Motorcycle specifications HyosungGV 300 S Bobber 2020 There's more to life than trail running!

on the A2 market, there's an incredibly wide choice in the trail category, to the point of wondering whether there are any customers for all these machines. If you don't want to ride high, what's left? A few roadsters like the Yamaha MT-03, or the custom genre. And it's this latter market that will interest us with the release of the new Hyosung Bobber GV 300 S, a well-crafted custom with an original V Twin engine like the famous Harley-Davidsons. A real bet on the 250 - 500 cm3 market.

A real custom

For its Bobber 300, Hyosung has clearly pulled out all the stops. Particular attention has been paid to every detail. The shape of the fuel tank (12.5 L), well-positioned footrests, a well-designed seat that hugs the bodywork, a side-mounted air filter box (as on the American models) and the little black light at the front: if you set this bike down on a café terrace, it's unlikely that the average biker will immediately think of a mere 300 cm3.

Especially since the engine contributes to this effect. Not only is it a V-Twin, but Hyosung has also pushed the aesthetics of this engine. Sometimes, small custom bikes are a mess in this respect, but not this time. So as not to spoil its effect, Hyosung has chosen to offer its custom only in matte black, so budding bad boys will be delighted.

Hyosung has retained its classic instrumentation. By this I mean that the color TFT screen has no place on a custom with a black spirit. The instrument cluster consists of a needle-type rev counter and an LCD display showing speed and basic functions such as fuel gauge and engine temperature.

Engine: it's America!

For Hyosung, it would have been a simple matter to follow the example of many manufacturers with a parallel twin. The Korean engineer is a perfectionist, and opted for a V Twin like the great Indian or Harley Davidson. The result is a 60° V-twin with a single overhead camshaft and 4 valves per cylinder. It discharges 296 cc and delivers 29 hp (21.6 kW) at 8,500 rpm. Maximum torque is 25.6 Nm at 6,000 rpm. Its architecture, however, makes it available from low revs.

The engine benefits from a 6-speed transmission, with final drive entrusted to a chain. It's a pity, as a belt drive would have been better for reasons of looks and maintenance. The Bobber's performance isn't extraordinary, with a top speed of 135 km/h claimed. Fuel consumption is rated at 3.4 L/100 km, with the engine meeting Euro4 standards.

The engine is housed in a double-cradle steel frame. It's worth noting that the frame does a good job of concealing the imposing liquid-cooling radiator. The bike's wheelbase is not too long, at 1428 mm (values very close to those of a roadster), making manoeuvring easier.

Suspension is provided by a 35 mm front fork with 136 mm of travel. At the rear, a double rear shock absorber (steel swingarm) provides 94.3 mm of travel. You'll need to be careful not to get caught out too much by large asphalt deformations, as you're likely to hit a bit.

Braking relies on a single disc at the front (allowing you to admire the style of the wheel from one side). It features a 270 mm disc bitten by a four-piston caliper. Rear braking is via a slightly smaller 250 mm disc clamped by a two-piston caliper. The whole system is monitored by ABS.

the cast aluminum wheels have atypical dimensions, with a 16-inch wheel at the front and only 15 inches at the rear. The Teamsun tires are a generous 120/80 at the front and 150/80 at the rear, a so-called balloon profile in the middle that should provide comfort.

The machine is claimed to weigh 172 kg, a reasonable weight given the low center of gravity, with a seat height of just 710 mm.

Real looks, mini price

With a 2-year warranty and a price tag of just 4,999 euros, this Hyosung makes no mistake, especially with its Harley Davidson 883 Iron look. What's more, the brand has been around longer than some of its Chinese rivals, and this increases confidence when it comes to signing the cheque.

Vincent Beaucousin - manufacturer's photos