The Souo S2000 (2024/2025) represents one of the most audacious motorcycle engineering achievements in recent memory—a China-built luxury touring machine powered by the world’s only production flat-eight motorcycle engine. This is not hyperbole: no manufacturer, from Harley-Davidson to BMW, has dared venture into eight-cylinder territory. Great Wall Motors’ new Souo brand does exactly that with confidence and technical sophistication that shocks the industry.
At the absolute heart of this 1,016 lb (461 kg wet) behemoth lies a horizontally-opposed 1,999cc flat-eight engine delivering 154 bhp and 140 lb-ft (190 Nm) of torque—absolutely commanding numbers that eclipse even the legendary Honda Gold Wing’s 125 bhp. The engine pairs with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, a Hossack-style girder fork with double wishbone suspension, and technology rarely seen on any motorcycle: a 12.3-inch touchscreen powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 automotive-grade chip supporting OTA updates and voice control. Priced from 218,800 yuan (approximately $30,700 USD) with variants reaching 288,800 yuan, the S2000 is unquestionably the most complex, capable, and utterly uncompromising luxury tourer on Earth. It’s not for everyone—but for those who’ve sampled every competitor and demand absolute uniqueness, this Chinese marvel is a no-compromise statement of engineering audacity.
Complete Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Price (Starting) | 218,800 Yuan (~$30,700 USD); GL: 238,800 Yuan; Founder Edition: 288,800 Yuan |
| Engine Type | Horizontally-Opposed (Flat) 8-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder (unique in production) |
| Displacement | 1,999cc (122 cubic inches) |
| Bore x Stroke | 68.0 mm x 68.8 mm |
| Max Power | 154 bhp (113 kW) @ 6,000 rpm (estimated) |
| Max Torque | 190 Nm (140 lb-ft) @ mid-range RPM |
| Compression Ratio | Not officially disclosed |
| Fuel System | Electronic fuel injection with precision engine management |
| Transmission | 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with reverse gear |
| Final Drive | Shaft drive with Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) automatic parking function |
| Starting | Electric push-button start only |
| Frame | Die-cast aluminum welded construction, screw-free design, engine as stressed member |
| Front Suspension | Three-layer stepped Hossack-style girder fork with double wishbone, single shock absorber, electronically adjustable |
| Rear Suspension | Single shock absorber, electronically adjustable (multi-stage damping) |
| Front Brake | Dual Brembo 4-piston monobloc calipers, 320mm discs |
| Rear Brake | Brembo 4-piston caliper, 295mm disc |
| ABS System | Dual-channel ABS with traction control, lane change assist, blind-spot monitoring |
| Front Tyre | 130/70 R18 (sport-touring profile) |
| Rear Tyre | 200/55 R18 (widest rear tyre on any production motorcycle) |
| Wheels | 18-inch cast alloy (both front and rear) |
| Overall Length | 2,660mm (104.7 inches) |
| Overall Width | 950mm (37.4 inches) |
| Overall Height | 1,540mm (60.6 inches) |
| Wheelbase | 1,810mm (71.3 inches) |
| Ground Clearance | Approximately 180mm |
| Seat Height | 740mm (29.1 inches) |
| Wet Weight (ST variant) | 450 kg (990 lbs) – two-case version |
| Wet Weight (GL variant) | 461 kg (1,016 lbs) – three-case version with integrated backrest |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | To be confirmed (estimated 15-18 litres) |
| Storage Capacity | 118 litres total: Two 27L side cases + 63L trunk (GL variant only) |
| Top Speed | 210 kmph (130 mph) / Electronically limited in some markets |
| Instrument Cluster | 12.3-inch full-color TFT touchscreen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 SoC, OTA updates, voice control |
| Lighting | Dual LED round headlights with ring accents, wing-shaped LED strips, all-LED tail lights |
| Audio System | Eight speakers, 360W total output, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite sound processing |
| Comfort Features | Heated grips, heated seats (front and rear), power-adjustable windscreen, cruise control, hill-start assist, automatic parking brake, emergency call system |
| Color Options | Lion Red, Meteorite Black, Swan White; Gold accents on Founder Edition |
| Limited Production | Founder Edition limited to 88 units; Regular variants produced in batches (200 units per batch) |
| Emission Compliance | China National Standard compliant |
| Warranty | Not officially disclosed; Chinese domestic standard expected |
About Souo / Great Wall Motors
A Chinese Automotive Giant’s Bold Venture
Great Wall Motors (GWM), founded in 1984, is one of China’s largest and most diversified automotive conglomerates, renowned for SUVs, pickup trucks, and high-end vehicles. The company’s new Souo motorcycle brand marks its ambitious entry into the premium two-wheeler segment—a category historically dominated by Japanese, American, and European manufacturers.
The S2000 represents Great Wall Motor Chairman Wei Jianjun’s personal passion project, reflecting his love of motorcycles and commitment to pushing engineering boundaries. Rather than copying existing designs, Great Wall chose the road less traveled: building the world’s first production flat-eight motorcycle engine, a feat that even Honda and BMW haven’t attempted. This fearless approach mirrors China’s broader automotive philosophy of innovation-through-ambition.
Souo—meaning “Search Own, Unlimited Outlook”—embodies the brand’s vision: creating motorcycles that ignore convention, respect engineering excellence, and cater to riders who demand technological sophistication and absolute uniqueness above all else.
What Experts Are Saying
Key Highlights
- World-First Flat-Eight Engine: 1,999cc horizontally-opposed configuration unique in modern motorcycle production
- Staggering Performance: 154 bhp and 190 Nm torque surpass every touring bike competitor including the Gold Wing
- Advanced Suspension Technology: Hossack-style girder fork with double wishbone for dive-free braking comfort
- Automotive-Grade Electronics: 12.3-inch Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip with OTA updates and voice control
- Comprehensive Feature Suite: Heated seats/grips, power-adjustable windscreen, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear collision warning
- Exceptional Storage: 118 litres of secure lockable storage across multiple compartments
- Luxury Audio: Eight-speaker 360W sound system with Bluetooth and satellite processing
- Audacious Engineering: Screw-free aluminum frame, electronically adjustable suspension, DCT with reverse gear
The Souo S2000 is a motorcycle that shouldn’t exist by conventional industry logic—yet here it stands, defying expectations with eight cylinders where everyone else stopped at six. This is Great Wall Motors’ unambiguous declaration: Chinese engineering has reached parity with Western traditions and will not settle for iteration—only innovation.
Yes, the S2000 is expensive. Yes, it’s bewilderingly complex. Yes, global parts availability remains uncertain. But for discerning riders who’ve experienced every Gold Wing variant and BMW K1600 generation, who view motorcycles as mechanical art, this machine offers something irreplaceable: genuine uniqueness. The flat-eight engine alone—with its impossibly smooth power delivery and glorious eight-cylinder symphony—justifies consideration.
This is the ultimate touring motorcycle not because it’s the fastest or most luxurious, but because it represents the courage to dream differently. The S2000 asks riders: “What if we ignored conventional wisdom entirely?” The answer, unexpectedly, is engineering excellence.
