PAND-R

The new GSX-8R wears the ‘R’ badge, but has the war paint washed off?

- By Manaal Mahatme

Mankind was a fierce species once — one that walked the earth barefoot and bloodied, chasing beasts through the jungles with spears in hands that could end a life in a single thrust. The world was raw, the hunt was constant and so was the hunger to remain on top of the food chain. We earned that place, too.

Since their inception, motorcycles have mirrored that aggression — they were as wild as the riders who straddled them. Supersports, specifically, were road-legal machines that one could race with; the Suzuki GSX-R tag was reserved for such special few. After all, the 'R' suffix stood for Racing. So, when the GSX-8R was announced, I was a bit disheartened — this seemed nothing like the fabled GSX-R600 or the GSX-R750 — but then again, this is what the middleweight supersport segment has turned into, hasn't it? Mild-mannered street bikes that can do occasional track days. But it's not the bike's or the brand's fault, is it? It is us who are losing that ferocity. Yet, deep inside I wanted to be proven wrong, and hence, in the scorching heat, I decided to don racing leathers and go apex-hunting.

When the first ray of light hit the 8R, I momentarily saw a glimpse of the old GSX-Rs — the vertical headlight unit flanked by (faux) air vents on either sides, the Metallic Triton Blue paint job, the stubby tail section — but all of that disappeared as my eyes wandered to admire the smaller details. The clip-ons looked wide and tall, the footpegs seemed too low for a supersport and as soon as I swung my leg over, it felt more like a sports tourer — relaxed and comfortable rather than something that would taunt me every few minutes for my growing paunch as soon as I reached for the handlebar.

Modern life is comfortable, and comfort breeds softness