Effective chassis and bike bits
The steel frame reminds me of the first Suzuki SV650s, ensuring decent stiffness while adding not insignificant weight well above the centre of gravity, thus raising said centre on top of increasing the polar moment of inertia of the bike (the mass multiplied by the distance to the centre of gravity squared, or Moment = mass x (distance from cg)2. Concentrating the masses makes for an increasingly agile machine. If you double the distance of a part from the centre of gravity, you quadruple the moment – it shoots up quickly!

We liked the large front discs and the adjustable fork damping, working well together to provide effective and comfortable road holding for the GT 650R. Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Moto123.com)

The inverted fork offers adjustable compression and rebound damping, and together with the adjustable rear pre-load, this adjustability allows the rider to adjust the suspensions for added comfort on the highway or for a day out at the track.

The dual 298-mm front discs squeezed by four-piston calipers and the 220-mm rear disc are the most convincing bits of kit on this Hyosung. Powerful, easily modulated and resistant to fade, the brakes ensure both safe highway cruising and efficient track riding for newbies and seasoned veterans alike.

Less than extreme behaviour
Don’t be fooled by the small clip-ons under the top triple bracket; the long fork tubes make for a less extreme riding position than that of the high-end sports bikes. The wide, well-padded saddle, the windscreen that does a good job protecting you from turbulence, and the 3-way adjustable footpegs work as a unit to produce a surprisingly comfortable ride on the road, without sacrificing the ideal sport riding position required to throw your weight around in corners and kiss the pavement with your knees.

Average-sized passengers may complain of having to fold their legs too much or being perched too high up for comfort. Thankfully, the judiciously placed grips will help them keep their balance during hard acceleration and braking, a rare quality in a sports bike.

Riders have a full suite of instruments at their disposal: an analog tachometer, a digital display featuring engine temperature, speed and odometer as well as a fuel gauge.

Easy-to-read analog tach and digital speedo, as well as the other information you need to have easy fun!  (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Moto123.com)