of "watch this space" for a year or two, but maybe Hyosung is ready to take on the Japanese guys now.

And a really low re-sale value....

Strange, 3 separate comparison tests between the Comet and SV in reputable magazines all said that the SV was still worth the extra financial outlay.
One test had riders, ride heavily camouflaged models back to back and all
four preferred the Suzuki.
Does look o.k for the money though.

I agree the quality didn't look that great...but I was seriously impressed by the handling. Better than my SV.

I also remember that test but it wasn't the gt650r IIRC. No way the quality's as good as the SV - would never say that. It was all about the handling for me.

I was dubious before testing it but just goes to show how wrong I was. Went in thinking it would be crap but far from it. Wouldn't buy one though unless I knew the reliability was gonna be there in a couple of years. Who knows they might earn a good reputation.

someone up the road from me has one of these. dont know him, but i really wish he would put some sort of can back on it! been ripping around on this thing with no exhaust! proper loud!!!

Originally Posted by stuartyboy

I agree the quality didn't look that great...but I was seriously impressed by the handling. Better than my SV.

I also remember that test but it wasn't the gt650r IIRC. No way the quality's as good as the SV - would never say that. It was all about the handling for me.

I was dubious before testing it but just goes to show how wrong I was. Went in thinking it would be crap but far from it. Wouldn't buy one though unless I knew the reliability was gonna be there in a couple of years. Who knows they might earn a good reputation.

Same bike with a full fairing and a flash name, as I understand it.

I had a hyosung and will back the comments made about resale value and quality. They're impossible to sell at any price! Why? because after a year of owning one it just falls to bits. The metal just snaps without any abuse, paint falls off within weeks.... I thought maybe Hyosung had upped the quality for this model, and i saw one at the show. Looked impressive from a distance- but the paint was already coming off all over, on a bike with 0 miles on the clock! As for handling, every report states the SV is better. It wouldn't surprise me if the setup was just better for you, or the Hyosung had better tyres. I've heard abysmal things about the brakes

[northwind]

Originally Posted by stuartyboy

I agree the quality didn't look that great...but I was seriously impressed by the handling. Better than my SV.

I want a go on one... I think the suspension components are cruder, from what I've seen of them, but a bit better specced- slightly stiffer springs and thicker oil, ie, what loads of us do to SVs anyway, just done for us. Just common sense that, Suzuki should do the same. I did ride one of the very early Comet 650s but I think it was broken, just a total mess of a bike.

Looks alright too... Think it looks a bit like a Trumpet 595/'tona to me...