- Great Wall Motors unveils the first bike under its Souo brand
- It’s called the S2000 and comes in two variants
- 2000cc engine is paired with an eight-speed DCT
Great Wall Motors has unveiled a new touring motorcycle, S2000 in China under its new two-wheeler brand called Souo. The Goldwing rival made its debut at the Beijing International Motorcycle Exhibition 2024 and grabbed everyone’s attention for its massive engine displacement and cylinder configuration.
The S2000 is powered by a 2000cc, flat-eight engine that is paired to an eight-speed DCT and clings onto a cast aluminium frame. Although the performance numbers of this engine are yet to be officially revealed, the 6,000rpm redline visible on the display suggests that it will be tuned for a strong low-end torque. The display also shows a maximum speed of 240kmph and the real-world top speed should be closer to that. Needless to say, this is the highest number of cylinders we’ve seen in a motorcycle engine so far. Its closest rivals, the Honda Goldwing and BMW K 1600 models are powered by a six-cylinder engine.
Besides the engine, another highlight is the S2000’s suspension setup. The front wheel is suspended by a Hossack-style girder fork with a double wishbone and a single shock absorber. This type of setup is suitable for such heavy tourers to mitigate the front fork dive under braking while not compromising much on comfort and shock absorption. Moreover, it seems to have all the features expected from a big tourer. There’s a music system with speakers and Bluetooth connectivity, heated grips and seats, an electronic parking brake, cruise control, automatic headlights, and a huge TFT screen. It also has a flamboyant and intimidating design to match the extravaganza that this bike as a whole package.
Available in GL and ST variants, the S2000 is just the first product under GWM’s Souo brand among many others that will be introduced in the near future to compete with other mainstream two-wheeler brands in China. The entry of this bike or brand is uncertain at present but we can never know what the future holds.
