2009 Hyosung GT650R

[GSVR]

Nah keep it steel. They don't like it up um Mr Mainwaring...........

Is this the Germans or the Koreans. Or is the Hyosung destined to become the weapon of choice for the home guard?

[discotex]

Interesting... More hp, torque and stopping power should make a huge difference. Starting to look like a real threat to the SV650.

Is it just me or are those tyre sizes wacky?

[Brett]

bahahaha 80hp and 208 KG? I would rather have a 250cc two stroker. They still have done virtually nothing to change the styling, it still looks like an overfed 250r. Who uses steel frames anymore? That is so 1990's...like, get real girlfriend.

[James Deuce]

Is it just me or are those tyre sizes wacky?

It's just you. Those tyre sizes are all you need in a decent scratcher.

Brett. I suggest you weigh your Gixer with engine oil, coolant, fuel, fork oil, tool kit, and battery fitted with acid included like Hyosung do. You might get a shock. Japanese manufacturers quoted dry weights are a bit like the Bible. A general guide only.

[CookMySock]

Nah they are heavy, and they feel heavy too. Picking up an R1 off its stand feels like its made of plastic compared to the GT650R.

I wondered about the front tyre size on mine - it looks tiny, even compared to the GT250R, and its a skittery wee damn thing, gulp. It's not really a learner tyre I think, and its small front trail doesn't assist either, as its twitchy enough in a straight line, but much worse in a deep lean and the steering seems to go very light. I suppose its good training, but it doesnt feel very amusing to ride quickly for a beginner.

Steve

[Bob]

Reading the comments re: weight and front tyre.

Of weight: as James says, Japs quote dry weight, Hyosung (and I believe BMW, KTM and H-D) quote wet weight - not an issue with H-D perhaps, but still a level of honesty I prefer.

Read Mike Breen's excellent article on the subject here.

Of course, as DB says, compared to an R1 it IS heavy! But then the R1 sits there at the peak of Yamaha tecnological development, with little spared in the way of cash to put it on the road (well up to a point, it IS there as a mass-produced model, so has to be built to a price). And the Hyosing? Well it is built as a budget machine - and with a steel frame is always going to carry the pounds.

On the front tyre - note from the announcement, Hyosung are running a 17 inch front. DB- does yours feature a 16 inch front? I ask, as I am old enough to have owned pre and post 1994 GPZ500Ss. The pre-94 model ran a 16" front, the post-94 a 17". And the difference in handling was like chalk and cheese. The post-94 model was so much more stable and predictable in corners, the pre-94 was like riding a knife-edge at times.

Hyosung do seem to be getting better and better. What I do still see as a regular gripe in the popular press is the quality of finish. Is this a problem with yours?

If Hyosung get the quality aspect sorted - and if they follow the Korean car makers precident they'll get better - then if they concentrate on going their own way (work in the semi-budget conscious arena, but with a quirky twist), reckon they become a viable alternative.

Get the quality right on the GV650 Aquila and they could tie up the middleweight cruiser market I reckon.

[Brett]

It's just you. Those tyre sizes are all you need in a decent scratcher.

Brett. I suggest you weigh your Gixer with engine oil, coolant, fuel, fork oil, tool kit, and battery fitted with acid included like Hyosung do. You might get a shock. Japanese manufacturers quoted dry weights are a bit like the Bible. A general guide only.

Yeah I know the cheeky japs love to understate the facts, however my understanding is that tghe published dry weight for my model gixxer is 161kg and the wet weight seemsto knock about the 190-195kg mark. Dyno results I have seen for a stock K4 GSXR 600 seem to indicate around 102 - 105 HP at the wheel, depending on dyno. Overall this makes for quite a difference in power to weight ratio.

I would also hazard a guess that the build quality is superior to the Hyosung...and that is saying something since the gixxer is a Suzuki!!

Haven't ridden a 650r,but would be interested to. Because they are retailed at quite a good price.

[discotex]

Overall this makes for quite a difference in power to weight ratio.

I think Hyosung is aiming at price/performance ratio rather than power/weight. It's a fair bit of bike for the cash but it's still cheap. Kinda like the Hyundai Coupe.

I would also hazard a guess that the build quality is superior to the Hyosung...and that is saying something since the gixxer is a Suzuki!!

[Brett]

I think Hyosung is aiming at price/performance ratio rather than power/weight. It's a fair bit of bike for the cash but it's still cheap. Kinda like the Hyundai Coupe.

yes and it is certainly a fair sector of the market to try and capture. USD$6.5for a new 600cc biek is not too bad. I will take one for a ride when I get back to nz just to see what they are like. However, I would be surprised if for $7-$8K I could not get a low 2000's 600cc bike that, even second hand, would out perform a new Hyo 650r. WIll have to wait and see I guess.

[CookMySock]

Hyosung are running a 17 inch front. DB- does yours feature a 16 inch front?

Front on mine is a 16 inch. edit: Correction, Its not, its 17 inch.

The pre-94 model ran a 16" front, the post-94 a 17". And the difference in handling was like chalk and cheese. The post-94 model was so much more stable and predictable in corners, the pre-94 was like riding a knife-edge at times.

Possibly there was other differences as well, like trail. Yeah mine is a job and a half to control - I put it down to my inexperience, which will be at least 50% of it anyway. It's much less problematic if I get some weight off the side of it.

Hyosung do seem to be getting better and better. What I do still see as a regular gripe in the popular press is the quality of finish. Is this a problem with yours?

There are little defects here and there if you look hard, but you need to be closer than a meter. I'm not that picky, and neither is the general public - mine attracts a lot of attention, and all sorts of people stop and look and ask. One person, unable to contain themselves, frowned and declared "what a beeeyoooooootiful motorbike."

Get the quality right on the GV650 Aquila and they could tie up the middleweight cruiser market I reckon.

I am surprised the GT hasn't given the SV more of a hurry up. I think people find their roughness a little off-putting, and I think the asshole oldskool bikers do a good job of bashing it, making it an embarrassing and demoralising choice for many.

See this expired trademe advert for a GT650R racebike. Yeah sure, they guy is trying to sell it, but he has some quite positive comments. I wonder where this bike is these days.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...px?id=86666840


Steve

[CookMySock]

low 2000's 600cc bike that, even second hand, would out perform a new Hyo 650r. WIll have to wait and see I guess.

I can gaurantee you that it will. Almost any 600cc inline four will smoke a 650 vtwin, but there is more to life etc.

Steve

[xwhatsit]

Front on mine is a 16 inch. Thats interesting they have gone to a larger front wheel - I wonder what else is different.

Are you sure it's 16"? Everywhere I've looked says the GT650Rs (in fact all of the GTs) are 17", front and back. Even the tyre sizes are the same as the 2009 model.

It would be very strange and quaint indeed if they had used a 16" front.

And there's nothing wrong with the sizes of those tyres anyway. 120/60 for a front -- fark -- that's bigger than the rear of a CB750, innit? How much power are you putting through it man?

[CookMySock]

Are you sure it's 16"? Everywhere I've looked says the GT650Rs (in fact all of the GTs) are 17", front and back. Even the tyre sizes are the same as the 2009 model.

Well I was, but I was wrong. It's a 17". /fail

And there's nothing wrong with the sizes of those tyres anyway. 120/60 for a front -- fark -- that's bigger than the rear of a CB750, innit? How much power are you putting through it man?

How much power through the front wheel? Heeeeeps bro!

Steve

[xwhatsit]

Well I was, but I was wrong. It's a 17". /fail

How much power through the front wheel? Heeeeeps bro!

Steve

Not with the famous Hyodung wooden brakes, izzit?

[CookMySock]

Not with the famous Hyodung wooden brakes, izzit?

Dunno mate. I squeeze the fuckers harrrrd, and it stops way more quickly than I am comfortable with. I guess the lever travel and force required could be lowered a bit, but that is fixed easily and cheaply with sintered pads and braided brake lines - trivial. But yeah I applaud the new models braking system.

Most of their faults are simple mods - pads, brake lines, cartridges, er not much else required to totally transform the bike, just like any bike. It IS a bit shocking just how poor the OEM bits are, like the rear shock is not very amusing at all on a trip.

I was gunna quit mine and get on older R1 or similar this summer, but I'll keep it, and do some work on it and see how it come out. It's just too interesting and unique, and stirs up too much attention. Its fun.

Steve