Suzuki V-Strom 800DE Review: As Good As It Looks?

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[scottcui]

Vstrom looks much better than the TransAlp IMO

[yjud]

Suzuki could have made this the DR-Big800 successor, it would have sold more with the DR's competitive reputation compared to the Vstrom's tamed reputation.
Had mine for over 6 months now, I love every bit of it. Been using it on and off road. Low end usuable power is there for offroad and riding the twisties is easier albeit the 21-in front wheel. Changed mine to tubeless with outex kit (very easy) and is doing great so far. I have to mention that the Quickshifter is wonderful!
If you want cruise control, add mccruise as they already have kit for the vstrom.
Not heavy in the electronics which keeps it simple yet modern. Comfy seats.
Suspension is a charm. Makes you feel an expert offroad.
Downside for me: useless front lights (remedy with aux lights), heavy during full stops and not too many accessories in the market. But really, they should have called it the latest DR-BIG800.

[KinglyKitten]

I picked mine up 2 weeks ago and added the MC Cruise kit and so far it seems to work quite well. I love this bike so far

[JayBee-crjm]

I love mine but the headlight sucks and the spokes tarnished weeks after buying it. Best bike I've owned (MUCH better than my Tiger 800XC) but I'd pay an additional $3000 for tubeless wheels, cruise, halogen headlights and SS spokes. This bike does, at times, confuse cheap with affordable.

[trailrider]

Too many spec sheet warriors in this thread. In the last 5-7 years I have owned 7 bikes from multiple brands (suzuki, hondas, yamaha, ktm, kawasaki). From crf250ls to liter bikes and a few adv bikes too. I currently own a vstrom 800 de. It is a fabulous bike, yes it could be lighter, but it is also a great bike. This is the first bike I will keep for over a year and in 6 months of ownership, it already has 7, 000 miles. Super reliable. Happy this won't be a buyback as my previous ktm was.

Should I have gotten the transalp? I do not know until I buy one or ride one. However, the 800 de have compared pretty well in the comparos. Perhaps, in the future I get a transalp too.

[houseofroos]

Totally agree on the tubeless, the 650 xt had tubeless spoked.

[Tales_Of_Moto_Adventures]

I've been testing out the 800DE on a few adventure, it is super capable on trails and tracks.
Awesome video mate.

[jonwoodworker]

You really can't compare the 800DE with the Talp. The 800DE is a true adventure bike with fully adjustable suspension, Honda put rubberbands on the TAlp and called it a day. The 800DE has better torque and fueling which is needed off road. The TAlp makes its power high in the rev range and jerky fueling which makes it a nightmare off road. Chime in TAlp owners with your, but my TAlp is lighter. Lift them both up, there is very very little difference if at all. The TAlp is a fine street tourer/commuter but Honda already has a better one in the NC750X, that frunk is awesome, which the TAlp doesn't have.

[TSER]

Selling for around ¥1, 200, 000 in Japan. At a yen to pound exchanged rate of ¥188 to £1, you are looking at: £6382.
A new Transalp is around ¥1, 300, 000. About 100, 000 yen ( 500 quid) more expensive.

[JochenThe]

There are more colour options, in the EU you get white, yellow, grey and black plus a special white-blue model in Italy.

[trevb]

Nice review Bob as always. Not my cup of tea at this moment in time but seriously looking at the 8R! Can't wait to see your ride review of that one. 👍

[nickb]

I rode this back to back with the V-Strom 650 was a better bike in terms of riding experience IMO. Smoother engine, broader torque range even though slightly lower in horsepower, better seat and better setup for the road.

[dronetest]

I was test riding Transalp but decided on the V Strom, as I got better deal, I like the bike, only engine heat gets on my nerves a bit. But now sure how it is on the Transalp. I was test riding in March and now we have August and 20 C more.

[arnoldtm]

No cruise control. Missed opportunity. Same issue with the Transalp.

[stevethomas]

Nice review had my DE for 3 months got a x Demo 300 miles on the clock £8500 traded my gsx8s in for it great bike can’t wait for the uk summer 🧐🧐

[verlinswarey]

I really like this bike. However, the lack of cruise control and its weight simply takes it off the list for me. It just felt heavy the time I sat on it at the dealer. Which is an absolute shame, because like was stated in the video, it really is a very well put together motorcycle!

[kjbunnyboiler]

I was hoping we’d see an 800 V twin in this that could launch an updated SV platform

[rcvg]

I find these quite wonderful. I'm hoping they give it cruise control as standard. It's really the only serious gotcha it's missing. If I didn't already have a GS and was shopping around that 10k range the strom is definitely on the short list. As for DE vs the touring version? Tough call, I'd go DE I think. A 21 inch front can carve corners just fine I don't think you are giving up too much nimbleness over the 19 inch on the touring version but getting a lot of offroad stability.

It really is a serious miss not having cruise. I don't think it cannabalizes 1050 sales that much. People aren't making that jump for the cruise control, they make that jump for the power.

[greenambles]

Horses for courses as always. As I think you aware, this “styling” not for me but it seems a cap tipped to KTM and Huskie with it’s pointy prismatic looks. I’d add “plastic” as a 3rd “p”. Interesting too how they’ve adapted a 4-slice toaster to create that exhaust. Always handy to be able to grab a hot pop tart midway through one’s adventure ride!

[FudFst]

Transalp looks like the Sphinx. I'd have the Pearl Tech White 800DE. The plastic panniers are superior to the aluminium cases too. Can haul more weight, look better, more aerodynamic and are a little cheaper I believe. The DE is cheaper than the Transalp here so it's even easier to choose, if that was ever a question.