- Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors has launched the first motorcycle from its new Souo brand, and it’s a 1,016-lb monster.
- The S2000 is GWM’s answer to the Honda Goldwing and powered by a 152 hp flat-eight engine hooked up to an eight-speed DCT.
- Three trim levels are offered and prices reportedly range from 218,800-288,800 yuan ($31-41k).
Is no Western icon safe from China’s industrious auto brands? Last week we heard that Porsche’s reign as maker of the fastest four-door to the lap the Nurburgring had been brutally ended by Xiaomi’s SU7, and now we get news that Great Wall Motors is taking aim at the Honda Goldwing with its new Souo S2000.
No, the first bike from GWM’s fledgling motorcycle brand doesn’t have a screaming 2.0-liter VTEC motor. It has a 2.0-liter flat-eight that, by no coincidence, has more size and cylinders than the 1.8-liter flat-six slung between the Goldwing’s wheels, and its dual-clutch transmission has eight ratios to the Goldie’s seven.
Related: Great Wall’s 8-Cylinder Souo Motorcycle Is Flat-Out Crazy, But Also Kind Of Brilliant
And they’re not the only S2000 figures that make the equivalent Honda numbers look small. The Souo’s 71.3-inch (1,810 mm) wheelbase is 4.5 inches (115 mm) longer and a curb weight of 1,016 lbs (461 kg) means there are 171 more pounds (78 kg) to haul off the floor if you’re ever unlucky enough to drop it.
The 131 mph (210 km/h) tourer comes in three versions: S2000ST is the base model, the more luxurious S2000GL adds a big rear seat and luggage boxes, and the S2000 Founder Edition is GL glammed-up with matte black and gold coloring. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, rear parking sensors, heated seats, and the ability to accept over-air updates are standard, says China-based industry analyst Tycho de Feijter.
Souo has a range of combustion and electric bikes planned, and most should cost less than the S2000, which is reportedly priced from 218,800-288,800 yuan ($31-41,000) in its home country depending on spec. A Honda Goldwing Tour with the optional DCT starts at just under $26k in the US.
Finding the money to buy an S2000 isn’t the only challenge prospective owners face. They also have to find somewhere to ride it because motorcycles aren’t allowed on many Chinese roads.
GWM Souo S2000 flat eight motorbike – new photos – on the road
China's Great Wall Motors (GWM) is diversifying into high-end motorcycles with the new Souo brand. Souo stands for: "Search Own, Unlimited Outlook". The Chinese name is 灵魂 (Línghún), which means 'Soul.'
We have… pic.twitter.com/E6EdVNZqjX— Tycho de Feijter (@TychodeFeijter) November 3, 2024