With short wheelbases, sporty geometry, and low curb weights, the CFMOTO 800NK and Suzuki GSX?­8S hustle through tight corners with ease. (Photos by Kevin Wing)

Back in the ?70s, Cycle magazine coined the term ?Universal Japanese Motorcycle? to refer to the proliferation of standard bikes built by the Japanese Big Four that adhered to the same formula: air?cooled inline?Fours with tubular cradle frames, disc front brakes, telescopic forks, and dual rear shocks.

Much has changed in the last five decades, but manufacturers still stick to tried?and?true formulas when designing motorcycles. These days, regardless of where bikes hail from, there has been a convergence in the middleweight class on parallel?Twin engines because they are cost?effective to produce, easy to package within a frame, and flexible in terms of tuning. Also known as vertical Twins because the two side?by?side cylinders stand upright, modern versions typically have liquid cooling, fuel injection, and a 270?degree crankshaft that produces a V?Twin?like rumble.
We put the CFMOTO 800NK (left) side-by-side with the Suzuki GSX-8S (right) for this comparo.

Last year, Suzuki, a veteran of the UJM wars, introduced a liquid?cooled 776cc parallel?Twin that powered two new models: the GSX?8S naked sportbike and V?Strom 800DE adventure bike. The engine has DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, a 270?degree crank, throttle?by?wire, and Suzuki?s patented Cross Balancer system, which minimizes vibration. The GSX?8S is ...