Great video. It’s fantastic when motorcycle manufacturers offer road and off-road models of their bikes. Ironically the road versions see little press but they’re the ones most people need. Thanks for showing some love to the street 800.
Only reason Suzuki didn't put cruise control on the 800 is because they put it on the 1050 V-Strom and for some reason Japan considers this a "premium feature" reserved to their top end models.
Unfortunately that kills the deal for me. I owned a BMW 1300 GS for 2 years, and I loved it. Only downside: It was too heavy, and I think it had too much power than necessary. Yes, power is always good, and I am not saying I did not enjoy it. But I did not really need it. Now, the same arguments are kind of valid for the 1050 V-Strom, hence I was eyeballing the V-Strom 800DE, because it seemed like a perfect fit for my desires. But as soon as I learned there is not cruise control, I lost all interest. Sorry, Suzuki. Not sure if I am willing cough up the money for a BMW F 900XR, which I also really liked when I drove it or not. If not, I will check back next year if Suzuki finally offers cruise control for the V-STrom 800. If so and I will have not bought the BMW yet, you can make a sale on me.
The ONLY thing stopping me from buying the DE is the tubed tyres. At 70 years old the last thing I need is to be using tyre levers on a hard walled tyre in the Australian outback in summer. If tubeless tyres are good enough for Aprillia, BMW etc then should also be for Suzuki.
Great comparism, but unlike as mentioned in titles 3:05 i guess that Standard version 800 has not 17in. wheels but 19" in front and tubeless. DE version has 21 + 17 with tubes.
I looked at the SE (RE in the UK), and bought the DE a week ago, and I love it, even though my off-road riding will be limited. The slightly larger height fitted me very well, and no cruise, minor vibes small screen and some heat makes zero difference to my riding needs - it’s just a fantastic bike. It’s no noticeably heavier than my old L4 650 Vstrom, it more power, more comfortable, and the QS is fun! Regarding the Vstrom/Pstrom concerns, c’mon, get over this, it makes no difference! Try it, I. Sure you’ll enjoy the ride! 😀🙏
Just an FYI. There is a cruse control available. I put one on my KTM390ADV. A company that is putting out a quality kit. I would post the name but I am not trying to market stuff for them. Just help others. The name starts with the letter "V" It's up to you. I am thinking hard about the strom 800.. Good vid.
Blasted expensive too, and a slightly tacky switch pod. The V-Strom 1050 has cruise control standard, and Suzuki needs to migrate that to the 800. A switch pod and computer code. Done.
I test rode both and thought I would love the V-Strom 800 more - I nearly bought one without a test ride before. But honestly..I liked the Transalp way more. The motor of the TAlp sounds great with the stock exhaust - you can barely hear the Strom's Motor. The Strom has slightly more torque in low and mid range..but if you rev the Honda a bit, it works astonishing great. The TAlp feels better in the Twisties - just a bit nimbler. What I also liked more on my TA testride is the seating position. Both bikes are comfortable but on the TA you're sitting "in" the bike and not "on" the bike what I personally prefer. I don't really like the look of both bikes. The Strom is a bit ugly (that big exhaust does not make it better) and the TA looks boring with that CB500X headlight. The gear changes / transmission on the Honda worked a bit better for me than on the Strom. What also was a bit annoying on the Strom was the engine heat on the right leg. So..on paper (beside the weight), the Strom is the better bike for me. But after a testride, I would prefer the TA. I guess everyone is different - that's why testrides are so important.
I agree.also for an average high guy,transalp is better in handling.i am 5.10,i had many high bikes,but vstrom is too bulky,too wide to heavy.they say it has better suspention so its better off road,but,who will handle that mass off road?you must be over 6 feet.anyway,both bikes for their prices,are not something special.and vstrom is too ugly also
@thudtheace Sat on and riden both. Was going to buy the Talp but not for me. I'm 6'1"and 220lbs, and the 800DE fit me better . The suspension is adjustable and only needs to be resprung vs. a total replacement on the Talp. If I wanted wind protection and top speed, I would still pass on the Talp as I have better and faster bikes from Honda. The Suzuki's real-world torque is so much better. This Meaning, you can leave it in a lower gear, and it pulls the whole rev range. I found there was too much up and down shifting needed to keep the Talp on pace. Both bikes are comfortable, but good lord is the screen interface bad on the Talp. Honda missed my money on this one. I grew up hating Suzuki, but they got my money twice with the DR650 and 800DE.
I sat on the 800 standard. Im about 6'1-6'2 and 200lbs. I never felt such an uncomfortable adv bike stock. It is made as a very budget adv for new riders. I have almost 120k miles on my 02 vstrom 1k.
@@cyclenews suspension was too soft in the front and rear (adj preload also) egros has me more than cramped, bike would need risers/maybe even rearsets speaking for my personal comfort. The de in comparison feels solid in every fault that I mentioned.
@@quicksilv3r469 So, you're mad the successor to the Wee-Strom is still a wee Strom? The standard one is specifically for street/road biased riders. Try the DE or check the Tenere if you need something taller with less heft.
Currently i want to replace my v strom 650 with another bike. So i tested the new vstrom 800. I don't know if it was my idea but it has noticeably more vibrations at highway speeds, it emitted way more heat than my 650 and unfortunately the screen continues to be far far away from the rider. (I solved this issue to mine with an MRA screen...) Can anyone please tell me whether my observations are correct? I also have another question; between the two versions of the 800 how much worst in pavement is the DE version? Considering that i ride 95% on asphalt it's reasonably to require excellent pavement manners. Thanks for your time!
Your observations about the heat and vibrations have been voiced by many others. FWIW, many also say that both the vibrations and heat issue appears to dissipate, especially after the first service. Whether that dissipation is real (maybe from the bike breaking in or ???) or perhaps folks are simply getting used to it, I don't know. Re how much worse is the DE on pavement, I cannot say. I have an 09 DL650 that has the cast alloy wheels and tubeless tires. I have taken it off-road occasionally and never really had an issue with the amount of suspension travel or breaking something. That said, I am not hard on the bike or myself. The standard 800 has better brakes (4 piston instead of 2 piston) than the DE, has a larger windscreen, and is slightly lighter than the DE due to the lack of off-road protection. It will be better on the road and over distance than the DE, has tubeless tires, is a little less expensive, and has approximately the same suspension travel as my 650, which has always been satisfactory. For me, the non DE (plain) version seems to make the most sense.
@@CP-wo3myI bought a new dr650 back in the spring wanting to get back into riding, I’m finding that I’m riding more on road then off and my dr is lacking on power been debating trading up to the vstrom de but I might give the regular 800 a try plus I like the color.
Back in the years, "V" indeed represented the engine. Later models, Suzuki has changed that to "Versatile". There's a lot more to swapping model codes with international markets, corporate naming conventions, and brand history than you can imagine.
When comparing the two bikes the standard model is more geared for road riding, making it more fun to ride strictly on the road. The DE model is still a good time on the pavement, but it is obviously more off-road oriented.
@@cyclenews I have the de and it's a blast on the road. Also have the standard windscreen on my de and it makes a world of difference. Haven't taken of pavement much do to the stupid tire choice suzuki put on the de I do have 50/50 tire ready to go once the stockers are worn out
21 inch wheels and tires are going to slow turn-in and transition speed. Also with taller suspension, your CG is higher up which also makes transitions slower. If that translates to "fun" or not, that's entirely subjective and the reviewers should be skilled enough to nuance that when explaining the differences.
I disagree.... pick different roads if your using/wanting cruise contoll with this bike... or a different bike cause your riding roads dominated by cruiser/gold wing crowd. I own a 2024 800de unit and it's mint!
Great video. It’s fantastic when motorcycle manufacturers offer road and off-road models of their bikes. Ironically the road versions see little press but they’re the ones most people need. Thanks for showing some love to the street 800.
Absolutely! It's important to show off different models because everyone has different tastes and styles.
Only reason Suzuki didn't put cruise control on the 800 is because they put it on the 1050 V-Strom and for some reason Japan considers this a "premium feature" reserved to their top end models.
Unfortunately that kills the deal for me. I owned a BMW 1300 GS for 2 years, and I loved it. Only downside: It was too heavy, and I think it had too much power than necessary. Yes, power is always good, and I am not saying I did not enjoy it. But I did not really need it. Now, the same arguments are kind of valid for the 1050 V-Strom, hence I was eyeballing the V-Strom 800DE, because it seemed like a perfect fit for my desires. But as soon as I learned there is not cruise control, I lost all interest. Sorry, Suzuki. Not sure if I am willing cough up the money for a BMW F 900XR, which I also really liked when I drove it or not. If not, I will check back next year if Suzuki finally offers cruise control for the V-STrom 800. If so and I will have not bought the BMW yet, you can make a sale on me.
A very bad decision in my view.
Probably they'll add it after a few years, enough people crying out about it.
@@SpeedingCopor you could just pay 300 bucks for a veridian cruise control unit.
@@B1RDSEYE I did. Should arrive any day now. It is still a shame Suzuki does not offer it.
The ONLY thing stopping me from buying the DE is the tubed tyres. At 70 years old the last thing I need is to be using tyre levers on a hard walled tyre in the Australian outback in summer. If tubeless tyres are good enough for Aprillia, BMW etc then should also be for Suzuki.
Supermoto guys have been turning spoked wheels into tubeless with rim tape and sealant for a long time. I bet it could be done on this machine too.
Great comparism, but unlike as mentioned in titles 3:05 i guess that Standard version 800 has not 17in. wheels but 19" in front and tubeless. DE version has 21 + 17 with tubes.
A great review, very informative and professional approach, unlike some channels on TH-cam... thumbs-up to cycle news
Thanks Rob!
I looked at the SE (RE in the UK), and bought the DE a week ago, and I love it, even though my off-road riding will be limited. The slightly larger height fitted me very well, and no cruise, minor vibes small screen and some heat makes zero difference to my riding needs - it’s just a fantastic bike.
It’s no noticeably heavier than my old L4 650 Vstrom, it more power, more comfortable, and the QS is fun!
Regarding the Vstrom/Pstrom concerns, c’mon, get over this, it makes no difference! Try it, I. Sure you’ll enjoy the ride! 😀🙏
Awesome! Enjoy the new ride.
Just an FYI.
There is a cruse control available. I put one on my KTM390ADV. A company that is putting out a quality kit.
I would post the name but I am not trying to market stuff for them.
Just help others.
The name starts with the letter "V"
It's up to you.
I am thinking hard about the strom 800..
Good vid.
Name also rhymes with “Veridian Cruise”.
Blasted expensive too, and a slightly tacky switch pod.
The V-Strom 1050 has cruise control standard, and Suzuki needs to migrate that to the 800. A switch pod and computer code. Done.
Great video, thanks for showing the comparison.
No problem, thanks for the support! 👍
Suzuki hit a home run with the 800. Sadly people are led to believe the TAlp is better.
That will make another great head-to-head test.
I test rode both and thought I would love the V-Strom 800 more - I nearly bought one without a test ride before.
But honestly..I liked the Transalp way more.
The motor of the TAlp sounds great with the stock exhaust - you can barely hear the Strom's Motor.
The Strom has slightly more torque in low and mid range..but if you rev the Honda a bit, it works astonishing great.
The TAlp feels better in the Twisties - just a bit nimbler.
What I also liked more on my TA testride is the seating position. Both bikes are comfortable but on the TA you're sitting "in" the bike and not "on" the bike what I personally prefer.
I don't really like the look of both bikes. The Strom is a bit ugly (that big exhaust does not make it better) and the TA looks boring with that CB500X headlight.
The gear changes / transmission on the Honda worked a bit better for me than on the Strom.
What also was a bit annoying on the Strom was the engine heat on the right leg.
So..on paper (beside the weight), the Strom is the better bike for me.
But after a testride, I would prefer the TA.
I guess everyone is different - that's why testrides are so important.
I agree.also for an average high guy,transalp is better in handling.i am 5.10,i had many high bikes,but vstrom is too bulky,too wide to heavy.they say it has better suspention so its better off road,but,who will handle that mass off road?you must be over 6 feet.anyway,both bikes for their prices,are not something special.and vstrom is too ugly also
I have sat on both the DE and Transalp. The Transalp feels more approachable and comfortable compared to the 800DE. I am 6'.0"
@thudtheace Sat on and riden both. Was going to buy the Talp but not for me. I'm 6'1"and 220lbs, and the 800DE fit me better . The suspension is adjustable and only needs to be resprung vs. a total replacement on the Talp. If I wanted wind protection and top speed, I would still pass on the Talp as I have better and faster bikes from Honda. The Suzuki's real-world torque is so much better. This Meaning, you can leave it in a lower gear, and it pulls the whole rev range. I found there was too much up and down shifting needed to keep the Talp on pace. Both bikes are comfortable, but good lord is the screen interface bad on the Talp. Honda missed my money on this one. I grew up hating Suzuki, but they got my money twice with the DR650 and 800DE.
I sat on the 800 standard. Im about 6'1-6'2 and 200lbs. I never felt such an uncomfortable adv bike stock. It is made as a very budget adv for new riders. I have almost 120k miles on my 02 vstrom 1k.
What did you not like about it?
@@cyclenews suspension was too soft in the front and rear (adj preload also) egros has me more than cramped, bike would need risers/maybe even rearsets speaking for my personal comfort. The de in comparison feels solid in every fault that I mentioned.
dude,buy the de with the high seat.you ll be fine.or even better ,for a tall lad like you ,buy the 1050de,a bike for basketball players.
@@quicksilv3r469 What's your inseam? You're very much on the big-n-tall spectrum of most riders.
@@quicksilv3r469 So, you're mad the successor to the Wee-Strom is still a wee Strom?
The standard one is specifically for street/road biased riders. Try the DE or check the Tenere if you need something taller with less heft.
Currently i want to replace my v strom 650 with another bike. So i tested the new vstrom 800. I don't know if it was my idea but it has noticeably more vibrations at highway speeds, it emitted way more heat than my 650 and unfortunately the screen continues to be far far away from the rider. (I solved this issue to mine with an MRA screen...)
Can anyone please tell me whether my observations are correct?
I also have another question; between the two versions of the 800 how much worst in pavement is the DE version? Considering that i ride 95% on asphalt it's reasonably to require excellent pavement manners. Thanks for your time!
Your observations about the heat and vibrations have been voiced by many others. FWIW, many also say that both the vibrations and heat issue appears to dissipate, especially after the first service. Whether that dissipation is real (maybe from the bike breaking in or ???) or perhaps folks are simply getting used to it, I don't know. Re how much worse is the DE on pavement, I cannot say. I have an 09 DL650 that has the cast alloy wheels and tubeless tires. I have taken it off-road occasionally and never really had an issue with the amount of suspension travel or breaking something. That said, I am not hard on the bike or myself. The standard 800 has better brakes (4 piston instead of 2 piston) than the DE, has a larger windscreen, and is slightly lighter than the DE due to the lack of off-road protection. It will be better on the road and over distance than the DE, has tubeless tires, is a little less expensive, and has approximately the same suspension travel as my 650, which has always been satisfactory. For me, the non DE (plain) version seems to make the most sense.
@@CP-wo3myI bought a new dr650 back in the spring wanting to get back into riding, I’m finding that I’m riding more on road then off and my dr is lacking on power been debating trading up to the vstrom de but I might give the regular 800 a try plus I like the color.
It is no longer a V twin, its a Parallel Twin. Should it not be a PT Strom?
Haha, that's good, Just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Suzuki didn't want to change the name. They say, V means Versatile.
I was thinking the same thing. P Strom. But I did take a RE version for a test drive. Fantastic motor and a very comfortable and capable motorcycle.
Back in the years, "V" indeed represented the engine.
Later models, Suzuki has changed that to "Versatile". There's a lot more to swapping model codes with international markets, corporate naming conventions, and brand history than you can imagine.
Because Pee-strom sounds wierd 😅 like a stream of pee.
What the hell you talking about the de is no fun on the road???
I believe what he said was that the DE is not -as- fun as the standard version on the road. Huge difference.
When comparing the two bikes the standard model is more geared for road riding, making it more fun to ride strictly on the road. The DE model is still a good time on the pavement, but it is obviously more off-road oriented.
@@cyclenews I have the de and it's a blast on the road. Also have the standard windscreen on my de and it makes a world of difference. Haven't taken of pavement much do to the stupid tire choice suzuki put on the de I do have 50/50 tire ready to go once the stockers are worn out
@@gabrielkopp2036 for me the standard windscreen is absolutely shit in every configuration.
21 inch wheels and tires are going to slow turn-in and transition speed. Also with taller suspension, your CG is higher up which also makes transitions slower. If that translates to "fun" or not, that's entirely subjective and the reviewers should be skilled enough to nuance that when explaining the differences.
The non-DE's geometry looks wrong, this bike needs 21 inch wheels.
Why? It's a road bike. Road handling will be better, tubeless tyres, more tyre options etc
Lol, no. Road edition is fine with 19" front. I own one. I would not go off-road on it aside from sensible /easy gravel. It's a decent road adv.
No cruise control, no dice! Sorry, Suzuki!
Time to strengthen up that limp wrist 😂
I disagree.... pick different roads if your using/wanting cruise contoll with this bike... or a different bike cause your riding roads dominated by cruiser/gold wing crowd.
I own a 2024 800de unit and it's mint!
Veridian Cruise makes an aftermarket cruise control for the V-strom. Ordered mine and the company is making great install videos too.
Its easy to get cruise control on it. The dealership might even throw it in to close the sale.