Hyosung GV 300 S Bobber Evo 2023 — Specifications

Imagine the scene: an A2 license in your pocket, the desire for a custom that doesn't look like a toy, and a tight budget. The market offers you trails by the dozen, a few sporty roadsters, and then this Hyosung GV 300 S Bobber Evo, which stands out from everything else. The Korean motorcycle received a significant update in 2023: a fully LCD dashboard, LED lighting at the front and turn signals, a reworked seat, and above all, an inverted 35 mm telescopic fork that radically changes the front end silhouette. The result is striking for those familiar with the previous version.

What immediately strikes you is the honesty of the project. Hyosung didn't cobble together a custom with off-the-shelf parts; the brand thought about every visual detail. The shape of the 12.5-liter fuel tank, the air filter box positioned laterally in the style of American bikes, the low seat at 710 mm of height that hugs the frame, the forward-set footpegs that naturally orient the riding position towards something relaxed, almost contemplative. The raised handlebar completes this characteristic posture. Park this motorcycle in front of a café without a visible badge, and few passersby would guess 296 cc lies beneath the fuel tank. The matte black finish, the only color available, fully embraces the dark ambiance. It's an assumed choice, not a cost-saving measure.

The engine deserves attention. Where many manufacturers would have opted for a simpler parallel-twin, Hyosung chose a 60-degree V-Twin with 4 valves per cylinder, liquid-cooled. This architectural choice is not insignificant: it gives the engine that characteristic V visual that custom enthusiasts immediately recognize, with the promise of torque available early in the rev range. The 29 horsepower peaks at 8500 rpm and the torque of 26.5 Nm arrives at 6000 rpm. These figures don't inspire awe on paper, but the well-spaced 6-speed gearbox and the V architecture allow for smooth riding without constantly juggling the lever. The top speed announced at 135 km/h clearly positions the machine: it's made for the road, not for a solitary highway ride. The chain final drive is the only real aesthetic regret; a belt would have better suited the character.

The chassis reflects the choices of the update. The 35 mm inverted fork with 132 mm of travel gives a noticeably more assertive visual presence than a classic straight fork. Behind, the two shock absorbers offer 94 mm of travel, sufficient for urban riding and correct roads, a little limited on rough surfaces where short impacts can surprise. The steel double cradle frame positions the motorcycle with a wheelbase of 1428 mm, close to roadsters, which guarantees correct handling without the sometimes penalizing length of certain customs. The cast aluminum wheels with atypical dimensions, 16 inches at the front and 15 inches at the rear, contribute to the chunky look characteristic of the bobber genre. ABS braking with a 270 mm disc at the front pinched by a four-piston caliper provides the essentials without excess.

At €5299, the GV 300 S Bobber Evo faces the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, accessible for a few hundred euros less but which doesn't exude the same visual presence. The Hyosung plays in a quasi-deserted category on the A2 market: a V-Twin custom with this level of finish, this price positioning and a brand that has been around long enough to reassure a first-license buyer. This is precisely where its interest lies. It is aimed at the young rider who refuses to look like a beginner and who wants to ride something unique without waiting to have an A license. For this, the Korean has done its homework.