EICMA 2022 marked a watershed moment for Suzuki. Prior to the annual trade show, the Hamamatsu-based OEM hadn’t released a new engine in years. During that stint, many new Suzuki models leveraged long-in-the-tooth powerplants such as the K5 GSX-R1000 or 645cc, 90-degree V-twin. That wasn’t the case with the 2023 GSX-8S or V-Strom 800DE, though.
Leading the parallel-twin charge for the House of Hamamatsu, the 8S and 800DE both showcased Suzuki’s new 776cc engine. Like many modern middleweight mills, the liquid-cooled unit boasts a DOHC configuration and a V-twin-imitating (sound and power delivery) 270-degree crankshaft. The 84mm bore, 70mm stroke, and 12.8:1 compression ratio also position the inline twin at the intersection of performance and practicality.
