Suzuki Goes Middleweight Retro

Manufacturers' motorcycle ranges are increasingly built around a small and cost-effective stable of engine platforms, and none demonstrates this trend more clearly than Suzuki, whose versatile 776-cc parallel-twin finds its way into two more new bikes in the middleweight segment. We flew to Slovenia to ride the GSX 8T and the GSX 8TT. Here is our first impression

- Adam Child 'Chad'

ALREADY PROVEN IN THE GSX-8S, GSX-8R, and V-Strom 800, the 83-hp twin now takes centre stage in the new retro-styled GSX-8T naked and GSX-8TT. Both bikes’ chassis have also been carried over from the GSX-8S, and feature the same KYB suspension, frame, wheelbase, rake, and trail as the popular sporty roadster.

While most of the engine and chassis parts are shared, the TT and T are styled to tug at the heartstrings of riders who love the Suzuki vibe of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The TT, in particular, complete with circa 1980 headlight cowling, is designed to evoke the classic eight-valve GS1000. The bike has been designed in partnership with Suzuki Japan and Suzuki’s design centre in Italy, and despite being based so heavily on the GSX-8S, it has its distinctive feel and attitude.

Not all the differences between the GSX-8S and the T and TT are cosmetic. Suzuki has fitted a 2.1-kilogram lighter lithium-ion battery, while a completely new headlight is closer to the handlebars to promote lighter steering. Bar-end mirrors are a first for Suzuki, the sculpted fuel tank jumps up in capacity from 14 litres to 16.5 litres, and both the T and TT have individual seats which are larger and softer, for both the rider and the pillion, compared to the GSX-8S.

Prices in the United Kingdom start at £9,599 (Rs 11.33 lakh) for the naked T and £9,999 (Rs 11.80 lakh) for the TT. We flew to Slovenia to ride both bikes on some amazing roads to see if the retro Suzuki is worth the extra dollar vis-à-vis the standard GSX-S and the sporty GSX-8R.