NEW Honda Transalp XL750 vs NEW Suzuki V-Strom 800DE | Which One Should You Buy?
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- Опубликовано: 19 окт 2024
- How do the new midsize ADV offerings from Honda & Suzuki compare? Are they really ADV dirt-worthy? How do they compare with the current crop of bikes from Aprilia, KTM, Husqvarna and Yamaha? Can they tour?
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![Suzuki V-Strom 800DE vs (my) Honda Transalp 750 - Objective Comparison [QuickTest#29]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XQhG1UF7hVM/mqdefault.jpg)
First year Hondas universally have experienced problems during the first two years. I was a suzuki dealer for many years and can assure you that suzuki does not suffer the same problems. I own three 650 vstroms 05, 06; and 07. All three combined dirt ridden in South Africa’s primitive pot hole covered and high speed roads. My bmw r 1200 gs many many expensive breakdowns from failed transmissions, to failed electronics. My only vstrom problem a starter solenoid. Cheers
No conflict of interest in this comment all, noooooopppppeeeee.
Trust me bro....
Agreed 100% I was shocked how much I loved my 650. I made the mistake of trading it in on a 17 Africa twin. That was 4 years ago. I still kick myself. I bought my 650 used. Put 20k mikes on it. The only problem I ever had was a blown fuse from a wire that rubbed against the frame. Couldn’t have asked for better timing. The fuse popped right in front of an autozone in the middle of nowhere. I can’t wait to buy another one.
I own 2 Hondas and a Suzuki. The Suzuki has the fewest kilometers but will need the most maintainance for the next season.
Nothing really expensive, just some leaking of fork and carburateur however no such problems on my Hondas at all.
@@aGentleUser You got lucky with your Hondas. I bought mine brand new. Had so many problems with it. I only put 4000 miles on it in 4 years. My Suzuki did 20k in 2 years, not to mention the “comfort” or lack there of. I couldn’t sit on my AT for more than 100 miles.
Suzuki would have to make one hell of a parallel twin to top the old v twin 650. That was an amazing engine. Having owned a Vstrom 650 and a 1000. I’d argue, even though the 1000 was so much fun. The 650 was a better overall and reliable engine/bike. I’ve also owned a 2017 Africa twin. That bike talked me out of ever buying another Honda. The only thing I liked about that bike, was that it looked good. All that being said. I’d go with the Suzuki no matter what.
V Strom 650 owner here. Curious what your issues with the Honda was, as i have a few friends interested in the Africa twin.
In any case this engine looks like a gem from suzuki. Hate to see the v twin go but the tradeoffs are worth it it seems
give us more thoughts about the honda "That bike talked me out" in more use cases you to make you to this conclusion
Being 50 years old seeing the Transalp back in the market is certainly making me nostalgic. But, for what I could see in the reviews currently available, the bike seems a little cheaply made. The V-Strom convinces me more for the reasons you mentioned, and I have the sensation that the quality of the plastics, the finishing will be better than on the Honda. Wouldn't pick any of them for off road. On asfalt, and considering the type of bike, the weight difference will be noticeable but not a game changer. I would pick the Suzuki, for a long range travel and everyday usage.
The 800DE looks like the better bike for my riding style. I currently own a VStrom 1000XT Adv and a WR250R. In truth I wouldn’t buy either because of the tube tires and lack of cruise control.
Yes, lack of cruise will be a major issue. It would have been easy to put it on. I'm sure it will come though, given both bigger bikes (1050DE/ATwin) have it.
Great choice of bikes. I used to have the same two bikes in my garage.
Great time to be alive if you’re looking for a middle weight adv bike!!
Yeah, especially when you're looking for the replacement for your old enduro, and you figure out how cool it is 😎
Very true!
I'm so excited to see these beasts in the near future. It's giving riders a middle weight that you can't grow out of.
I’m going to have to test ride both but from the looks of it, I’m going to have to give it to Suzuki. The transalp looks like a great bike but the VSTROM appears to be built like a tank and that extra 48lbs can explained by beefier suspension, larger tank and a more robust frame. All the stuff you would want a adventure bike to have for touring the globe. Plus you could shave off 7-8 pounds by replacing that massive exhaust system.
I agree, and if your only going for an afternoon rip in the local trails don’t fill the tank! Just put in what you need and save another 10kg.
@@jaywhoisit4863 🎯
On my 2019 650 XT I shaved off 7 kilos (15 pounds) by replacing the exhaust and the battery with a lithium one.
@@ioandragulescu6063 yup, forgot about the battery. I doubt Suzuki is suppling a lithium battery straight out the factory.
@@ioandragulescu6063 Which exhaust do you use?
They both sound great, and as a Suzuki guy, I'm very happy to see an entirely new model from them. But for the moment at least, I'll stick with my V Strom 1000. Peak torque at 4000 makes off road (and on road) life so much easier than having to keep revs up......
Yes it's nice to have that real world torque on tap at reasonable rpms. Cheers.
These two bikes are very nice. I possessed a 600 Transalp and a 750 Africa Twin and I have very good souvenir of these two bikes. However, I feel that this time the Suzuki 800 appears to me a little bit more attractive than de new Transalp 750 despite its slightly higher weight. Very nice video and relevant comparison between these two bikes.Many thanks.
Call it just Suzuki Strom 800 :D
I am more fan of Honda, but the Strom just looks cooler, the Trans looks a little to "calm". I also think a tourund/adv bike doesn't need 92HP, but on the other hand less weight is also better.
I will keep my Freewind for light offroad and NC for onroad touring.
I think Honda is being more honest about its Transalp than Suzuki and its 800DE since few will be riding off road with either of these models and for the most part they should be classified as adventure touring models with limited capability to travel off road for any trips lasting more than a few hours. So the higher HP for those who will use the bike for hard surfaced roadways is a better choice, but then why the need to tubes and 21" wheels?
With the T7 coming to Brazil soon, I'm just watching to support your content. To me it's a no-brainer, lol.
Being a Honda man myself, currently riding a CRF 450L, I'm going to give a nod to the Suzuki. I think they really stepped it up in the design department, while Honda played it more conservative. The V-Strom is really growing on me, even the stacked headlights and beak nose. It just has that high end feel to it and it looks like the people who designed it, really ride offroad.
Would you say the looks of a bike are more important than function? I see a lot of people commenting on looks as to a reason to buy.
@@bradsanders6954 It's not so much about the looks personally. For instance, I think the Desert X looks much nicer than the Tenere, but the T700 is such an amazing bike that I would chose it over the Desert X, even if money wasn't an issue. On the other hand, the Aprilia Tuareg isn't very appealing to me personally, but my friend who's a motorcycle journalist has ridden them both and states that the Tuareg is the slightly better bike than the T700. So in that case, yeah, I would chose the T700 over the Aprilia because of cosmetics.
Weight is not a key factor, compared to balance. Suzuki's are always very well balanced. That's what make my 1000 so easy to take off road.
Given the choice for the trio "affordable" Japanese middleweight adv bike, I'd probably still go with the T7; but if it's among these 2 I think I'll go with the underdog V-Strom. You said it's more angular and appeals to the younger crowd but, it looks just as retro if not more so than the Transalp and that's really cool.
Yes, despite the stacked lights, it does have something of the DR Big in it. Cheers.
Look at history, the first Honda africa twin was a liter bike, run out and buy the latest a one thou 8 months later an 1100. With many changes and gear box issues with the liter bike. I rest my case
I owned a new transalp In 2008. Honda bikes since the age of 9… Have a 20 Africa Twin, so the transalp !
I vote for the V-Strom for having the best windscreen
I'm surprised how much I like the Vstrom. Yeah, it's heavier, but if I wanted a lighter bike I wouldn't be looking at any of the ADV Commuters. The only way the Vstrom's 50lbs would really matter if the weight was carried higher on the bike bc of the new engine. As always price will be a big factor, but I'd seriously consider the Vstrom just because it's different.
20 litres high up doesn't make for a balanced bike nor a good commuter unless all your miles are on highways. And what's the need for a 21" front wheel when these two bikes are not really meant for off-road on a surface that isn't hard compact without ruts and potholes.
@@bcinspectorman balance depends on where the fuel is carried. My 22 KLR carries 7.5l more than the T7, but is less top heavy bc the fuel is kept on either side of the frame.
The 21" wheel is good for those who aren't shy about riding a big bike off road. You should check out what the BDR crew, or Bret Tkacs, can do on 600lb BMW GSA's - and that's 600lbs before adding luggage and accessories.
ruclips.net/video/L1jxCi2GJfs/видео.html
Where I live, it's a few hours of riding to get to anywhere adventurous, so I need a bike that can do both things. I am also a big guy - 6'2", 250ish lbs. I've tried riding small, light bikes, and it just doesn't work for me.
I think the Vstrom may be the perfect upgrade from my KLR when we find out more about how it actually rides.
Great rundown, much appreciated! Someday I hope I can get a modern replacement for my DR650 but for some reason no manufacturer wants to make a 400lb lightweight off-road capable adventure bike.
That would be nice.
A comparo before the two models have even been released!? Reminds of when Honda announced the 2019 CRF450L. It was being compared to the 450\500 EXC-F, before the press even sat on one! Too easy to speculate on bikes you really have no idea what they'll be like!Some people were convinced that it had to be a terrible motorcycle!
@@BlueMarbleRider : there is one already: the crf450l/450rl. Low weight, and - if modded - high performance. And good touring/adv capability.
@@gt7500 that was never a fair comparison. Different bikes.
@@demezon6572 great bike but 1000km oil/filter changes and tough on the highway.
I owned 2005 Transalp 650 and currently i own 2018 Vstrom 650xt. This video convinced me to get the new Vstrom because of better off road performance. But it’s a total bummer that Suzuki still lacks phone connectivity, navi etc on its info screen.
Strange... I'm usually a tech guy. I have all the latest gadgets and gizmos and I normally demand the latest tech in my cars too.
But when it comes to my bike... I dont see a lot of benefits to connecting it to my phone. In my car sure... because of Bluetooth audio and the big screen makes it convenient for navigation.
But on the bike there's no speaker system... no big screen. And I'm gonna mount my phone up above the dash anyway. So why not just use the phone instead 🤷♂️ I just don't see any real benefit to it.
I'd also give the nod for the Suzuki. My current adv bike is an adventureised drz400e. So off road capability is high on my list and feel that it is a must on adventure bikes.
If I'm sticking to the road then, well of course I got a harley for that.
Great work Suzuki, in the last 20 years, you've managed to drop the weight of the original Vstrom by a massive 6kgs. That is an incredible achievement. You also managed to significantly increase the price, whilst dropping horsepower from 98hp - 84hp and torque from 75ft/lbs - 57ft/lbs. Clap, clap Suzuki, Clap, clap :P
Totally agreed. I'm stunned at how heavy the bike is. I think it's heavier than an Africa Twin!
@@moreorlesdone1497 the DL1000 is only 520 lb. so when people mention the added weight isn't a problem, why not just go with the bigger brother?
I have a 1000 vstrom I love it, but it’s a bit heavy. I like the looks of the Honda and articulate that it’s a lot lighter. I’d probably go with the Honda. I’d like to comment On the production quality of this video. I think it’s very well done and a lot of time and effort and research has obviously gone into it.
compelling argumetns you make for the SUZUKI. I'm looking for mid size so finally so cool options to choose from! thanks for the video!
Without knowing much about either bike I thought I would favor the Transalp but now I'm not sure. This video makes a compelling case for the Suzuki. I would rather have more down low torque than a few extra hp at 10000rpm. I don't mind a little additional weight because I mostly ride on easy gravel roads but I wish Suzuki had an 18 inch rear wheel. More choices are good!
If you think 50lbs is "a little additional weight".......
@@alm4132 For the type of riding I do having a better suspension and larger fuel tank might be a good tradeoff but YMMV.
For gravel fire roads, the 800 would be a great bike.
An 18" rear wheel means less choices on ADV tires, and they charge more for 18" ADV type tires, like 40 or 50 bucks more.
@@bradsanders6954 hi Brad: 18 inch is more universal easier to find and cheaper than 17.
Both will be a excellent midweight adv bikes !
It will be hard to choose between this two models, but i would give a small priority to Suzuki!
Yamaha and, to a lesser degree Aprillia still have the edge on serious adventure tourers. For the maindtream market though, Honda will win and Suzuki will grab some market, but not to the extent of seriously impacting the market.
As a owner of tracer 7....past owner vstrom 1050 xt and a transalp....i still personally think T7 king of alround but on first thoughts im liking vstrom 800 up to now....value and relative simplicity thats till i see the list price🤔 ????
I think there is something for everyone but me personally I feel like having made the right choice going with the Tuareg.
Now it could very well be owners bias but it's just what I wanted. I get the better ground clearance, fully adjustable suspension, cruise control, up to 450km range, manageable seat height, low base wet weight, tubeless tyres, good brakes, neat digital dash, ride by wire with all sorts of options for ABS, TC etc. with quick shifter and smart phone connectivity as extras.
Now there are some things annoying with it. E.g. the ridiculous retro fuel cap gets in the way of most (all) tank bags, fuel gauge is range anxiety inducing and the service light can only be turned off by a dealer.
Some other things are a case for additional parts e.g. standard "hand guards" are just plastic windshields, bash plate is not very sturdy and depending on rider size the windshield leaves a lot to be desired. But honestly those are usually an "issue" with any other bike as well.
My choice would be the Tuareg too. But it's nice to see this mid sized adv sector starting to be recognized by the mainstream now.
@@BlueMarbleRider Yea that is certainly true. There should now be a good option for most flavours of riders.
Increased competition also should lead to the manufacturers having more pressure to increase the quality of their products.
The Strom 800 has an exhaust note that sounds amazingly perfect. I think Honda should have given the Alp a better look.
Vstrom 1000 one of the best motors ever unbreakable. Have one 20 years 2002 model. Tuned the valves 3 times.
Hey loved your Guzzi when I met you in person. Nice bike. Gone miss Bayview. As for the bikes.. Gone go with Vstrom. Have one now and this is my bike in the future.
Cheers. Yes, I'll miss Bayview too - it's a furniture store now!
Owning a 2010 Dl650 that I take on bad dirt roads the last thing is more weight.
Agree: would like to see some serious slimming going on with the mid-sized adv bikes. Even the T7 and Tuareg tip the scales at over 400lbs. Time to start leaving some tech off, using plastic subframes and lower c of g.
My heart is at the H side. I wish Honda had engine cover more visually integrated with the bodywork, like in first generation Transalp.
Looking fwd to the Rieju 500 ADV bike announced at EICMA. The weight... Also waiting for a Versys-X 400 with longer suspension.
Your spot on with your fit for purpose, yeh honda on tour Suzuki if the occasional green lane is adventured, both are good thou and it might just got down to personal preference.
Thxvfor the detailed comparo! As a vstrom owner in the past, vstrom owners are not dirt riders..more like light gravel, but mostly on road. So, despite what the bikes are capable of...vstroms are going to stay mostly rroad...while honda may be used more off road and light camping....
The additional weight of suz is explained in better components and it's a 2up bike. Look at the rear section for passenger and luggage. My wife can attest to the rear comfort levels of vstroms.
Its good to have two more additions to the middleweight adventure segment. I don't think either of them will match the T7 off road and certainly not the Aprilia Tuareg with even way better suspension. With that said the v-strom does have a better suspension setup than the Tenere but the weight will hinder it too much off road most likely. The Transalp looks amazing! I think the Transalp with an upgraded aftermarket suspension combined with the light weight will be a winner for many! Time will tell and hopefully both models are offered in USA.
Nicely put Robert. Agree, because of its weight, upgrading the suspension on the Transalp would place it in a better light - certainly T7 challenging.
@@BlueMarbleRider Will the Transalp with better suspension just be comparable to a T7 "World Raid" which has a lower center of gravity and better suspension than the T7 standard?
@@bcinspectorman T7 all the way.
Either model I think is good, but I'm more leaning towards the Suzuki. Shame no cruise control option
I imagine that will be an option on future years. It does have a quickshifter though.
@@BlueMarbleRider yet all the traction control and fancy screen? and the Tenere already has cruise
I've said for years that Honda is being stupid for not offering an ADV bike in the ~80hp range. The new Tralp looks quite promising but so does the Suzi. I don't have any offroad ambitions though, and would be better served with a 19" front wheel as the current V-Stroms have, so I'll be keen to see if these will be an option on either. My current ADV/travel bike is a '14 V-Strom 1000 just like yours, it's a fine bike and comfy even on very long hauls, but could stand to lose a few pounds. So just going from specs, I'd be inclined to shoot for the Transalp, but I'll wait and see how they perform in practice, with engine characteristics, handling, geometry and all.
(Also, a brand-new bike is not on the cards for me anyway, but maybe a few years down the road.
Nice feedback. Thanks.
I’d honestly try the strom over the transalp
I think the Suzuki will be closer to what everyone wanted Honda to produce, a smaller Africa twin! And that will result in many people choosing the Suzuki over the Honda. The fully adjustable suspension on the Suzuki is the clincher! But personally i would still choose the T7 as i wont buy a bike with rider modes, all i need is a throttle cable and i will do the controlling thank you very much!
Good review of the information currently available. For me, it would probably come down to price and handling, as these two bikes seem to be quite competitive on paper. The Tuareg is arguably a better option, but I expect the Honda and Suzuki offerings to be price considerably lower.
Yes, definitely have to ride them before coming to any sort of definitive conclusion. The other thing the Tuareg has over these two, apart from being more capable off road than both the DE or XL is it has been out for a year and the teething issues are known. The segment is getting more competitive though. Cheers.
I would love a Tuareg but... Many years ago I had an Aprilia Pegasso. Brilliant bike. But when you had to fix it or get spare parts you were left high and dry ( I live in Asia). This haven't changed that much. If I lived and traveled in Europe yes. But other than there, Honda and Suzuki are everywhere
As a VStrom 650 owner and road tourer I am liking the look of the new VStrom... but not the seat height and not the 21" front wheel. I am not much of an offroad rider, the UK doesn't have much in the way of off roads that you can take a 500lb bike on, not if you are Joe 'Average' Rider like me. I'll wait and see if a non DE version is released, if it is, I'm interested.
Interesting call on the non DE version. Haven't heard anything yet, but given 1050 and 1050 DE choice, you could be right. Cheers.
Thanks for the telling it like it is since most folks who purchase an adventure "touring" model do exactly the type of riding you do but I guess it fits the fantasy of thinking they're getting a motorcycle that can "do all" equally. And since most will be riding these two bikes on the hard surfaced roads why the need for a tube and a 21" wheel. Marketing to the fantasy not the reality and most will be sucked in.
I would choose the vtwin vstrom and leave both of these bikes in the showroom
I'll take the gray or black Honda though I am equally a Honda and Suzuki fan boy. They are both really nice bikes no doubt but based on my pretty much road only back-road travelling preference I think the Honda will be the typical fits me like a glove/treats my like a friend/relaxed and smooth as a silk riding experience. Don't like the white/red/blue tube of toothpaste scheme at all.
Purely on looks, which is an important factor, it would have to be the Honda. But I’d probably go for the new tracer before either of these, given the choice. But I won’t buy any of the three as I’d rather have two or three older bikes for the same money. 😁
Nothing beats the authentic styling of a retro bike from the 80’s and 90’s.
The Tracer, with it's 17" front, is in a different league altogether.
Ride height will be important. Probably the Honda though I’d want to test ride both. Most of my riding these days is commuting, I have owned an XLV750 Honda and a R80GS P/D with a 32 litre tank.
I think the V-Storm 800 is a more polished offering, but given the fact they have been in this market for decades that makes sense. The Transalp almost seems rushed to market with no option of Cruise control, adjustable suspension, or DCT transmission. It will be interesting if Honda expands the models or features of the Transalp in the next year or two.
Great feedback. Thanks.
Have to agree regarding DCT and cruise control. I'd also add centre stand and tubeless tyres as most bikes will be used exclusively on road.
I’d have never considered Suzuki before but this beats the Honda despite its weight. Really disappointed in the “Transalp” with no retro double headlight, low clearance and vulnerable header pipes. Looks more like an NC750. I don’t really want a front tubeless rim though. Wish the Suzuki had the 18” rear.
I think the 17 is fine for those poorer countries because the Himalayan is same size snd it is a big seller in South America and Asia
Did I miss when the Suzuki becomes available? Because yeah. That's my bike.
I was told before Christmas 22.
@@BlueMarbleRider thanks!
Goodday I personally can't see the two of them being jumped or log hoping like the T7 .I think the two of them have been made to stay in the middle So to appeal to everyone not a bad thing .
Where I ride i would never use cruise control. So the v Strom really hit i out of the park for me. I think they're leaving that to top of the line big bikes. The 1050DE looks killer
I’ll be on the road more than dirt, much more. TransAlp all day. Will probably wait a couple model years until the DCT migrates to the Honda.
In many ways the Suzuki looks a lot more attractive. The crunch ( forgive the pun) though is the weight. That additional 20-25 kilos to wrestle on single track passages, squirming through the mud and of course when you have to pick it up. Let's not pretend we never drop these things....
Absolutely - the suzuki is an awful lot of bike to drop.
Both look to be nice bike's...but my next bike will be a Tenere 700...!
I don't think these two bikes are competing directly. I understand that it's being compared directly because of launching at the same show, but I don't think Honda and Suzuki are targeting the same rider here at all.
Honda is aiming for the T7, and hitting that spot perfectly. Suzuki isn't going for that, but trying to to offer more to the market they already have. Weight is the watershed here proving my point.
The Honda has more power, less weight. Looking at the powerband, even at the Suzuki's lower peak RPM, the Honda is still giving you more and therefore more range. Sorry, but the comparison simply isn't there.
The Suzuki is going to mainly tour, with some gravel now and again. The Honda is going to spend far more time in the dirt....but not aimed at the KTM mud-chaser.
These bikes have different markets....and that's great for us as riders. All riders change their 'bracket' as they age. What I wanted in my 20's has evolved a LOT over 25years.
I'm probably now exactly where the Honda is pitching, but it's great to know there's a Suzuki around for when (not if) I transition more to that style too.
Interesting perspective. Thanks for your feedback.
Great point
I like the vstrom, almost bought one but the klr had just Abit more off road capabilities
Ease of maintenance is also a consideration for me
If the air filter is hidden away deep under the fuel tank, it has 2 spark plugs per cylinder and requires a 24k km valve inspection, I’d much rather have my ADV in Yamaha Blue…🍻🍻
BTW my 2022 EICMA visit is on my channel now ☺️
Cheers
BB
Love the new transalp look but, if I really wanted to topur off-road, I'll probably go the Tenere 700 route. It's try and tested and can even match sopme enduro bikes on that department.
Suzuki made a nice offroad tourer, honda used an iconic name to sell the most anonymous bike on their catalogue.
Transalp looks like a motorcycle made by white collars to improve the income flow. That it
No cruise control is an absolute No-Go for me, i will than rather go with the CFMOTO 800MT Aventura. It has even heated Grips and heated seats.
Good point - that is a great option.
Another mug...about £250 aftermarket plug in for C/C...even a T7 available... not even worth worth writing this...stupid people (same with getting rims sealed,minimal cost).
very thorough job!!
The 90° V (or is it an L?) twin has inherent characteristics a parallel doesn’t have, and vice versa. In my opinion, the issue with the Wee V-Strom isn’t the engine, it’s a jewel. The problem is with the rest of the package, especially brakes and suspension. Had Suzuki addressed those features with an upgraded “special” edition it would still be a viable option.
Very good point. The engine is fabulous. I think the problem was that the bore, stroke, combustion chambers and top ends were designed years before Euro 3, 4, and 5 and it was at its limit of development regarding power vs emissions. Pity, but they will still be available for at least 2023. Cheers.
@@BlueMarbleRider would a catalytic converter do the job without the need for engine mods?
Ok, V-strom 1050 and Katana style are for the older audience, while V-strom 800 and gsx-8s are for younger. It would be great to see the third 800 package as Tracer 7 competitor.
And about Honda... well, IMO it's just another Honda, this time with retro colours and name. The look is 95% expected and therefore boring.
Save me putting 19/17" wire spoke wheels on the Tracer7... was literally happening until I saw these two!
I'd go for the Suzuki. Less revs required & the horn button is in the right place.
:-) Horn button, you are right!
Both of them are very nice, love them.
Tube-type tires are a deal breaker for me. The last thing I want to be doing is removing a wheel and trying to replace a tube on the side of the road rather than throwing a plug in it. I don't understand why Suzuki would do that.
Agree, for many on road only riders this is poor option. Off road, if you get a gash in the side wall, the only way to repair it is with a tube, a plug won't do. The tube-based tires are designed to be removed, the bead is a little more forgiving as it doesn't have to seal in air like tubeless tires do. From my experience, inserting a tube in a tire with a sidewall gash is easier in a tubed tire than a non tubed tire.
Suzuki, and Honda too...
@@BlueMarbleRider On or off-road, the vast majority of flats are a result of a puncture. Either way you look at it, putting a plug in a tire is a quick and easy fix. Patching a tube, not so much.
If you were really worried about tearing sidewalls, stiffer and more robust tires would seem to be a better answer. Or, put a softer tire on a tubeless type rim so that you could put in a tube if that was your thing.
An argument for tube-type tires might be that they're better for airing down, but given the fact that you can run a decent 50/50 tubeless tire with 10lbs and no issues, that doesn't seem like the reason.
The real reason Suzuki went with tubeless? Cost savings, pure and simple. That is such a shame, because it looks like they'd have a winner on their hands otherwise. Cruise control would be nice to have, but tubeless is a must have.
BMW have tubeless spokes on their GS. Honda went the same way with their Africa twin. Most buyers want tubeless tyres.
@@lcdubs7847 I guess I ride hard off road with lower tire pressures as all enduro riders do. The idea of tubeless is a non starter for anyone who rides seriously off road in the bush. Canada, Australia - forget tubeless unless you’re in a large group with cell signal. Damage your rim, gash your sidewall and you can plug all you want-you’re done. Not worth the very considerable risk.
That cc segment did warrant from Suzuki electronic suspension also. Suzuki has to raise the bar. People will come back to Suzuki. Especially with Roczen winning races on a Suzi, now.
Looking at the choice between the T7, transalp and the DE800, I would have the Aprilia tuareg.
I have to agree.
In my part of the country dealer support for Aprilia is non-existent, so I would take any of the Japanese bikes instead.
@@lcdubs7847 . I'm about 20 miles from the nearest Aprilia dealer, so not such a hard choice for me. The De seems underpowered compared to the Transalp, and the T7 needs a big makeover as well as more power, it really is falling behind the others. What they all need though is to go on a diet. How can the DE weigh more than the old V-strom?!!!!!!!!!
I my personal opinion, Aprilia's Tuareg is the best motorcyle in this segment today
@@crazyosva agree.
I went with the T7, love it
Interesting that Suzuki opted for a 17 inch rear instead of18. Doesn't make sense to me, but other than that it seems to better suited for offroad riding than the Transalp. And Suzuki could have done a better job with the puny little thing they call a headlight.
I have a Transalp 89, I also have a Deauville 700. Your comparisons are very good, but I'll stick with the transalp because I wouldn't want anything heavier to ride in the woods. The old Transalp may not have enough horses, but I can't imagine riding anything heavier on gravel roads. Deauville700 has 230-240 kg and it is too much for me as I was driving on sandy roads.
+1 for the Transalp and the weight ... currently driving a 2002 XL650V .... and for the new Transalp, a lot of additional choices are possible, they will be offering 4 packages in Austria at least
"2 of the biggest announcement" , "until anyone has ridden them we won't really know" BUT 🤣
Thanks for the info! Any word when they will hit USA dealers?
Each to there own there no perfect answer but I would choose Suzuki
I hate that they welded the sub frame on the honda, I'll have to rest them both before I pull the trigger on buying one.
Neither, both way to heavy. KTM 500 all day!!
True! Would be nice to see KTM ADV ize a 500. Now that would be a bike!
I don't know who would call the SP776 a "vertical twin" when it's not vertical. With the bottom of the crankcase level to the ground, the bore is at an angle. It is a parallel twin, it is an on-line twin, but it is not a vertical twin (see our classic friends at Triumph, Royal Enfield, the Kawasaki W650/800 for that.
This video had good information in it, but was not good at the start. Because there were like 15 bikes shown in the first 2 minutes alone. When I see a new bike for the first time I do want to look at it and not see so many different build years and models in the first moments.
I am happy for both companies and fans of them! I do ride a 2017 V-Strom 650 XT which I like very much, although many say it would not have as many offroad capabilities because of clearance. The thing is though: many riders do ride 95% on asphalt. And even if the split is more 70/30 its usually gravel roads in foreign countries (like Croatia, Slovenia). And even on medium off-road terrain it is ridable with slower speeds to not override the suspension and a better technique.
So the V-Strom 800 definitely is the more exciting one for me although I am a bit disappointed because of weight! My 650 XT weighs 217 kg and has 71 hp on paper. The "Motorrad" magazine measured 73 hp. So with the V-Strom 800 I would get 13 kg and 11 hp more... I don't know. My 650 XT is already seen as a bit "chubby". And since Transalp and Ténéré do weigh noticeably less, and Suzuki says it's new engine is lighter, I dont get it why they are in the 230 kg category instead of 210-215 with a new designed bike!
Because with my V-Strom 650 XT I was clear about buying a bike that has been proved and developed in the 3rd generation! The weight is definitely a leftover from the first V-Strom 650 over a decade ago. So I lived with it and it drives very good, very mature, very capable.
Sure: weight isn't everything. As well as horsepover. But if I had to buy a V-Strom again, i would probable go for a used 650 XT again. Not as much ground clearance, no 21 inch front wheel "only" 19 inch and 11 hp less ... but also 13 kg less that need to be accelerated and a used one is basically half the price.
From the specs alone I would consider an Africa Twin 1000. Also 230 kg, 95 horsepower and proven capable. They go like from 6k-8K on the used market.
The Ténéré is too much top heavy, still too expensive (used) and to uncomfortable in the long run.
But for now I'm doing kilometers on my V-Strom 650 XT. And it makes a hell lot of fun!
And since I do also like Honda I'm going to test ride both! Maybe the weight will play a more important role after that ... I'll see. 20 Kilos less to maneuver (V-Strom 650 vs. Transalp) sounds also like a pretty good deal today...
Greetings from Germany!
Thanks for the feedback.
@@BlueMarbleRider your welcome
What I really wanted was a baby Africa Twin. I wanted something lighter with the same off road capabilities. I don't think either of these bikes meets that standard. I suspect I am going to stick with the ATAS.
see the CRF 750L
As always a great video by BMR. Thank you ! I read all of the comments below. All very good and make great points. However, I would like to offer the following idea. The Honda NC750X-DCT is lighter than the 800de. It makes its torque right off the bottom. Yes it has less ground clearance. However since both the transalp and the 800de are not going to be as good off road as a DR650, then what is the point of these two machines. The questions they ask has already been answered by other bikes. .... All that to say, the NC750 seems overlooked/ left out. Hard core off road, it is NOT for the NC. It is however capable of taking you anywhere as easily as bikes did in the 1970's and 1980's..etc. YES folks road around the world with far less capable bikes than the NC!!! Other nice bonus of the NC, it is completely serviceable at home far easier than the above two offerings, costs less to buy and own, gets better fuel economy, DCT is wonderful if you go for that.
ON THE OTHER HAND, if one did not own a NC750, and was in the market for a middle of the line machine... the Honda and Suzuki are good choices. But again they are both compromises as are most bikes.
SO...IMHO... the humble NC750 is a very reasonable choice. When a machine is made to perform two different tasks that are on opposite ends of the spectrum compromises must be made. To find that "perfect in the middle goldilocks" solution, has yet to be produced. I think it could be done, but the sub 400 pound machine capable of both extremes with equal aplomb, would be very expensive I think.
Great feeback, David, thanks.
Instead of increasing engine sizes it would be far better to make them lighter and junk all the electronics to keep costs low and maybe stick to 600cc as the gap between large and middle weight machines has disappeared....we already have strangled 500cc for license laws so they should just replace those with restrictor kits for those that need it.
Yes I agree.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be making the trip on a Suzuki long before Honda.
Nice review, however I’m going to keep my 2015 BMW F800 GSA, no real reason to switch.
Also a nice bike. Thanks for the feedback. Cheers.
Maybe the better comparisons would be the new Suzuki against the V-Stroms. Were the V/Ss and in need of fixing by introducing competition towards their own products? Also a comparison against the bike for which they were designed to compete; the T7.
I saw some beating the transalp drum over the perforce higher hp numbers. Looks like they ignored context and the figures that truly matter.
A steel frame/subframe is never written off. Easy to straighten and weld.
I have experience of a steel frame "straightened" and then inducing head shake: I'd say it was within reasonable alignment, but for some reason was never the same. I'd rather remove all the parts, buy a new frame and reinstall. (And this from someone who welds). As this would be far too expensive, it'd be a write off.
Good video. Difficult to absorb every detail so quickly and get your video out in time take advantage of the hype week. I think weight (which is actually very close dry weight Transalp vs wet weight Suzuki) suggests either bike would be too heavy for the average rider to do more than mild off-road work. Either is capable of the forest road or gravel riding most would do. I don’t think either manufacturer hit any home runs on design. They’re not offensively ugly but neither is very inspiring to look at in my opinion. I appreciated your take and discussion on power and I agree the lower end for the Suzuki seem to favor my own riding, but the more exciting power possibilities of the Honda engine is intriguing for more road work and mile crunching. I do have a Vstrom currently and I have been drooling over an Africa Twin for quite some time now. I think I’m still headed for the AT. Neither of these match the AT in touring ability and the difference between 507-529lbs for more farkles and capabilities means they didn’t do enough with the Transalp or the Vstrom for me to change my mind. If I go with smaller displacement, I’m looking at just risking it all with the Aprillia Tuareg. Love your channel BMR! Cheers!
Thanks, MT. The Tuareg is a good bike - head on over to Big Rock Moto. He has just purchased a Tuareg (this week) for a long term review. You will get the warts and all review from him - best reviews on the 'tube IMO. Cheers.
I'd have a look at the Vstrom if they do a high seat option.
I am confused on the Transalp. Yes the weight is good for off road but not sure if the ground clearance and preload only suspension is going to win off roaders over.
It seems the Alp is being pushed toward the CB500X rider offering a mild offroader.
I would have preferred tubeless tyres and off road you can still carry a 21" tube to put in in an emergency.
It seems I would have to spend a lot on getting the Alp offroad worthy. The optional packs seem road oriented still but with an image of rally.
I certainly would prefer 20lt tank. Engine guard and Bark busters but also get rid of the scooter exhaust.
The under engine clearance is poor with that pipe.
No sat Nav mount and dealers expect 10.5k! So i need to spend another 2k on it! .
Glad I have my KTM 890 adv.
You certainly have the better bike for off road. Don't think it is aimed at you, but prising some riders of the DL 650 and CB500X. Cheers.
how is it even possible that these bikes dont have cruise control???🤨
I'd gladly pay extra for self-adjusting valves.
good point. who's gonna be revving these, so yeah, get rid of the maintenance if possible. never happen, tho
The biggest problem with these two bikes is how to get rid of those tubed wheels. I hope they will release cast wheels in the near future. I bet a lot of owners will never go any further than simple green lines and will appreciate the ease of maintenance (cleaning) and ease of flat tyre repair when owning tubeless wheels.
Pretty sure that when the clear out the 23 Vstrom 650, that cast tubeless will be offered for the road on the 800DE.
Single problem with both - tubed tyres. Why don't these big companies actually ASK what we want? Instead of just doing what they think we want?
Agree for the Honda. It really is a 90%/10% road/dirt bike - lack of suitable suspension etc. With it's adjustable suspension, maybe the Suzuki is more capable off road. All dedicated dirt bikes have tubes for too many reasons to mention. Perhaps that was Suzuki's thinking. It's also cheaper. It'll be interesting to see how many Vstrom800 owners take it off road, and whether Suzuki were right in there choice. Cheers.
Great comparison!
Glad you enjoyed it
I really like having traction control and ABS on adventure bikes. That way when you deactivate them, they remind you they are off with stupid flashing dummy lights on the dash. I also like having endless ride modes so you can sit for hours and program the bike before you ride it. Then you can decide which feature is the most annoying and useless. I would have gladly bought either one of these. Instead I lean towards the Yamaha T7. Less computer junk to break.
Very valid. I prefer simple bikes, particularly for off road.
astonished at the lack of cruise control
Vstrom for me.
7:02 takeaway, life lesson... do not go to bolivia or mongolia. went with the gray/yellow Suzuki as my cafe/work commuter/sometimes forest trail bike. very happy
Nice - personally I feel it is the better all rounder...Bolivia? Lovely place, not sure about Mongolia though.