Cycle News Staff | July 4, 2024
We ride the street-focused V-Strom 800 alongside the off-road-focused V-Strom 800DE. What’s the difference, and which one is right for you?
By Cycle News Staff | Photography by Kit Palmer
Due to several factors out of our control, it took over a year since Suzuki introduced its new V-Strom 800 and V-Strom 800DE for the Cycle News staff to get the chance to ride the company’s latest mid-size ADVers. Finally, we got our hands on both models at the same time and spent several days riding them back-to-back to share what they both have to offer and how they compare to each other. The 800 (aka “standard”) is the more street-biased V-Strom, and the 800DE is the more off-road-biased V-Strom, but you may be surprised at how capable both models are. Suzuki also offers the 800 Touring and 800DE Adventure models, fitted from the factory with luggage and/or trunk and a few other accessories that the standard 800 and 800DE don’t have. You’ll also pay more for them.
The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE (left) and 800 (right) are similar on paper but surprisingly different on the road or dirt.
The two bikes here, the 800 and 800DE, share the same steel chassis and 776cc parallel-twin powerplant but have different suspension components, wheel sizes (and cast aluminum versus spoked), brakes and electronic adjustments, making them much different beasts. We praised the motor in our reviews of the Suzuki GSX-8S and GSX-8R models, which are fitted with the same base engine as the V-Strom 800s, and it is an equally impressive power unit for ADV use. In fact, it is one of the most fun sub-1000cc ADV powerplants in use right now. The low-end grunt is extremely fun on the pavement and works well in the dirt. The standard quickshifter, which works both up and down, is flawless and adds to the fun factor.
The suspension is the most significant difference between the 800 and 800DE, with 5.9 inches of front/rear wheel travel on the standard 800 and 7.9 inches of front/rear wheel travel on the 800DE. The standard model only includes preload adjustability on the front and rear, while the 800DE includes preload adjustability, compression and rebound adjustability. The standard 800 works well for relatively inexpensive standard suspension, as the stock settings are pretty good. The longer travel 800DE suspension and added ground clearance, along with the larger diameter 21-inch front wheel, make it a more dirt-worthy bike, but it comes standard with a 17-inch rear wheel compared to the 18-inch rear wheel found on most dirt-focused ADV bikes.
The 800DE (right) is tailored for slightly more technical off-road riding than the street-based 800 (left), which has a 17-inch wheel in front and a 17-inch rear, a lower seat height and less wheel travel.
On the electronics side, the standard V-Strom 800 has more adjustability than some more expensive ADV bikes (most notably the Yamaha Tenere 700). The Suzukis have ride-by-wire throttle, two-mode ABS (unfortunately, with no option to turn off the rear ABS completely on the 800), three power output options and three traction control options. The 800DE includes two more traction control options, including a gravel mode and off to completely disengage any intervention and the option to turn off the rear ABS completely (a must-have for any aggressive dirt riding). Both bikes share the same very nice five-inch TFT dash that makes it easy to toggle between the power, traction control, and ABS options, as well as monitor the basic speed, rpm, fuel level and current gear selected.
On the rider comfort front, the standard model V-Strom 800 includes a taller and wider windscreen, a different bend, and a narrower tapered aluminum handlebar tailored to riding on the road versus the wider and further swept-back handlebar that comes on the 800DE. The 800DE has a small windscreen that provides less wind protection on the road in exchange for better visibility and less chance of bashing you in the face when you hit the dirt.
The 800 (left) and 800DE (right) share Suzuki’s superb new 800cc parallel-twin motor, which is wonderful for either off-road or on-road use.
Both V-Strom 800 models have 5.3 gallons of fuel capacity, which is at the high end of the capacity found on any other mid-size ADV bikes. This means you should get well over 250 miles of range, and both bikes are comfortable enough to do that in one sitting.
Despite its 21-inch front wheel, the 800DE handles well on the pavement. It has a 19-inch wheel in the back, which is smaller than the 17-inch rear wheel on most off-road-focused ADV bikes.
Which one is best for you?
As expected, the standard V-Strom 800 is a better street bike. The lower seat height, larger windscreen, smaller front wheel, and radial-mounted front brakes provide outstanding performance, especially for a motorcycle with an MSRP of less than $9900. For suspension without adjustability, the built-in settings work very well and should appeal to a wide range of riders.
The V-Strom 800DE is not as fun or capable of riding on the street as the standard model, but it is the best choice of the two if you want to do any aggressive off-road riding. The additional suspension travel and ground clearance, 21-inch front wheel, and more electronic adjustability, including the ability to turn off the rear ABS, make it a completely different motorcycle capable of ramping up the fun when the road turns into a trail.
The “standard” 800 is a marvelous street bike. It’s very comfortable, handles exceptionally well, has a great motor, has excellent range, and does just fine on maintained county dirt roads.
Wrap-Up
We were thrilled to finally spend some quality time on the Suzuki V-Strom 800 and V-Strom 800DE models. The motor is impressive, and both bikes have great features for their price points.
The motor’s performance, quickshifter, and electronic adjustability put the Suzuki V-Strom 800 at or near the front of the ADV pack among any other bike close to this price point if you will primarily ride on the pavement and do only minor forays into the dirt (too bad you can’t deactivate the rear ABS). It is comfortable, capable, and very fun on the road, and it can explore maintained dirt roads with ease.
Both bikes are excellent motorcycles, but the “standard” 800 is tough to beat when you figure in its excellent $9899 MSRP.
The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE has more competition in the off-road capable 21-inch front wheel mid-sized ADV category. If you prefer a somewhat lower seat height on your off-road ADV bike, the V-Strom 800DE will allow your feet to touch the ground a little easier than most other bikes. The motor is among the best in the category at any price point but with a ready-to-ride weight of 510 pounds, it is on the heavy side (about 40 pounds more than a Yamaha Tenere 700 and 60 more than an Aprilia Tuareg with a small portion of that extra weight due to more fuel capacity). It feels a little heavy, and the suspension is a little mushy compared to those bikes that are similar in price (and very soft compared to the more off-road-focused KTM 890 Adventure R, which also has a $4k higher MSRP). However, with a bit of fine-tuning of the suspension, the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE would be on par with some of those other higher-cost alternatives.CN
VIDEO | Suzuki V-Strom 800 Comparison – Standard vs. DE
2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800 Specifications
| MSRP |
$9899 |
| Engine |
Parallel Twin |
| Displacement |
776cc |
| Bore x Stroke |
84.0 x 70.0mm |
| Valvetrain |
DOHC, 8 valves |
| Fueling |
EFI |
| Electronics |
Two-mode ABS (no full off option for front or rear), three-mode power output, three-mode Traction Control |
| Quickshifter |
Standard up-down quickshifter |
| Horsepower (Claimed) |
83 hp at 8500 rpm |
| Torque (Claimed) |
57.5 lb-ft at 6800 rpm |
| Transmission |
6-Speed |
| Clutch |
Wet, Multi-Plate |
| Frame |
Tubular Steel |
| Handlebar |
Tapered aluminum (narrower grip and forward position compared to V-Strom 800DE) |
| Front Suspension |
Showa inverted telescopic, coil spring, oil damped (adjustable spring preload only) |
| Rear Suspension |
Link type, single shock, coil spring, oil damped (adjustable spring preload only) |
| Front-Wheel Travel |
5.9 in. |
| Rear-Wheel Travel |
5.9 in. |
| Ground Clearance |
7.3 in. |
| Front Brake |
Nissin, 4-piston radial-mount calipers, dual 310mm disc with adj. ABS |
| Rear Brake |
Nissin, 1-piston, single 260mm disc with adjustable ABS |
| Front Wheel / Tire |
Cast-Aluminum / 110/80R-19 in. tubeless |
| Rear Wheel / Tire |
Cast-Aluminum / 150/70R-17 in. tubeless |
| Rake |
26.0° |
| Wheelbase |
59.6 in. |
| Seat Height |
32.5 in. |
| Fuel Capacity |
5.3 gal. |
| Weight (wet, measured) |
495 lbs. |
2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE Specifications
| MSRP |
$11,599 |
| Engine |
Parallel Twin |
| Displacement |
776cc |
| Bore x Stroke |
84.0 x 70.0mm |
| Valvetrain |
DOHC, 8 valves |
| Fueling |
EFI |
| Electronics |
two-mode ABS (with full-rear off setting), three-mode power output, three-mode Traction Control plus gravel and full off modes. |
| Quickshifter |
Standard up-down quickshifter |
| Horsepower (Claimed) |
83 hp at 8500 rpm |
| Torque (Claimed) |
57.5 lb-ft at 6800 rpm |
| Transmission |
6-Speed |
| Clutch |
Wet, Multi-Plate |
| Frame |
Tubular Steel |
| Handlebar |
Tapered aluminum (wider grip and more rear sweep than V-Strom 800) |
| Front Suspension |
Showa inverted telescopic, coil spring, oil damped (adjustable spring preload, compression/rebound camping) |
| Rear Suspension |
Showa Link type, single shock, coil spring, oil damped (adjustable spring preload, compression/rebound camping) |
| Front-Wheel Travel |
7.9 in. |
| Rear-Wheel Travel |
7.9 in. |
| Ground Clearance |
7.9 in. |
| Front Brake |
Nissin, 4-piston radial-mount calipers, dual 310mm disc with adj. ABS |
| Rear Brake |
Nissin, 1-piston, single 260mm disc with adj. ABS and full-ABS-off option for rear wheel |
| Front Wheel / Tire |
Spoked / 90/90R-21 in. tube type |
| Rear Wheel / Tire |
Spoked / 150/70R-17 in. tube type |
| Rake |
28.0° |
| Wheelbase |
61.8 in. |
| Seat Height |
33.7 in. |
| Fuel Capacity |
5.3 gal. |
| Weight (wet, measured) |
510 lbs. |
