A Bargain Inject
HYOSUNG has brought its model range up to date with the fitting of fuel injection. What a difference it’s made, there’s a healthy increase in power and the overall feel of the bikes give the rider the impression they are riding something much more expensive.
At the recent Australian launch we sampled the GT650, GT650S, GT650R and the GV650 Aquila. For buyers looking for a 650 road machine, Hyosung covers everything from a sportsbike to a cruiser, using basically the same mechanical package. TGART, organised by a massive biking club in India called xBhp (which currently has 34,000 members), follows on from The Great Indian Road Trip, which was successfully held in 2006 – and spawned a sensational 156-page hardback book.
In the shed
The entire 250cc and 650cc Hyosung range has seen the benefit of fuel injection. Both capacity ranges (except GV250 and GV650) also have the same dimensions, look and colour schemes, only the capacity differs. The 250cc models are learner legal and have 21kW, while the 650cc LAMS version is up from 25kW to 40kW. For riders on full licences, the 650cc engine now punches out a not inconsiderable 59kW (79hp).
The main new-look styling touch is the tailpiece which is sharp and sporty. A dual lateral oval bar frame is used to house the V-twin engine and in the case of the base GT650 wheelbase is 1,435mm, seat height is 790mm and dry weight is 196kg. In the case of the three GT650 models, suspension is the same. 41mm USD forks have adjustable rebound and compression and the single rear shock is adjustable for pre-load.
Twin four-piston calipers with 300mm discs are standard across the GT range, and a single 230mm disc is fi tted down the back.
A multitude of heavy duty luggage tie down points are a feature of the GT range, as are adjustable footpegs. Depending on which GT model you like there are a number of genuine accessories available, like the sports muffl er, tinted screen and carrier rack.
The GV650 uses the same brakes and forks as the GTs, but twin shocks and different frame geometry are used for the cruiser. It has more genuine accessories available, including a tinted windshield, backrest and panniers.
Engine
Hyosung’s 650cc 90 degree V-twin engine is liquid-cooled, has dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Lubrication for the reciprocating parts is via a wet sump and final drive from the six-speed ’box is via chain drive, or belt in the case of the GV650 Aquila.
On the road
First bike ridden was the half faired GT650S. Room wise, there’s plenty, even for larger riders. Straight away it’s comfortable to ride, the handlebars are positioned just right, we almost felt like Goldilocks. As I said before, the footpegs are multi adjustable. On this bike they were set to the least set-back position and felt spot on. Weaving in and out of traffi c was a breeze and while the older carburetted version wasn’t slow, the new fuel injected models are certainly livelier. Out on the open road the fairing works very well, you can imagine enjoying a lengthy tour on this bike. It has long legs and if you are keen enough, or like risking your licence, we would expect speeds not far off 200km/h to be possible, the engine feels strong enough.
Then onto the GT650R which has a full fairing and a much sportier riding position due to the clip-on handlebars. Through the bends this bike is so much fun, it can be hustled along very quickly and in the right conditions gives more powerful machines a real hurry up. The suspension has fairly stiff settings, even for our 90-something kilo rider, and the settings are the same across the GT range. We could imagine a track day punter putting on a set of sticky tyres and scaring the living daylights out of plenty of other riders on more expensive bikes. We also rode the naked GT650 which is also a hoot and very similar to the ‘S’, just without the half fairing. With three different bikes using the same platform Hyosung has given buyers a huge choice.
For the cruiser lovers you have the GV650 Aquila. Hyosung quote the GV650 as having slightly more power than the GT range in its press info. Not sure if it’s a typo and it’s only a couple of ponies anyway. Even though the Aquila is just over 20 kilos heavier than the GTs, the engine feels every bit as strong. It’s quite comfy and the forward mounted footpegs can be placed in two different positions. As with any cruiser the steering is slower and the ground clearance is much less. The twin shocks can’t match the suppleness of the GT’s single unit but to compare the GT range to the GV is ludicrous, it’s a totally different style and riding experience.
We were impressed with the suspension on all bikes, sure the GV’s rear suspension struggled to cope with the bumpy road but we were chasing a couple of GTs at the time and were asking much more of it than it would generally have to deal with.
The final word
We feel Hyosung has produced a winner here. It’s taken a wallet friendly range of machines and taken them to the next level, simply by fi tting fuel injection and giving the bikes a bit of a facelift. And the Australian importer is keeping the prices at pre-fuel injection levels (GT650 $7,990, GT650S $8,590, GT650R, $8,990, GV650 $9,990) and continues to offer a two-year unlimited kilometre warranty. This gives buyers access to some of the best value motorcycles on the market which punch well above their weight in terms of performance and handling.
