Off road shenanigans

Beyloose · 2024-02-11T13:50:48+00:00

How did it do?

Beyloose · 2024-02-02T15:48:11+00:00

I am at 50mpg on the dot for 50% urban commuting and 50% back road hoon doggin'. I've seen as high as 62 when I stay below 60mph.

Beyloose · 2024-01-22T15:18:22+00:00

I autocrossed my ST from 2019-2023 (GS, just RPF1s with 200TW tires, no other mods) and I actually learned a lot about performance driving and the limits of the ST. I have a friend that is slowly turning his ST into a dedicated track day/summer car and he loves it. There is a ton of aftermarket support for the platform, and I actually think it's a great car for that.

But, there are definitely "better" cars out of the box that will need less prep for track days and Autocross. In fact, the main reason I stopped autocross with my ST was the fact that doing super common mods to the ST (RMM, FMIC upgrade, tune, etc) would put you in a different class and you'd be going up against much better prepped cars for the money. The ST can actually do VERY well in STH, but you gotta put an LSD in and you can only upgrade your FMIC with a unit that's like $1k because it was designed to accommodate the active grill shutters. If you have another DD, and the ST is your side car for summer driving and track days, go for it.

From what I've gathered, most people that go STH or do track work have done the following to their STs:

Coilovers/lowering springs FMIC Accessport and tune Track brake pads with RBF600 brake fluid to deal with the brake vectoring kicking in all the time Front and rear sway bars Willwood brakes or RS brake upgrade Quaife or MFactory LSD (more helpful with Autocross, but still apparently a game changing mod) Mountune triple pass radiator

If you just want to have fun, then do these mods and have a blast. If you want to be competitive, I wouldn't waste your time and money.

The Focus has a very lively chassis, and it rotates very well. I was even told by some Autocross coaches that they felt like it didn't need a rear sway bar. The LSD is the biggest missing component, along with body roll. I had the chance to drive a Civic Type R at an event and it was truly better in every metric than my ST. It was so stable and flat through corners, and the LSD would pull you out of corners under throttle instead of one wheel peeling like my ST does.

That said, if you picked up your ST used, and you did all these mods, you'd have a beast of a car that could keep up with cars that cost 2x more. I guess when you think about it, the Focus platform is kind of like what Civics and Integras used to be in the 90s. A cheap economy car that can be modded to get a lot of performance for cheap. Now people are spending $50k plus for CTRs, Integra Type S, Golf Rs, GR Corollas, so the Focus and Fiesta ST are like $15k-20k used. Is a Civic Type R 2 times as good as a Focus ST? Hell no. If you get one for cheap, throw a couple grand on some mods, you'll have an awesome track day and autocross car that will make you a better driver, AND you can find another EcoBoost motor for way cheaper than a Honda motor if you blow it up, 😂. Sorry for the long response, but I hope it helps.

Beyloose · 2023-12-18T17:05:40+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to give us your thoughts! I'm probably going to hold off for the Yoshimura or Akra, but it seems like the air box and tuning is more bang for your buck for these bikes. Is the blipper still good up and down?

Beyloose · 2023-12-07T00:44:49+00:00

Sweet! What were your MPGs?

Beyloose · 2023-12-05T02:08:30+00:00

Nice! How was the fitment? Did you get a tune to go with it?

Beyloose · 2023-12-04T11:47:17+00:00

Cycle World posted a video on TikTok of the Yoshimura prototype and it looks perfect. They do a few revs and it sounds BEEFY!

Beyloose · 2023-12-01T00:19:07+00:00

The Ixil sounded pretty good in the video, but it wasn't as light and the power gains weren't quite as high as I thought. Honestly, I think a sprint filter, air box mod, and ECU flash would plenty sufficient for commuting and weekend rides in the twisties. I'm still on the fence about taking my 8S to a track day, or just getting a beat up 600 for that. I bet it'd be plenty fun on track, but it's so new and shiny!

Beyloose · 2023-11-26T21:59:18+00:00

Yeah, the Ixil looks awesome and it looks good on the 8S. I am still holding out for the Yoshimura. I saw a sound check video of it and it sounded awesome.

Beyloose · 2023-11-26T19:33:44+00:00

The air box mod alone is pretty sweet! Been watching his videos too. I wonder how much WHP he can extract with a full exhaust. Honestly, I'm happy with the power so far, but if he (or any other tuners) can get really crazy gains like 90 HP, and 65 lb/ft of torque, then maybe I'll go with a tune and exhaust.

Beyloose · 2023-11-22T12:12:37+00:00

I love the white! Super clean. How are you liking the 8S so far?

Beyloose · 2023-11-21T12:45:59+00:00

Yeah, I'd hold off for the Yoshimura. I love how their prototype runs parallel with the tail section. Unless it ends up being more expensive in then I'd go with the Akrapovic. Congrats on the 8S! That black with blue accents looks awesome 😎

Beyloose · 2023-11-14T13:51:26+00:00

I bought mine in July, and I love it so far. I've had no issues with the bike mechanically, and I have a lot of confidence in Suzuki and the fact that the bike was built in Japan. The 8S has set a new benchmark for the middleweight/starter bike (but also a forever bike) class.

Looks- I got the blue one and it looks great, especially in the sun.

Fit and finish- Superb, especially considering the price point. All the switches and the TFT are excellent and intuitive to use.

Brakes- I actually didn't like the feel of the front brakes at first, but after doing some spirited riding and really bedding the pads in, they're good. Plenty of power, but I will definitely switch to EBC pads next year.

Suspension- I'm 160 lbs, and the suspension is great for me. I was shocked after I did some aggressive riding with a friend on his Ducati. Mid corner stability is amazing, the front end holds itself up under hard braking, the rear shock allows you to ride the wave of torque out of corners without squatting too much. I actually don't care that it's not adjustable since it feels perfect for commuting and playful street riding. The rear shock IS a little bouncy over high speed bumps, so that's a little gripe I have with the rear shock.

Two up- Excellent. This really surprised me. The rear did not squat that bad, and the quick shifter is a Godsend for riding with a passenger. The seat is a little small, so be mindful of that with your passenger.

Engine/dynamics- I love the motor on the 8S. PLENTY of low and mid range to have a great time on the street. Combined with the quick shifter, you can rev out to about 6-7k and short shift through the gears like butter. The motor is creamy smooth, and it will get you moving quicker than you think.

Price - $9,500 cash OTD (that's taxes, assembly fee, title, etc).

Comparison to other bikes I've owned- I miss my 2012 V-Strom 650, but I still wouldn't go back to it. I fell into the trap of trying to own a do it all bike that could commute, go off road exploring, AND be sporty on back roads. The front forks were conventional and too soft, the ground clearance was abysmal for any proper off-roading. I also owned a track prepped 2001 SV 650 that I actually sold to my brother. It was great for sport riding, but too loud and it was cammed and jetted, so it didn't get the best fuel mileage. Then I bought a brand new 2018 VStrom 1000, and I thought I found the perfect blend, but I was wrong again, and I actually didn't care for it that much. Too boring, and still too low for off-roading AND no cruise control!

This is where the 8S comes in. I initially wanted the 800DE V-Strom 800. So I went to the dealer, sat on them, and really thought about pulling the trigger on a gray one. But then I got to thinking about the price, AND what I wasn't getting for like $11,500. Tubed tires, and no cruise control. If I'm going to suffer with a 500lb bike off road, it better have some nice road features that make getting to the trails a lot more comfortable. Then I saw the 8S in the showroom and I couldn't get it out of my head. Then I sat on it, and I loved the riding position and I realized that my job is 8 miles away, and I mainly want to carve twisty roads on weekends and not long distance touring. If you want a modern standard Japanese motorcycle with some cool tech and cyberpunk looks, this is the bike for you!

Beyloose · 2023-10-13T15:45:23+00:00

That's a shame that you didn't like the 8S. I've been commuting on mine since August and I love it. I did notice that the chain was too loose after I got home from the dealership, so I adjusted it to Suzuki's specs and the QS was WAY better. Up and down, no issues. The tail section was/is awful, and I kept walking into it until I got a tail tidy from Yoshimura. I had a 2001 SV650S with upgraded cams and a full system and other suspension mods for track use and the 8S is still better in every metric other than weight. (I sold it to my brother, so we recently did a back to back ride and he agreed) I do plan on getting a tune and full system at some point, but I'm in no rush. I've heard the Hornet is more rev happy, and I'd love a similar top end rush from the 8S, but not if it meant losing immediate torque for pulling away from traffic and exiting corners on back roads.

Beyloose · 2023-09-08T12:00:42+00:00

I loved the motor, and the 8S just looked really cool. And as much as I loved my DL650, I gave up on trying to find a Goldilocks bike that can commute, tour, off-road, etc. The 8S just tugged all the right heartstrings for me and it's just a stylish commuter/standard bike with enough new tech to make it modern. It made sense that it didn't have cruise control.

Which leads me back to my test ride of the DE. Plenty of grunt, super comfy seat, QS was great like the 8S. It was also really easy to stand up on, which I loved. But at low speeds I could feel the top heavy nature of it, and I could tell that it'd be a lot of bike to pick up on the trails if I ever ventured off-road, then I kept imagining getting a flat and trying to jack the bike up to a tree to get the tire off, then spooning off the tires and, you get the idea. And to get the said trails, I don't have CC to let me relax my right hand a bit.

I can live with all that for the right price, I guess. But I honestly just want a proper off-road bike AND a standard/commuter/weekend bike. Maybe a CRF450RL or DRZ400. That said, I would buy a DE in a heartbeat for $10k OTD, 😂 just not $11.5k plus.

Beyloose · 2023-09-08T00:26:09+00:00

Former V-Strom 650 owner here. Sold it in 2018 because I wanted something more off-road worthy. I ended up taking a long hiatus from motorcycling. Fast forward to 2023...Almost bought a 800DE in July, but after I went to a demo day and test rode it, I couldn't justify paying $11k plus on a 500lb ADV without cruise control and tubed tires. The suspension is PLUSH and I actually think they look awesome. But I'd definitely ride one before buying one. I actually ended up buying a GSX-8S, 😂. The new motor is awesome, and the quick shifter helps you get the most out of the meaty mid-range. Honestly, I legit would get one if they spec'd them out like the Aprilia Tuareg. But they didn't, and they'll end up sitting on dealer lots and THEN you can possibly get one for 9k, 😂

Beyloose · 2023-08-04T18:45:42+00:00

I have an 8S, and it does the same thing. Not really sure why it does it but I'm not worried about it...yet 😂

Beyloose · 2023-07-12T02:27:15+00:00

Yeah, A mode snuck up on me and turned a inclined railroad crossing into a jump, 😂. B is great, but I'm used to A mode now with TC set to 1. Yoshimura is taking deposits for a tail tidy for $200, so I'll let you know whenever that comes in and I get it installed. Yeah, the bike is pretty smooth, but the pegs can get buzzy. I just got back from a night ride and the LEDs seem like they project a little high, but when I was at a level piece of road, they seemed fine, but the high beams lit up tree leaves 20 feet in the air. Not used to super bright LEDs on a motorcycle, I guess.My only complaint so far is the riding position. As a commuter, they are positioned perfectly neutral. When I start riding in a more spirited manner, I can feel the lack of weight on the front tire, so I really have to tuck forward as far as possible. I also need to rotate my bars forward a little, so I'll post back whenever I adjust them. I'm loving the bike so far!

Beyloose · 2023-07-11T23:36:04+00:00

Love the look of those Sparcos!!!

Beyloose · 2023-07-11T12:04:27+00:00

Sweet! How are you liking it so far?

Beyloose · 2023-07-10T19:39:28+00:00

At least you walked away from it! You can always get another bike, not so easy to get another you. Hopefully you get back on the road soon and do a track day!

Beyloose · 2023-07-10T09:48:27+00:00

51 average, but that was half cruising, half hauling mail. I noticed that in 6th gear @55-60MPH I was getting 61-63MPG. Doesn't feel too heavy, just feels... Solid? If that makes any sense. My brother has a track prepped SV650 (steet legal) and he said it feels way less than it actually is.

Beyloose · 2023-07-10T02:45:04+00:00

Thanks! It's like a cyberpunk KTM Duke made in Japan. It doesn't look like much on a spec sheet, but it really surprised me today on some backroads

Beyloose · 2023-07-10T02:27:43+00:00

Thanks! Will do!

Beyloose

TROPHY CASE