By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Suzuki GSX-R 750 (L1) vs MV Agusta F3 800 (MY2013)
Suzuki GSX-R 750 vs MV Agusta F3 800: fast is a given. What sets them apart isn't.
On a first crack of throttle the Suzuki GSX-R 750 picks up clean, and it's only past the midrange that the engine really pulls. The MV Agusta F3 800 snarls the instant its throttle opens, but the bike underneath doesn't get jumpy. A sloppy wrist goes unpunished on the F3 800.
So which one do you buy?
The GSX-R 750 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
A touch ahead: GSX-R 750
Over a year of riding, the GSX-R 750 noses ahead on running costs. A neglected example would wipe that out.
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: GSX-R 750
Day in, day out, the GSX-R 750 nudges ahead in traffic. Most of that is lower running costs. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
What makes each one tick
GSX-R 750
Wound out hard, the GSX-R 750 gets eager but never turns on you, and there's a raw intake roar riding along up top. At turn-in, the bar steers razor sharp while the front tire keeps reporting grip. The gearbox snaps every shift home.
Nils rode the GSX-R 750 in the Eifel in 2015, and in Andalusia in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
F3 800
Lap after lap, the F3 800's lever holds its bite point where it started, and fade doesn't creep in. The slipper clutch and chassis work together when you're trail-braking hard into a corner. Into the turn the bike stays settled and steers the moment you ask. Every bump and the triple's rattly buzz come through a seat that's hard. It hits the apex every lap.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The F3 800 has the larger engine: 798 cc vs 749 cc.
- ABS: standard on the F3 800, not offered on the GSX-R 750.
- Traction Control: standard on the F3 800, not offered on the GSX-R 750.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
For all-day comfort, both fall short. Keep the rides short and you'll get on fine with either.
On track days and twisty roads, these two are a wash. That's where your budget and your inseam get the final say.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
GSX-R 750
Strengths
- Eager, never angry
- Commits on a light push
- Gearbox that just works
- Built for long, hard laps
- Bristling, free-revving engine character
Trade-offs
- Geared a notch too tall
- Stock brakes fade when hot
- Minimal electronic aids
- Firm suspension for road riding
F3 800
Strengths
- Finds The Apex On Its Own
- Clean Off The Brakes
- Drives Off Corners Early
- Theatrical Looks, Calm Manners
- Agile, supersport-scalpel chassis
Trade-offs
- Rough, Buzzy Engine
- The Seat Is Hard
- Valve Spring Risk
Known problems to check before you buy
GSX-R 750
- Mirror caps falling off The plastic mirror caps are held by fragile tabs that can break, causing the cap to detach while riding. Suzuki later supplied caps with longer tabs to fix the issue.
F3 800
- Rear master cylinder failure The rear brake master cylinder can fail, leading to loss of rear braking.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| GSX-R 750 | F3 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) | 31.7 in (805 mm) |
| Wet weight | 419 lb (190 kg) | 421 lb (191 kg) |
| GSX-R 750 | F3 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 749 cc | 798 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | Inline-three |
| Power | 150 hp (110 kW) | 148 hp (109 kW) |
| Peak power at | 13,200 rpm | 13,000 rpm |
| Torque | 64 lb-ft (87 Nm) | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 11,200 rpm | 10,600 rpm |
| Top speed | 170 mph (274 km/h) | 167 mph (269 km/h) |
| GSX-R 750 | F3 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 44 mpg (US) / 5.35 L/100 km | 37 mpg (US) / 6.3 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 US gal (17 L) | 4.4 US gal (16.5 L) |
| GSX-R 750 | F3 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 310 mm | 320 mm |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| GSX-R 750 | F3 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Steering Damper | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
