Suzuki’s 776cc parallel twin engine launched a few years in the past is, by all accounts, a gem. MD had by no means sampled a motorcycle with this engine till we picked up our V-Strom 800 check unit a few months in the past. It seems that the engine is a gem, and so is the remainder of this bike.
MD has greater than its share of expertise driving journey bikes modified to serve primarily as a avenue machine. It’s possible you’ll recall that editor Edge modified his private KTM 790 Journey by, amongst a number of different issues, putting in a 19″ entrance wheel and 17″ rear rather than the 21/18 inventory items. This allowed using sport touring rubber. The aim was to create a pure avenue machine with the comfy upright ergonomics and wind safety of an journey bike. This was considerably profitable with some shortcomings.
Getting the 790 Journey to work correctly as a avenue bike concerned extra work than anticipated. Along with needing new tone rings to get the speedometer and ABS to work correctly with the change in wheel sizes, the width of the wheels and tires put in on the 19/17 rims wanted to be decreased to dial-in the dealing with. The entrance brake additionally wanted some work (particularly, extra aggressive pads).
So I rode and examined the V-Strom 800 with way more than delicate curiosity. This was a direct competitor to what I had been attempting to construct with the KTM. Not surprisingly, maybe, the Suzuki labored much better on the road than my modified journey bike ever did.
Let’s begin by speaking about some technical specs. The V-Strom 800 shouldn’t be the lightest middleweight journey bike with a claimed moist weight of 492 kilos. This isn’t as dangerous because it appears, nonetheless, as a result of this weight determine contains the massive 5.3 gallon gasoline tank topped off. Designed primarily for avenue use, the V-Strom 800 comes with comparatively slim solid aluminum wheels sized 19″ entrance and 17″ rear. Tire sizes are 110/80 x 19 entrance and 150/70 x 17 rear.
Suspension features a 43 mm Showa fork with 5.9″ of journey and a Showa shock with the identical 5.9″. The entrance fork is adjustable for spring preload, and is a nicely revered Showa SFF-BP (Separate Operate Fork – Massive Piston). The shock has a really handy distant knob for tool-less spring preload adjustment, in addition to rebound damping adjustment. The shorter suspension journey – roughly half-way between a standard journey mannequin and a typical avenue bike – contributes to a way more manageable seat top of 32.5 inches that ought to enable even shorter riders to simply contact down.
The entrance brakes are very prime quality radial-mount Nissin four-piston calipers working on two 310 mm discs. The rear brake is one other Nissin caliper working on a single 260 mm disc. The entrance brake is a better high quality, extra highly effective brake than Suzuki places on the extra dirt-focused V-Strom 800 DE fashions.
Fashionable electronics and rider aids are current. Three totally different throttle maps vary from Mode A with the sportiest response to Mode C, the softest. Traction management has three totally different settings permitting three totally different ranges of intervention and wheel spin. Lastly, this bike has Suzuki’s low rpm help to assist keep away from stalling when pulling away from a cease.
The V-Strom 800 has a snug seat and an upright rider triangle with a tiny little bit of a ahead lean in comparison with most journey bikes. The wind display is adjustable for 3 totally different heights, however have to be finished with instruments within the storage. The display sits quite removed from the rider, and reminds one in every of a rally-style display.
Inside two blocks of driving the V-Strom 800, we fell in love with the motor. It has a really clean, nearly electrical really feel at low rpm and may be very responsive with out being snatchy. The bike pulls strongly by way of the mid-range earlier than flattening out at larger rpms. On the freeway, in addition to on the road, the bike appears to all the time sit in that candy spot of mid-range energy. The inventory bike dynos with horsepower within the mid-to-upper 70s, comfortably extra highly effective than Kawasaki’s 650 fashions and even Yamaha’s MT-07 and associated journey mannequin.
The engine traits couple with glorious dealing with, suspension and brake efficiency. The 19″ wheel doesn’t appear to impression dealing with a lot in comparison with sportier 17″ wheels discovered on another bikes. The bike turns with out a heavy gyro really feel, and presents good traction and suggestions by way of the inventory Dunlop tires.
The marginally longer suspension journey (in comparison with different avenue bikes) may be very welcome on most public roads which can be lower than excellent. The bike soaks up bumps nicely, however the suspension journey is brief sufficient that the rider doesn’t really feel a lot pitch when braking or accelerating. In brief, it is a very enjoyable bike on a twisty highway that, within the arms of an skilled rider, can sustain with most sport-focused highway bikes.
Like most Suzukis we’ve got examined, the transmission was glorious. Gear adjustments, with a superb fast shifter, have been each constructive and easy. Gearing is comparatively low, however sixth gear on the freeway didn’t produce disagreeable vibration (though you might be driving a parallel twin).
The 5.3 gallon gasoline tank guarantees glorious vary, and it’s straightforward to exceed 50 mpg on this bike. We did discover the gasoline gauge on our check unit fairly inaccurate, nonetheless, when it moved from an indicated 1/2 full to a flashing low gasoline indicator too shortly.
Other than the gasoline gauge, our solely criticism could be the windscreen. Our 5’11” check rider discovered the safety sufficient, however an excessive amount of wind buffeting at helmet stage. Shifting the windscreen to its highest place helped, however didn’t eradicate the issue. This definitely isn’t a deal breaker, and riders with totally different bodily proportions may not have a problem. In any occasion, nearly each journey bike we’ve got ridden has benefitted from an aftermarket windscreen,
The Suzuki V-Strom 800 seems to be a really enjoyable motorbike to trip, whereas being comfy and sensible. Most riders buying journey bikes by no means take them off-road, or accomplish that hardly ever. The V-Strom 800 ought to be on their quick listing once they search for a brand new bike.
The U.S. MSRP of the 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800 is $9,899. It’s only obtainable within the pictured Metallic Matte Metal Inexperienced. Check out Suzuki’s website for extra particulars and specs.
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