#26 [GSX-8T 6,000km Impression] The reason why this bike is 'fatigue-free', realized during a tour to the extreme points of Western Japan
This time, I will deliver my impressions of my partner, which became clear after covering 6,000km in one go on a tour to the extreme points of Western Japan.
First, my specs.
Height/Weight: 174cm / 63kg
Inseam: Approx. 85cm (when wearing riding shoes)
Foot reach: Almost flat-footed, no anxiety.
To conclude, even after riding long distances of over 300km every day, my butt doesn't hurt from vibrations, and it is simply a bike that 'doesn't tire you out.' I feel that this fatigue-free characteristic is the biggest reason why I never get bored of riding this bike.
1. Easy-to-handle size
The reason I was able to complete such long distances day after day is that the bike size is not too big, and the weight is not too heavy at around 210kg, making it very easy to maneuver. The seat firmness is also exquisite, designed to be gentle on the butt. And I think the wide tank width allows for natural knee gripping.
2. Superb 'silky' engine
And above all, the engine equipped with a dual-axis balancer. It is very quiet, and I absolutely love the so-called 'silky' revving. Some people might feel that the 'pulsating feeling is lacking,' but for me, this smoothness is the greatest strength that allows me to handle long distances toughly.
4-cylinder bikes are also attractive, but in my touring style, I don't rev it hard to the high-speed range. I am fully satisfied with this 2-cylinder engine that can utilize the low-to-mid rpm range.
There are also the streetfighter 'GSX-8S' and the sports 'GSX-8R' that have the same engine and power performance, but I realize that each has a clearly different character, and they are brilliantly differentiated.
3. 'Riding modes' that change expression according to the situation
You can choose from 3 riding modes.
I had heard opinions beforehand that 'Sports mode (A mode) is quite a wild horse and scary,' but when I actually rode it, I never got bored because the acceleration I intended could be drawn out linearly (intuitively). The torque feeling that pushes you forward from around 4,000 rpm is quite thrilling and refreshing.
Even when I was hit by heavy rain during the tour, I was able to finish the ride without any trouble while in Sports mode.
Conversely, I tried other modes, but my impression was:
Normal mode: A slightly laid-back feeling
Rain mode: The linear feeling is diminished, and personally, I felt it was actually a bit harder to ride
that was my impression.
4. 'Mental composure' brought by bar-end mirrors
Regarding the standard bar-end mirrors, at first I thought, 'Is it difficult because the position is far?' Honestly, there are parts that are a little hard to check just by moving your eyes, but regarding this, once you get used to it, there is no problem with safety checks.
However, I remained uncomfortable until the end about the fact that the vehicle width expands outward by the amount of the bar ends.
But this is not just a disadvantage. Rather, it led to the consciousness of 'riding with composure without driving unreasonably,' and I realized a great merit in terms of safety, as it psychologically saves me from dangerous lane splitting.
While various bikes are lane splitting at red lights, I can stop with composure. That is exactly the 'adult way of riding,' and I feel like I am experiencing that sensation, just like how police motorcycles ride with an air of composure.
5. Phenomenal fuel efficiency
The tank capacity is 16 liters. The average fuel consumption on this tour was 29km/L. Therefore, if you fill it up when you arrive at your accommodation, you can ride all day the next day without refueling. In the second half of the trip, I operated on a rotation of filling it up just in case when the fuel gauge dropped below half.
6. The clutch lever that bothered me a little
The quick shifter is easy to use, but I have a riding style centered on the clutch that I am used to.
The clutch lever is a bit heavy, and there is no adjustment function. Since it is a part related to hand fatigue, if I were to ask for more, the only regrettable point is that I would have been even happier if there were adjustment functions such as lever position.
Summary
Overall, this bike is the best partner as a tool for travel.
An easy-to-handle size, a position and seat that don't tire you out, and a high-quality engine with little vibration. It is a bike I would wholeheartedly recommend to those who want to enjoy long-distance touring with 'adult composure'.