Would you buy a V-Strom 800DE over a Tenere 700 or Transalp? Why or why not? ⚡For anyone ordering or pre-ordering cruise control for the V-Strom or any other bike that Veridian supports, please use my code BIGROCKMOTO for a 12% discount which also sends me a small commission to support the channel. veridiancruise.com/ 🏍TODAY’S GEAR: ⚡ Arai XD5 Helmet: imp.i104546.net/Qy5dko ⚡ Klim Baja S4 Jacket and Pant: imp.i104546.net/oeGVN9 ⚡ Sedici Cooling Vest: imp.i104546.net/q47rV5 ⚡ Klim Baja Glove: imp.i104546.net/0Jn2GV ⚡ Mosko Moto Wildcat 8L Backpack: tinyurl.com/3kud2bdh ⚡ Sidi Adventure 2 Boot: imp.i104546.net/b3q5kx ⚡ DJI Osmo Action 4: amzn.to/48O1F2b ⚡ DJI Osmo Pocket 3: amzn.to/3Pcqeik ⚡ DJI Mini Pro 4 Drone: amzn.to/3WKU6a2 ⚡2024 Gear Guide Download: tinyurl.com/3jtkmdvz ➕SUPPORT➕ [I may receive commissions which are invested back into the channel] ⚡ Patreon: www.patreon.com/bigrockmedia ⚡ Rocky Mountain ATV/MC: bit.ly/33kgRIz ⚡ Revzilla: imp.i104546.net/6bxxXN ⚡ Mosko Moto: moskomoto.com/bigrockmoto ⚡ Pacific Powersports (Motoz Tires, Barkbusters): pacificpowersports.com/ USE CODE BRM2024 ⚡ 3D Cycle Parts: www.3dcycleparts.com/?aff=3 ⚡ Taco Moto : tacomoto.co/?ref=fi6gv640 ⚡ Cyclops Adventure Sports: tinyurl.com/2kaknpfn ⚡ Denali Lighting: tinyurl.com/9746het9 ⚡ Amazon: amzn.to/3viGZ0A ⚡ Merchandise: big-rock-moto.myspreadshop.com/
Nope, A DRZ 400 with EFI, a 6spd and ABS is all I would ever need ... COME ON SUZUKI !!! Can even use the same running chassis/gear with all that aftermarket support built in.
T7: People that want simplicity, ride harder off-road, weight, reliability, playfulness, and easy to access air filter matters. Best for that big old school dirt bike feel. Transalp: More road biased. Easier to approach and maneuver with lower seat height. Low weight like the T7. Don't need frequent air filter access. More mature crowd which is what I've seen so far with the several I've seen out on the road. V-Strom: Best for the higher mileage tourer. Weight isn't as much of a concern and will only help with on-road stability. Wants to add in off-road riding on long trips. May have a good bit of miles to ride to get to the good stuff on the weekends. Wants the option to cheaply add cruise and not have to pay over $700.
That is cheap, especially for the Adventure model!! Lots of non Adv ones out there now for around $8k new. Wonder why they are already discounted so much?! That's a steal!
“I can’t really find anything wrong with it…” Which kinda says it all. We DR 650 riders have been in on that little secret for decades. The Tuareg is the girl you _date._ The Suzuki is the gal you _marry._ 😉😃
@@nogerboher5266 - The Transalp is noticeably lighter (although the Suzuki seems to carry its weight well, at least on the street). The Suzuki definitely has the better suspension. Those are my takeaways from brief test rides. I’m still waiting to test the the ‘24 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. I rode the ‘23 and it was just way too vibey at highway speeds. The ‘24 supposedly fixes that. If it does, that’s what I’m going to buy. It is considerably more expensive, but it comes stock with all the creature comforts an old fart like me craves. 😉
@dioxys AT base model is identical weight to the DE. In Australia Honda is running 2023 AT's out and I'm extremely tempted to go the base model (just $2K more than DE) and parking it beside our gorgeous yellow DE. 😈😈😈
Finally, you're doing a long-term review of the 800DE. Suzuki was very wise to let you have one. Now, everyone will know how good this bike is. I did choose it over the Talp and T7.
My vote would be soft luggage for your BDR ride. Less weight and probably safer for those gnarly sections. The VStrom very underrated and Suzuki deserves some credit.
That 507 lbs is with a full tank of fuel. My 800DE weighed in at 500 lbs with crash bars, aftermarket skid, bark busters, large wind screen, and 1.5 gal of fuel. The scales I used are aircraft scales that are calibrated and FAA certified regularly. I never trusted the published weight because it feels way lighter than that, so I checked it myself. Love my 800DE! I bought it over the Tenere 700 because it was way more comfortable for the long hauls without sacrificing much off road ability.
Tubeless tyres would seal the deal for me. At 70 years old the last thing I want to be doing is using tyre levers on a hard wall tyre in the Australian outback in summer!
They are already discounting new models in the US by $3-$3.5k. For that price, I'd get the bike and buy a tubeless aftermarket wheel set and it's still a good price.
First off, I'm really excited that Ian got a hold of one to test long term!! I trust his reviews and judgement more than anyone! Ive owned 3 suzukis, a SV100S, SV650, and a GSX-S750. All of them never saw a shop other than recommended maintenance. Suzuki doesnt really innovate, but they make reliable, reasonably priced, really, really good bikes. They just have crap marketing and they dont have flash. But that is how Suzuki has always been. You'll have a fantastic time on one, and it will always get you home, and you'll save enough money to have 2 in the garage.
As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate engines with low end grunt that pull from really low rpm. The 800DE reminds me of my old Tiger 800 XCa, but nuanced with a different engine. I have not ridden the 800DE, but it seems to be a winner. Good job Suzuki!
I've been mostly a Honda brand rider but Suzuki has been knocking it out of the park with superb engines and now updated styling on the (the Vtwins and the Parallel twins.. Best value out there for no nonsense motorcycles that with proper care and feeding will last the owners for as long as they want to ride them. My little Vtwin seems to have no limits when asked to step up. They are Cinderella motorcycles.
I’ve been a die hard Honda fan myself. But through the years, I’ve seen Suzuki do some things better, so I just have to steer in the direction towards what suits me best. I can tell you that Suzuki makes great outboard motors as well.
This "suberb" engine has SO ANOYONG high frequency vibration. It offrers fantastic performance but vibrations turn right leg into jelly. Also motorcycle is terribly heavy.
I must say that I am total agreement with your impressions of the 800DE. I’ve owned one for a year and put 10k miles on it. It’s very easy to ride, stiffer springs and cruise control are on my to do list. It’s a keeper IMHO!
Love your content. I am a very happy with my vstrom. I have just broke 20k km in the last 10 months. The Skid plate that's stock plastic one works surprisingly well, the suspension is soft but not bad and since most places where I ride is Blast Rock this actually is a good thing because the bike doesn't bounce all over the place, granted I will probably replace the springs when I do the seals to something more for my weight. Its also a very easy bike to ride and the power delivery is smooth as butter. The clutch is very good and sturdy and I abuse the living crap out of it and still good. Chain and sprocket are also very good. I opted for the SW Motech WP-L for soft paniers and they are awesome. The air filter is an easy accessible place. I have also ordered the Veridian CC. Now the bad or disliked things Heat is the only issue that bugs me but due to your recommendation I now wear Baja S4 instead of my Carlsbad. The Accessory bars that you have are kinda crap they will bend quite easily after 2 or three down on hard surface. The wind protection is kinda meh. My seat also leaks, I have one of the seats that leak (stiching is not water proof) it is getting replaced under warranty. OEM brake pads are pricy and they only last about 13k km. I added the Chigee AIO5 which is an amazing piece of kit but expensive (reach out to them maybe they can give you a review unit) Bark busters finally are releasing the 800 DE option as Suzuki in its wisdom change the bar ends bolts. I really have nothing bad to say about this bike I am looking to order Huzar can for a little more sound. This bike gets best mileage at about 140km/hour, the fuel gauge is very conservatives. I get about 420-440 km if I push it. The low speed assist is kinda annoying and kinda good depending on situation. I have a lot of seat time in this bike off road and on road, it loves around 6-7k rpm the engine just sings and is a tractor in off road situation. Quick shifter is much better after transmission is worn in at about 10k km, 1 to 2 is a bit clunky but everything else is fantastic, I even use it off road. Any way thats my long post.
Thanks for sharing! I've noticed an increase in MPG (US rider here,) as i get closer to the 2nd oil change interval. It's great ya don't have to Rev it to the moon to get the 800 going. Have you noticed any idle hammer after warm up? (Clutch chudder in neutral) Enjoy the rides! 🍻
The Suzuki sounds great! Look foward to BDR trip footage! Cooling vest tip: soak it the evening before, stuff it in a lg freezer zip lock bag and then stick it in the fridge/freezer over night. Keep the bag for re-wetting the vest on while on the road.
This is an exciting kickoff for the 800DE Adventure series. Your TransAlp series was amazing and I assume you'll use the same cruise control upgrade as for the TransAlp (?) because it was so good. (I'll bet you're not adding the tubeless setup this time.) Whoa: you have a lot of work to do to get this machine ready for the No. CA BDR in just a week! Good luck with that and don't wear yourself down just getting ready for the 2K mile trip! I'd recommend staying away from using the hard cases, as beautiful as they are, because you've already convinced me that good quality soft bags are safer, lighter and more versatile. Looking forward!!
I was a long term VStrom 650 owner, 15 yrs, and I think the new 800DE is a well engineered and worthy successor. For my new bike I went with the Tuareg 660, which I absolutely love. But if I had been determined to stay Japanese with the reliability and extensive dealer network that goes along with that, I would have taken the 800DE over the T7 and the TA. Thanks for the video!
Looks like Suzuki has another winner here. I'm already seeing more of these on the road than TransAlps. I'm waiting to hear back from a riding buddy who bought one a few months ago...long time GS/GSA rider, he decided to "downsize" and bought a base Africa Twin last year, replaced it with a TransALp a few months later, and now has the DE =D
Sound like you might be coming over from the Transalp daaaark siiiide🤣 The first thing I did was get rid of that 12-pound overly quiet chunk of lead muffler. The engine sounds great now. Makes a difference in the fun factor for sure. Fuel injection has handled it fine. Soft bags don't break a leg. Great video as always!
This is the bike i was planning to upgrade to from my CB500x and as my own retirement gift. Instead I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a 2021 1250GS with only 800 miles for not much more. If i ever decide to downsize, it will still be the 800DE
Laughter is the best medicine when you’re twisting the throttle. Looking forward to your long-term review. Be safe out there, and enjoy life to the fullest.
Indeed, I did a test ride on the 800DE a few weeks ago. As soon as I was out of view of the dealership, I twisted the throttle at 3k rpm in second gear, and had the same exact laugh as Ian.
I recently bought one myself. I’m loving it so far. It’s a little vibe-y at certain RPMs but not really a deal breaker for me. Cruise control is also on my list. As for the suspension, although the springs are soft, I found that since they are fully adjustable, just adding some more preload and adjusting the damping did wonders and they feel fine to me now. (I weigh about 210 with gear) but I also don’t do anything too extreme like jumping or anything like that. I added a center stand (I bought mine from T-Rex racing) and found that it helps a lot for basic chain maintenance and stuff. I hope you enjoy the bike!
All the bikes Ian rides, and the DE still makes him giggle.... Makes me feel better for some odd reason. I was considering trading mine in on a KTM. Think I might hold out and add the Veridian cruise. I will say, I DO NOT like the basic rider aids on my DE. End up 'off, A, off' 99% of the time. Gravel mode is okay, but I only really use it when tired / arm pumped, or lazy. Loose sand, plenty of power to get sideways and in trouble. I 100% agree on springs and re-valve. Mines just about cranked up w/ gear and camping junk. TAKE MY MONEY lol. Looking forward to this series very much good sir!
I own the 2023 Suzuki 800DE. You are correct on the heat issue. Your right leg gets very warm. You can de-cat the motorcycle making the emissions null and void. This creates the factory warranty and a street legal issues, or maybe an exhaust wrap with some heat tape may help. I have not done either of these. I am only speculating. Thank you for the review. Well done sir.
I agree with some of the other commenters. Soft luggage is the way to go offroad. Hard luggage is cool and very practical, especially if you're in a city and need a system that locks. But I agree that it just makes going offroad more dangerous.
Great video Ian, really looking forward to it, we don't get much info on this bike compared to others. On the cooling vest, as you said yeah gas station, even a clean river if offroad, pretty much anywhere I have access to water
My strategy for evaporative vests: for long trips I carry two. I charge them before leaving. I put them in a plastic garbage bag, roll it up and put it in one of my cases until it gets hot. I'll put one on, and when that is spent, I switch them out. I can recharge the bag with bottled water or water from my hydro pack. Don't soak the vests in a gas station sink. They can be filthy. I ended up with an E.coli UTI after doing that once. I got a lap full of contaminated water, and it evidently was there long enough to work it's way into my system. Misery you can do without.
Suzuki have always made reliable bikes that are easy to ride. I still own my SV650S that I bought new in 2001 and one of my favorite bikes of all times is a DRZ400S. Back 15 years ago when I was still in my 40s, I used to do BDR type of riding on a DR350S and later on a DRZ400S. It is only in recent years that I moved to more sophisticated, less reliable European bikes. Don’t get me wrong, I love my 890 ADV, but it had and still has many annoying problems for a 2023 model.
I own a Tuareg ( mostly thanks to you !), and i would trade it for the V strom if i had to, the Tuareg is great and i live in europe so dealerships are less of an issue than over there, however the motocross-style seat really hurts my butt on long road trips. I had the opportunity to try out the V strom thanks to a friend, and the seat is freaking couch. I was surprised though, the wind protection is much better on the Tuareg compared to the default V strom windshield Since the Tenere has the same seat shape than the Tuareg i wouldn't consider it at all, and the transalp is cool but it looks awfully bland and tasteless in my opinion, the v strom just has a lot more personnality to its look than the Honda. Plus, thanks to you I know both the Suzuki and Tuareg are far more rookie-friendly for maintenance as I do plan to do it myself once the warranty expires
Here in Southern Nevada, I wear full dress out and I use a cooling vest. PPL say don't you get hot? Imagine riding in Vegas on the strip and you have t-shirt and shorts and a taxi/tourist takes you out. It might be 110f temp 6 ft off the ground, but that pavement is 20-30 degrees hotter. Laying there with a broken back and you can't get up, just cooking flesh. I get chills in summer time.🥶
I just traded my KLR 650 for a leftover new 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE last week! What a difference! It was like going from a tractor to a Mercedes AMG. Night and day differences in handling, shifting, braking, power (more than DOUBLE the power), etc. I love this bike! I just bought the factory engine guards and the bigger windscreen that I will install this week. Looking forward to your adventures on this bike, Ian! Especially anxious to see what kind of cruise control you will be installing. I would like to make that modification as well. 👍
Excellent review, looking forward to more on this bike. When you chuckle while riding, that’s always a positive tell. And saying you’d ride this more than your beloved r1300gs - that’s huge!
I test drove it last weekend. The no cruise control was the only gripe for me. Can't wait to see you fix that. Liked it more than the 1050 DE for sure.
I have a 2023 DE 800 Adventure that I just got back from Alaska on. 25,000miles on the bike and the only thing missing is cruise control and stiffer springs. Looking forward to you updates & reviews
I bought one about a year ago. I would recommend an aftermarket pipe. I have the Yoshimura slip on. That and a high flow air filter really uncorks the bike.
Every time I have my mind made up, another video comes out... AFA cooling vests, I've been using them for over ten years. A couple if things... Carry a 2 gallon zip lock bag to keep it in. Not only does that take care of putting a wet vest in your luggage, but you can put the vest in the baggy, and fill it in a gas station bathroom to rehydrate. The other thing is, don't use it with mesh. Wear a solid textile jacket with the vents (preferably shoulder or arm) open. exhaust out the back and you have a nice swamp cooler effect. And I'm sure you're aware, they don't work well in high humidity.
Thanks for all your reviews and videos. I really like the death Valley ride. Anyway, I've had my 23' 800 DE for a few months now and agree with everything you've said about the bike's handling and love the torque of the engine. Seat height and more torque in the midrange are what sold me. I'm also on the cruise control list. Very curious to see what you choose tire wise. I'm thinking about the TKC 80 front and either the Tractionator Adventure rear, or the Dunlop Raids. Good luck and I hope you beat whatever health challenges you have. J.
Hey, I hadn’t heard you have health issues. I hope these don’t regress and you’re ok, you are such a big part of so many viewers lives. Go easy….from UK
Hey Ian, looking forward to your build. The DE is really an underrated and misunderstood platform. I agree on many of your points. Here's something not many folks have realized. I'll caveat the next part by saying I only have about 6-or700 miles on the T7, so take that for what you will. Thousands on the DE The T7 was designed with anti squat technology, meaning it was designed (per Yamaha) to charge through things and which makes carrying the front end over obstacles like puddles, rocks, ruts and limbs really hard without flooring it amd dumping the clutch. That design feature is counterintuitive for what I want in an adv bike. I want to be able to crack the throttle and carry the front over obstacles. The T7 is more narrow, but taller than the DE. The T7 only has about 3/8 of an inch more ground clearance though. It carries it weight very high. The DE is the opposite, it is wider, but feels several inches lower to the ground, despite only giving up 3/8 of an inch of ground clearance. Not spec sheet measurements, but rather real world measurements. Have someone sit on either, take the measurement, do the same on the other bike. We came up with 3/8of an inch. Sometimes spec sheets are difficult to trust bc manufacturers do things differently. Some take measurements empty of all fluids, some don't. Some crank the preload all the way up, some don't. For me, and my friends we want real world stats in real world conditions. That's what matters to us, not numbers on a piece of paper. I am planning on getting an 18inch Excel rear wheel (and21front) which will bring the ground clearance between the DE and T7 almost identical. Also will be doing something with the suspension. I haven't decided what direction to go. Leaning towards the Hessler long travel kit, which will increase the front travel to 9.8 inches, and a matching shock. The problem with going that route is the top heaviness will increase, and I do not know if I want that. I have other options though. I am lucky where I live in western North Carolina and Ohlins amd Cogent Dynamics are both about an hour from here. So I may get the bike valves and sprung as opposed to the long travel kit. My approach to this bike has been much different than what most people would do. Since this bike is a new model, I decided to leave the bike in 100% stock form until the warranty is up. Will only change things if I need to. Have dropped the bike dozens of times doing things on it that I shouldn't have been, but haven't damaged anything including levers. I figured, if the bike will stay together for a full year of what I will put it through, it will then be worthy of dumping 10k into. Once you figure Mosko reckless80, tank bag, handguards, 1k-3k in suspension, header and slip on, pegs, hangaurds, wheels and spokes, smaller crashbars (my oem welds on the crashbars have hairline fractures), GB Racing stator, waterpump, and clutch cover, cruise control, fasst flexx bars, steering stabilizer, hessler rally seat, ecu map, dna airbox mod kit and plate cover, +2/3 tooth larger rear sprocket, snall rear rack, trex short windscreen, folding metal tipped gear shifter, stonger brake pedal with folding tip, tail tidy and aux lights it is actually probably more than 10k in modifications. I'm not interested investing over 20 thousand dollar on a bike if that bike can't make it through a year of what I'll put it through. If everything works out well, I plan on staying on the 800DE for awhile. I'll just get a new one every 3 years and switch the parts around. If a better handling, more reliable, more versatile bike hits the market, I'll switch it up, but for now the 800DE checks off the most boxes. It doesn't mean the bike is without faults. There are plenty. It is a handful to turn around on a double track alone. The extra weight does show in that situation. The seat, while good is a bit too wide imo, it's borderline hideous. The factory mirrors produce a ton of noise. The headlight is laughable. Terribly soft suspension, I turn the PL all the way up, increased the compression, added heavier fork oil with a tiny bit more fork oil to stiffen it up, and it helped some, but it's still too soft for the pace and terrain I like to go. Be safe out in that heat Ian. Looking forward to your build and hope you enjoy the process. Thanks for bringing us along for it.
How's the seat, centerstand, heat control, horn, night lighting? Oxford heated grips. Suzuki had the time to check all the others out. Where's motor made? Service, oil, fluids, how easy. Power accessories, access to battery? Set of Clearwater lights. Racetek respring maybe revalve suspension. Soft for BDR. Sterling and friends have rode that, some pretty tough. Good vid
I purchased that exact bike about 1.5 months ago and loving it so far. I traded in my 15 vstorm 650 and its a big improvement in almost every way. The new 800de feels lighter to me than thr 650. Glad to see more long-term reviews online.
Thanks Ian for another long review. Transalp was so informative , I’m sure this would be also very informative and beneficial for all of us. You mentioned about Tuareg 660 , which you said is superior in many ways, would you be able to elaborate more and comparing them. Your fans always looking for assurance 😅😅 All the best Ian
Japanese mindset is safety first. And no failures are allowed. And, they do like to have fun. That's a pretty good religion right there. Best bikes, hands down.
I'm so glad you're doing this long term test! You clearly liked it in your initial test, and then you (and Dork!) both went down the Transalp path.... As an old 2005 DL650 rider, it's great to see 'Zuki upping their game and I'm looking forward to this series and seeing how it fares on BDRs. Great content, please keep it up and stay cool!
800de has progressive front springs as standard, so increasing the compression and preload should be enough. For further trips, I recommend the accessory windscreen. the original suzuki costs little and provides good protection. I'd love to see the cruise control test.
I wanna say run the hard luggage, but theres a reason. Yes the soft luggage is normally the way to go but the people buying this specific model most likely arent going to be immediately pulling off the hard luggage and swapping to soft luggage, there gonna keep the hard because its new and they just paid for it. Itd be good to see how it performs with it because thats how the bike was sold. Either way love the video cant wait to see the BDR trip!
Couldn't agree more. If a bike comes with luggage it should be tested with said luggage. But it could be tested with others also. But please don't omit the factory luggage test at some point moving forward.
@@Michael-Masi-2021yes! its good to test with because you turn around and say traveling with the hard luggage is great but if your looking to do more off road you can push for the base model and purchase your own soft luggage
I agree. I own a set of Givi Alaska cases I bought for the new bike to keep my groceries un-squished, and can't afford another 800 bucks for soft luggage if I choose an off-road camping trip...
Cooling vest: use a 1 gal zip lock bag and a bottle of water. Can carry it in the bag, soaked, as you head out in the morning then put it on when it gets hot. Re-soak it with dedicated water bottle as needed. If heading out of a hotel, ice is nice :) If boondocking, you can can use any water you can find. Did white rim trail last august on a knobby shod GSA. It was friggin hot. Works really well in the desert, totally worth the weight! Oh yeah, dry it out every night if you can. Can get funky pdq....especially in the bag.
I have one of those cooling vests and I found to just buy a bottle of water 8 oz's will do. lay the vest down on the pavement and slowly pour the water over the the vest. Try to spread the water around on the vest as you slowly drizzle the water on to the vest. This method worked very well for me in 90 degree weather.
Hi Ian, Artic Cool make shirts in long and short sleeve to do the same as the vest. They are lighter and I have the long sleeve version and they wok really well. We did a trip from northern Cali to Colorado and along with a mesh jacket they were great! We would go into a gas station bathroom and wet them after they dried out, on the BDR maybe a lake or stream. I remember you seemed really comfortable on the 800 the last time you tested it, waiting on the next videos. Also I like the hard luggage for on road and soft for on and off road but I'm still on a Roadglide what do I know lol. Cheers!
Definitely looking forward to your opinion of the bike. I bought mine last week. Loving it so far. So much different than the sport bikes I had before.
Hi I ride a Honda Valkyrie we are neighbors I live in lake Arrowhead, I always find a Home Depot take of my kewl vest put it in a Homer bucket and put ice cold water in it from drinking fountain put vest back on return bucket skipping those nasty sinks , good luck buddy 👍😇
I"m also on the list for cruise control coming in August if all goes well. Been loving my 2023DE Adventure. I would recommend soft luggage solution or review a few options that could work best with the stock pannier setup. I've tried my Nelson Rigg Enduro bags...but they really don't easily install and kinda small and the rear fender hooks interfere with the OEM topbox going on. So I've been substituting my giant loop Klamath. Thanks for taking on the Suzuki. Cheers!
Full disclosure, I own a Transalp. I looked at the Suziki and agree it does not feel very top heavy compared to the T7 or my Africa Twin I had. But numbers don't lie. 500 plus pounds was a deal breaker for me. As usual another great review, but I think you love for the color yellow is swaying you some 😃 As you mention the extra $1,300 for the version you have is a great value. Keep the content coming
Beautiful bike, reliable. I prefer the V85TT for the same money. 850cc 75hp, tubeless tires, adjustable suspension, skid plate, CC, heated grips, 6.1 gallon tank, shaft drive and panniers and top box. Easy to work on and bulletproof engine.
Finally some 800DE long term content. Granted I already own one so I'm committed at this point. My biggest complaint, and really only complaint about it is the engine heat can be rough in the summer.
Hey Ian thank you for the video and I can’t wait for the series! (1 year owner here!) It just seems like the video is unlisted I could only find it in the playlist of the bike. Don’t know if it’s normal wanted to inform you! See you!
@@justlucky13 I usually post up videos early for patreon members, then release to everyone a few days to a week later. there is also a secret way to find them, in the playlists...
A friend has the Aprillia and is very pleased with it, so far. Not enough miles to be sure yet. But the dealer network is the elephant in the room for sure. We’re all waiting to see how it goes for him, before we commit. Ian, you can be our guinea pig.
I use a two gallon zip lock bag to put my cooling vest in, then add about a pint or so of water. I usually carry enough along for one refill but that depends on where you’re going and availability of water. Add ice to that zip bag to really cool you off too. Have a great trip on that Ian!
Your microphone does an incredible job blocking wind noise. I'm on edge between this and the Tuareg. You can find great deals on Aprilia since they've been out for a few years. Good luck on your trip Ian!
Really looking forward to you continuing doing your upgrades and testing of the v-strom 800. I really love your reviews and how you examine each bike and have been watching for many years now. Currently have a z900 and though it's fun on Twisties it leaves much to be desired on rides any longer than 2 hours for me due to getting older (50) having a somewhat tall frame at 6 for 2 and back issues. Been eyeing the new 800 for awhile and have been seriously thinking about an adventure bike that can do freeway, canyons and a really good amount of off road. The Suzuki I feel may very well be the 1. Looking forward to your further review and mods on this machine.
Currently own the Vstrom 250sx, love it so much, but dream of oneday getting my hands on the 800de. Also wouldnt mind a review of the bike I already own😅
Thanks Ian for that awesome review, I guess the Suzuki V Strom doesn’t get the credibility that it should very good value for the money. It looks like a good bike. Looking forward to the other videos thanks.
Would you buy a V-Strom 800DE over a Tenere 700 or Transalp? Why or why not?
⚡For anyone ordering or pre-ordering cruise control for the V-Strom or any other bike that Veridian supports, please use my code BIGROCKMOTO for a 12% discount which also sends me a small commission to support the channel. veridiancruise.com/
🏍TODAY’S GEAR:
⚡ Arai XD5 Helmet: imp.i104546.net/Qy5dko
⚡ Klim Baja S4 Jacket and Pant: imp.i104546.net/oeGVN9
⚡ Sedici Cooling Vest: imp.i104546.net/q47rV5
⚡ Klim Baja Glove: imp.i104546.net/0Jn2GV
⚡ Mosko Moto Wildcat 8L Backpack: tinyurl.com/3kud2bdh
⚡ Sidi Adventure 2 Boot: imp.i104546.net/b3q5kx
⚡ DJI Osmo Action 4: amzn.to/48O1F2b
⚡ DJI Osmo Pocket 3: amzn.to/3Pcqeik
⚡ DJI Mini Pro 4 Drone: amzn.to/3WKU6a2
⚡2024 Gear Guide Download:
tinyurl.com/3jtkmdvz
➕SUPPORT➕
[I may receive commissions which are invested back into the channel]
⚡ Patreon: www.patreon.com/bigrockmedia
⚡ Rocky Mountain ATV/MC: bit.ly/33kgRIz
⚡ Revzilla: imp.i104546.net/6bxxXN
⚡ Mosko Moto: moskomoto.com/bigrockmoto
⚡ Pacific Powersports (Motoz Tires, Barkbusters): pacificpowersports.com/ USE CODE BRM2024
⚡ 3D Cycle Parts: www.3dcycleparts.com/?aff=3
⚡ Taco Moto : tacomoto.co/?ref=fi6gv640
⚡ Cyclops Adventure Sports: tinyurl.com/2kaknpfn
⚡ Denali Lighting: tinyurl.com/9746het9
⚡ Amazon: amzn.to/3viGZ0A
⚡ Merchandise: big-rock-moto.myspreadshop.com/
I'd buy anything after having my cams fail on my 790r
Nope, A DRZ 400 with EFI, a 6spd and ABS is all I would ever need ... COME ON SUZUKI !!! Can even use the same running chassis/gear with all that aftermarket support built in.
@@plokmko0 that would be nice!
@@outdoorkreations7051 sorry to hear that
T7: People that want simplicity, ride harder off-road, weight, reliability, playfulness, and easy to access air filter matters. Best for that big old school dirt bike feel.
Transalp: More road biased. Easier to approach and maneuver with lower seat height. Low weight like the T7. Don't need frequent air filter access. More mature crowd which is what I've seen so far with the several I've seen out on the road.
V-Strom: Best for the higher mileage tourer. Weight isn't as much of a concern and will only help with on-road stability. Wants to add in off-road riding on long trips. May have a good bit of miles to ride to get to the good stuff on the weekends. Wants the option to cheaply add cruise and not have to pay over $700.
Scored a 2023 adventure model with 400 miles on it for $8500 bucks. Best bike I have ever owned.
Nice!
Holy smokes, what a deal!! I love my DE, it’s perfect!
That is cheap, especially for the Adventure model!! Lots of non Adv ones out there now for around $8k new. Wonder why they are already discounted so much?! That's a steal!
Wow great job!
@@luciano136 Where are you seeing those! It's all MSRP here in the Dallas, TX area unfortunately.
“I can’t really find anything wrong with it…” Which kinda says it all. We DR 650 riders have been in on that little secret for decades. The Tuareg is the girl you _date._ The Suzuki is the gal you _marry._ 😉😃
I keep hopping between Africa Twin and Vstrom... I just can't decide which is better they are both #1 Adventure bikes! XD
@@nogerboher5266 - The Transalp is noticeably lighter (although the Suzuki seems to carry its weight well, at least on the street). The Suzuki definitely has the better suspension. Those are my takeaways from brief test rides. I’m still waiting to test the the ‘24 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. I rode the ‘23 and it was just way too vibey at highway speeds. The ‘24 supposedly fixes that. If it does, that’s what I’m going to buy. It is considerably more expensive, but it comes stock with all the creature comforts an old fart like me craves. 😉
Which lucky girls will be fit to join my harem?
@@nogerboher5266 two very different bikes, the africa twin is way heavier/bigger and almost twice the price
@dioxys AT base model is identical weight to the DE. In Australia Honda is running 2023 AT's out and I'm extremely tempted to go the base model (just $2K more than DE) and parking it beside our gorgeous yellow DE. 😈😈😈
Finally, you're doing a long-term review of the 800DE. Suzuki was very wise to let you have one. Now, everyone will know how good this bike is. I did choose it over the Talp and T7.
I bought a used 2016 gs only because of my needs, the 800 was the next in line
same :D
Me to!
Mine will be here this week !! 🎉 Transalp is too weak, t7 too hard for my ass and too high for my 5ft7
My vote would be soft luggage for your BDR ride. Less weight and probably safer for those gnarly sections. The VStrom very underrated and Suzuki deserves some credit.
Yeah, I'd hate to dent up those nice panniers, and on a BDR, good chance you'll drop the bike at some point.
Why would soft panniers be safer? Im looking to upgrade my own luggage and looking at both hard and soft panniers
I'm sure he knows that 😂😂
@@jackvliet - He certainly does. Just wanted to share my experience for others👍
@@ThePungljung - less risk of a serious leg injury in case of a fall. Also, less prone to being damaged in a crash. For me, a weight savings as well.
That 507 lbs is with a full tank of fuel. My 800DE weighed in at 500 lbs with crash bars, aftermarket skid, bark busters, large wind screen, and 1.5 gal of fuel. The scales I used are aircraft scales that are calibrated and FAA certified regularly. I never trusted the published weight because it feels way lighter than that, so I checked it myself. Love my 800DE! I bought it over the Tenere 700 because it was way more comfortable for the long hauls without sacrificing much off road ability.
Tubeless tyres would seal the deal for me. At 70 years old the last thing I want to be doing is using tyre levers on a hard wall tyre in the Australian outback in summer!
They are already discounting new models in the US by $3-$3.5k. For that price, I'd get the bike and buy a tubeless aftermarket wheel set and it's still a good price.
@@luciano136Where's that at?
@@dr.chadnash5870 Kind of all over (the US). I was checking Cycletrader the other day.
There's also people who make them tubeless.. here locally for about 200$
@@danielm6507 unfortunately I haven't heard of anyone offering that in OZ.
First off, I'm really excited that Ian got a hold of one to test long term!! I trust his reviews and judgement more than anyone!
Ive owned 3 suzukis, a SV100S, SV650, and a GSX-S750. All of them never saw a shop other than recommended maintenance. Suzuki doesnt really innovate, but they make reliable, reasonably priced, really, really good bikes. They just have crap marketing and they dont have flash. But that is how Suzuki has always been. You'll have a fantastic time on one, and it will always get you home, and you'll save enough money to have 2 in the garage.
As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate engines with low end grunt that pull from really low rpm. The 800DE reminds me of my old Tiger 800 XCa, but nuanced with a different engine.
I have not ridden the 800DE, but it seems to be a winner. Good job Suzuki!
I'm looking forward to this series as an 800DE owner all thanks to your initial review of one. ;)
DE owners unite! lol
I've been mostly a Honda brand rider but Suzuki has been knocking it out of the park with superb engines and now updated styling on the (the Vtwins and the Parallel twins.. Best value out there for no nonsense motorcycles that with proper care and feeding will last the owners for as long as they want to ride them. My little Vtwin seems to have no limits when asked to step up. They are Cinderella motorcycles.
I’ve been a die hard Honda fan myself. But through the years, I’ve seen Suzuki do some things better, so I just have to steer in the direction towards what suits me best. I can tell you that Suzuki makes great outboard motors as well.
The ‘updated’ styling of this bike is straight out of the early 80s Katana…both the tank lines and the seat
@@ronanrogers4127 At my age what was old is new again. 🙂
This "suberb" engine has SO ANOYONG high frequency vibration. It offrers fantastic performance but vibrations turn right leg into jelly.
Also motorcycle is terribly heavy.
@@podunkman2709terribly heavy? What do you ride for an adv bike?
I'm so glad you got this bike for a long term test.
I must say that I am total agreement with your impressions of the 800DE. I’ve owned one for a year and put 10k miles on it. It’s very easy to ride, stiffer springs and cruise control are on my to do list. It’s a keeper IMHO!
Thanks for sharing
Love your content. I am a very happy with my vstrom. I have just broke 20k km in the last 10 months. The Skid plate that's stock plastic one works surprisingly well, the suspension is soft but not bad and since most places where I ride is Blast Rock this actually is a good thing because the bike doesn't bounce all over the place, granted I will probably replace the springs when I do the seals to something more for my weight. Its also a very easy bike to ride and the power delivery is smooth as butter. The clutch is very good and sturdy and I abuse the living crap out of it and still good. Chain and sprocket are also very good. I opted for the SW Motech WP-L for soft paniers and they are awesome. The air filter is an easy accessible place. I have also ordered the Veridian CC. Now the bad or disliked things Heat is the only issue that bugs me but due to your recommendation I now wear Baja S4 instead of my Carlsbad. The Accessory bars that you have are kinda crap they will bend quite easily after 2 or three down on hard surface. The wind protection is kinda meh. My seat also leaks, I have one of the seats that leak (stiching is not water proof) it is getting replaced under warranty. OEM brake pads are pricy and they only last about 13k km. I added the Chigee AIO5 which is an amazing piece of kit but expensive (reach out to them maybe they can give you a review unit) Bark busters finally are releasing the 800 DE option as Suzuki in its wisdom change the bar ends bolts. I really have nothing bad to say about this bike I am looking to order Huzar can for a little more sound. This bike gets best mileage at about 140km/hour, the fuel gauge is very conservatives. I get about 420-440 km if I push it. The low speed assist is kinda annoying and kinda good depending on situation. I have a lot of seat time in this bike off road and on road, it loves around 6-7k rpm the engine just sings and is a tractor in off road situation. Quick shifter is much better after transmission is worn in at about 10k km, 1 to 2 is a bit clunky but everything else is fantastic, I even use it off road. Any way thats my long post.
Thanks for sharing! I've noticed an increase in MPG (US rider here,) as i get closer to the 2nd oil change interval.
It's great ya don't have to Rev it to the moon to get the 800 going.
Have you noticed any idle hammer after warm up?
(Clutch chudder in neutral)
Enjoy the rides!
🍻
The Suzuki sounds great! Look foward to BDR trip footage!
Cooling vest tip: soak it the evening before, stuff it in a lg freezer zip lock bag and then stick it in the fridge/freezer over night. Keep the bag for re-wetting the vest on while on the road.
This is an exciting kickoff for the 800DE Adventure series. Your TransAlp series was amazing and I assume you'll use the same cruise control upgrade as for the TransAlp (?) because it was so good. (I'll bet you're not adding the tubeless setup this time.) Whoa: you have a lot of work to do to get this machine ready for the No. CA BDR in just a week! Good luck with that and don't wear yourself down just getting ready for the 2K mile trip! I'd recommend staying away from using the hard cases, as beautiful as they are, because you've already convinced me that good quality soft bags are safer, lighter and more versatile. Looking forward!!
I was a long term VStrom 650 owner, 15 yrs, and I think the new 800DE is a well engineered and worthy successor. For my new bike I went with the Tuareg 660, which I absolutely love. But if I had been determined to stay Japanese with the reliability and extensive dealer network that goes along with that, I would have taken the 800DE over the T7 and the TA. Thanks for the video!
Finally a video to show off the true potential of our bikes
Woo finally! Been waiting for this to hit dealers! Can't wait to pick one up and cant wait to see how you like it!
Looks like Suzuki has another winner here. I'm already seeing more of these on the road than TransAlps. I'm waiting to hear back from a riding buddy who bought one a few months ago...long time GS/GSA rider, he decided to "downsize" and bought a base Africa Twin last year, replaced it with a TransALp a few months later, and now has the DE =D
Tried both: The Suzuki is the better one. Only problem: It's not a Honda. Or rather: It's the bike, Honda should have built!
7900 hard miles so far on mine. From Texas to Michigan and very hard off roading. Zero problems, best bike I ever had!!
awesome
Sound like you might be coming over from the Transalp daaaark siiiide🤣
The first thing I did was get rid of that 12-pound overly quiet chunk of lead muffler. The engine sounds great now. Makes a difference in the fun factor for sure. Fuel injection has handled it fine.
Soft bags don't break a leg.
Great video as always!
This is the bike i was planning to upgrade to from my CB500x and as my own retirement gift. Instead I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a 2021 1250GS with only 800 miles for not much more. If i ever decide to downsize, it will still be the 800DE
Laughter is the best medicine when you’re twisting the throttle. Looking forward to your long-term review. Be safe out there, and enjoy life to the fullest.
Indeed, I did a test ride on the 800DE a few weeks ago. As soon as I was out of view of the dealership, I twisted the throttle at 3k rpm in second gear, and had the same exact laugh as Ian.
I recently bought one myself. I’m loving it so far. It’s a little vibe-y at certain RPMs but not really a deal breaker for me. Cruise control is also on my list. As for the suspension, although the springs are soft, I found that since they are fully adjustable, just adding some more preload and adjusting the damping did wonders and they feel fine to me now. (I weigh about 210 with gear) but I also don’t do anything too extreme like jumping or anything like that. I added a center stand (I bought mine from T-Rex racing) and found that it helps a lot for basic chain maintenance and stuff. I hope you enjoy the bike!
I rented this bike for a couple day to tour in germany, very nice bike!
Excellent, been looking forward to this!
I just went and looked at a
I really enjoy my 2014 DL1000. Great looking bike
All the bikes Ian rides, and the DE still makes him giggle.... Makes me feel better for some odd reason. I was considering trading mine in on a KTM. Think I might hold out and add the Veridian cruise. I will say, I DO NOT like the basic rider aids on my DE. End up 'off, A, off' 99% of the time. Gravel mode is okay, but I only really use it when tired / arm pumped, or lazy. Loose sand, plenty of power to get sideways and in trouble. I 100% agree on springs and re-valve. Mines just about cranked up w/ gear and camping junk. TAKE MY MONEY lol. Looking forward to this series very much good sir!
I'm looking forward to this series. the 800DE is on my wishlist
I was hoping you'd review the 800 DE. I can't wait to see the whole series you do on it.
It’s one big beast ,for younger strong riders.
Picking one up off the dirt might qualify you for the Olympic weightlifting squad
I own the 2023 Suzuki 800DE. You are correct on the heat issue. Your right leg gets very warm. You can de-cat the motorcycle making the emissions null and void. This creates the factory warranty and a street legal issues, or maybe an exhaust wrap with some heat tape may help. I have not done either of these. I am only speculating. Thank you for the review. Well done sir.
I agree with some of the other commenters. Soft luggage is the way to go offroad. Hard luggage is cool and very practical, especially if you're in a city and need a system that locks. But I agree that it just makes going offroad more dangerous.
Can't wait to see more!
Great video Ian, really looking forward to it, we don't get much info on this bike compared to others. On the cooling vest, as you said yeah gas station, even a clean river if offroad, pretty much anywhere I have access to water
Thanks for the info!
A really good idea I read somewhere was to keep a dry bag filled with water and then dip in the vest at stops.
So Stoked for this series! Thank you Suzuki NA, and thank you Ian!
My strategy for evaporative vests: for long trips I carry two. I charge them before leaving. I put them in a plastic garbage bag, roll it up and put it in one of my cases until it gets hot. I'll put one on, and when that is spent, I switch them out. I can recharge the bag with bottled water or water from my hydro pack. Don't soak the vests in a gas station sink. They can be filthy. I ended up with an E.coli UTI after doing that once. I got a lap full of contaminated water, and it evidently was there long enough to work it's way into my system. Misery you can do without.
Ian, you do the absolute best adv reviews online.
Suzuki have always made reliable bikes that are easy to ride. I still own my SV650S that I bought new in 2001 and one of my favorite bikes of all times is a DRZ400S. Back 15 years ago when I was still in my 40s, I used to do BDR type of riding on a DR350S and later on a DRZ400S. It is only in recent years that I moved to more sophisticated, less reliable European bikes. Don’t get me wrong, I love my 890 ADV, but it had and still has many annoying problems for a 2023 model.
Your tests are the best.
I own a Tuareg ( mostly thanks to you !), and i would trade it for the V strom if i had to, the Tuareg is great and i live in europe so dealerships are less of an issue than over there, however the motocross-style seat really hurts my butt on long road trips. I had the opportunity to try out the V strom thanks to a friend, and the seat is freaking couch. I was surprised though, the wind protection is much better on the Tuareg compared to the default V strom windshield
Since the Tenere has the same seat shape than the Tuareg i wouldn't consider it at all, and the transalp is cool but it looks awfully bland and tasteless in my opinion, the v strom just has a lot more personnality to its look than the Honda. Plus, thanks to you I know both the Suzuki and Tuareg are far more rookie-friendly for maintenance as I do plan to do it myself once the warranty expires
Here in Southern Nevada, I wear full dress out and I use a cooling vest. PPL say don't you get hot? Imagine riding in Vegas on the strip and you have t-shirt and shorts and a taxi/tourist takes you out. It might be 110f temp 6 ft off the ground, but that pavement is 20-30 degrees hotter. Laying there with a broken back and you can't get up, just cooking flesh. I get chills in summer time.🥶
Agree 100%, Phoenix rider here..pavement to 160F...
This will be good to watch, onthebackwheel does some great 800de content as well
I just traded my KLR 650 for a leftover new 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE last week! What a difference! It was like going from a tractor to a Mercedes AMG. Night and day differences in handling, shifting, braking, power (more than DOUBLE the power), etc. I love this bike! I just bought the factory engine guards and the bigger windscreen that I will install this week.
Looking forward to your adventures on this bike, Ian! Especially anxious to see what kind of cruise control you will be installing. I would like to make that modification as well. 👍
I made the exact same upgrade. I returned to cycling after several years with the KLR. Had it less than 6 months before I bought the Suzuki.
A good trade, I have to say. The bikes are decades apart in smoothness and technology.
would love to hear your thought on the new windscreen..
Excellent review, looking forward to more on this bike.
When you chuckle while riding, that’s always a positive tell. And saying you’d ride this more than your beloved r1300gs - that’s huge!
I test drove it last weekend. The no cruise control was the only gripe for me. Can't wait to see you fix that. Liked it more than the 1050 DE for sure.
I have a 2023 DE 800 Adventure that I just got back from Alaska on. 25,000miles on the bike and the only thing missing is cruise control and stiffer springs. Looking forward to you updates & reviews
This bike is absolutely stunning in this paint job, especially in the sun
I bought one about a year ago. I would recommend an aftermarket pipe. I have the Yoshimura slip on. That and a high flow air filter really uncorks the bike.
you do any ecu work? im thinking about two wheel dyno works mail-in flash.
Which air filter?
Every time I have my mind made up, another video comes out...
AFA cooling vests, I've been using them for over ten years. A couple if things...
Carry a 2 gallon zip lock bag to keep it in. Not only does that take care of putting a wet vest in your luggage, but you can put the vest in the baggy, and fill it in a gas station bathroom to rehydrate.
The other thing is, don't use it with mesh. Wear a solid textile jacket with the vents (preferably shoulder or arm) open. exhaust out the back and you have a nice swamp cooler effect.
And I'm sure you're aware, they don't work well in high humidity.
THIS!!!
Thanks for all your reviews and videos. I really like the death Valley ride. Anyway, I've had my 23' 800 DE for a few months now and agree with everything you've said about the bike's handling and love the torque of the engine. Seat height and more torque in the midrange are what sold me. I'm also on the cruise control list.
Very curious to see what you choose tire wise. I'm thinking about the TKC 80 front and either the Tractionator Adventure rear, or the Dunlop Raids.
Good luck and I hope you beat whatever health challenges you have.
J.
The suzuki is at the top of my list.
Ian, I think you are and always have been a Vstrom man. I mean that in good way as I have own a Vstrom myself. 😄 Looking forward to the next episodes!
That smile at the start had me smiling lol. Keep em coming Ian
I was just a the dealer looking at this same bike!!! I appreciate your honest review.
Hey, I hadn’t heard you have health issues. I hope these don’t regress and you’re ok, you are such a big part of so many viewers lives. Go easy….from UK
Hey Ian, looking forward to your build. The DE is really an underrated and misunderstood platform.
I agree on many of your points. Here's something not many folks have realized.
I'll caveat the next part by saying I only have about 6-or700 miles on the T7, so take that for what you will. Thousands on the DE
The T7 was designed with anti squat technology, meaning it was designed (per Yamaha) to charge through things and which makes carrying the front end over obstacles like puddles, rocks, ruts and limbs really hard without flooring it amd dumping the clutch. That design feature is counterintuitive for what I want in an adv bike. I want to be able to crack the throttle and carry the front over obstacles.
The T7 is more narrow, but taller than the DE. The T7 only has about 3/8 of an inch more ground clearance though. It carries it weight very high.
The DE is the opposite, it is wider, but feels several inches lower to the ground, despite only giving up 3/8 of an inch of ground clearance. Not spec sheet measurements, but rather real world measurements. Have someone sit on either, take the measurement, do the same on the other bike. We came up with 3/8of an inch. Sometimes spec sheets are difficult to trust bc manufacturers do things differently. Some take measurements empty of all fluids, some don't. Some crank the preload all the way up, some don't. For me, and my friends we want real world stats in real world conditions. That's what matters to us, not numbers on a piece of paper.
I am planning on getting an 18inch Excel rear wheel (and21front) which will bring the ground clearance between the DE and T7 almost identical.
Also will be doing something with the suspension. I haven't decided what direction to go.
Leaning towards the Hessler long travel kit, which will increase the front travel to 9.8 inches, and a matching shock. The problem with going that route is the top heaviness will increase, and I do not know if I want that.
I have other options though. I am lucky where I live in western North Carolina and Ohlins amd Cogent Dynamics are both about an hour from here. So I may get the bike valves and sprung as opposed to the long travel kit.
My approach to this bike has been much different than what most people would do.
Since this bike is a new model, I decided to leave the bike in 100% stock form until the warranty is up. Will only change things if I need to. Have dropped the bike dozens of times doing things on it that I shouldn't have been, but haven't damaged anything including levers.
I figured, if the bike will stay together for a full year of what I will put it through, it will then be worthy of dumping 10k into.
Once you figure Mosko reckless80, tank bag, handguards, 1k-3k in suspension, header and slip on, pegs, hangaurds, wheels and spokes, smaller crashbars (my oem welds on the crashbars have hairline fractures), GB Racing stator, waterpump, and clutch cover, cruise control, fasst flexx bars, steering stabilizer, hessler rally seat, ecu map, dna airbox mod kit and plate cover, +2/3 tooth larger rear sprocket, snall rear rack, trex short windscreen, folding metal tipped gear shifter, stonger brake pedal with folding tip, tail tidy and aux lights it is actually probably more than 10k in modifications.
I'm not interested investing over 20 thousand dollar on a bike if that bike can't make it through a year of what I'll put it through.
If everything works out well, I plan on staying on the 800DE for awhile.
I'll just get a new one every 3 years and switch the parts around.
If a better handling, more reliable, more versatile bike hits the market, I'll switch it up, but for now the 800DE checks off the most boxes.
It doesn't mean the bike is without faults. There are plenty. It is a handful to turn around on a double track alone. The extra weight does show in that situation. The seat, while good is a bit too wide imo, it's borderline hideous. The factory mirrors produce a ton of noise. The headlight is laughable. Terribly soft suspension, I turn the PL all the way up, increased the compression, added heavier fork oil with a tiny bit more fork oil to stiffen it up, and it helped some, but it's still too soft for the pace and terrain I like to go.
Be safe out in that heat Ian. Looking forward to your build and hope you enjoy the process. Thanks for bringing us along for it.
really great info, thank you
I don't think this bike needs a tail tidy but send a link to one, i'd like to see it
@@jonpeters5194hessler rally team in Germany makes one. I can't post a link though
How's the seat, centerstand, heat control, horn, night lighting? Oxford heated grips. Suzuki had the time to check all the others out. Where's motor made? Service, oil, fluids, how easy. Power accessories, access to battery? Set of Clearwater lights. Racetek respring maybe revalve suspension. Soft for BDR. Sterling and friends have rode that, some pretty tough. Good vid
Been looking forward to this one!!
I purchased that exact bike about 1.5 months ago and loving it so far. I traded in my 15 vstorm 650 and its a big improvement in almost every way. The new 800de feels lighter to me than thr 650. Glad to see more long-term reviews online.
Thanks Ian for another long review. Transalp was so informative , I’m sure this would be also very informative and beneficial for all of us.
You mentioned about Tuareg 660 , which you said is superior in many ways, would you be able to elaborate more and comparing them.
Your fans always looking for assurance 😅😅
All the best Ian
Suzuki have a knack for making the best bikes ever!
They just don’t realise it at the time (neither do we)
Japanese mindset is safety first. And no failures are allowed. And, they do like to have fun. That's a pretty good religion right there. Best bikes, hands down.
I'm so glad you're doing this long term test! You clearly liked it in your initial test, and then you (and Dork!) both went down the Transalp path.... As an old 2005 DL650 rider, it's great to see 'Zuki upping their game and I'm looking forward to this series and seeing how it fares on BDRs. Great content, please keep it up and stay cool!
BDR on the 800. Cool.
You got promoted to Assistant Associate Vice President!
Congratulations!
800de has progressive front springs as standard, so increasing the compression and preload should be enough. For further trips, I recommend the accessory windscreen. the original suzuki costs little and provides good protection. I'd love to see the cruise control test.
heard just nice things about that specimen, very cool machine in my eyes, cheers V!
I wanna say run the hard luggage, but theres a reason. Yes the soft luggage is normally the way to go but the people buying this specific model most likely arent going to be immediately pulling off the hard luggage and swapping to soft luggage, there gonna keep the hard because its new and they just paid for it. Itd be good to see how it performs with it because thats how the bike was sold. Either way love the video cant wait to see the BDR trip!
Couldn't agree more. If a bike comes with luggage it should be tested with said luggage. But it could be tested with others also. But please don't omit the factory luggage test at some point moving forward.
@@Michael-Masi-2021yes! its good to test with because you turn around and say traveling with the hard luggage is great but if your looking to do more off road you can push for the base model and purchase your own soft luggage
I agree. I own a set of Givi Alaska cases I bought for the new bike to keep my groceries un-squished, and can't afford another 800 bucks for soft luggage if I choose an off-road camping trip...
I'd like to compliment your clear audio talking while riding, very nice.
Excited to see this series
thanks for noticing
Cooling vest: use a 1 gal zip lock bag and a bottle of water. Can carry it in the bag, soaked, as you head out in the morning then put it on when it gets hot. Re-soak it with dedicated water bottle as needed. If heading out of a hotel, ice is nice :) If boondocking, you can can use any water you can find. Did white rim trail last august on a knobby shod GSA. It was friggin hot. Works really well in the desert, totally worth the weight! Oh yeah, dry it out every night if you can. Can get funky pdq....especially in the bag.
I have one of those cooling vests and I found to just buy a bottle of water 8 oz's will do. lay the vest down on the pavement and slowly pour the water over the the vest. Try to spread the water around on the vest as you slowly drizzle the water on to the vest. This method worked very well for me in 90 degree weather.
The new green color is too good.
I might watch this video several times, i just like to watch this beautiful bike, Ian please make as much content as possible for this one ❤
Sorry about the health issues! I hope you get better!!!
Hi Ian, Artic Cool make shirts in long and short sleeve to do the same as the vest. They are lighter and I have the long sleeve version and they wok really well. We did a trip from northern Cali to Colorado and along with a mesh jacket they were great! We would go into a gas station bathroom and wet them after they dried out, on the BDR maybe a lake or stream. I remember you seemed really comfortable on the 800 the last time you tested it, waiting on the next videos. Also I like the hard luggage for on road and soft for on and off road but I'm still on a Roadglide what do I know lol. Cheers!
Very much looking forward to this LTR! Excited to see how you kit this bike out. As always, thank you so much for the content, Ian!
So glad you're doing a long term test. Been contemplating
Definitely looking forward to your opinion of the bike. I bought mine last week. Loving it so far. So much different than the sport bikes I had before.
Hi I ride a Honda Valkyrie we are neighbors I live in lake Arrowhead, I always find a Home Depot take of my kewl vest put it in a Homer bucket and put ice cold water in it from drinking fountain put vest back on return bucket skipping those nasty sinks , good luck buddy 👍😇
I really appreciate all you do! Your reviews have been incredible! Hank you Ian
I"m also on the list for cruise control coming in August if all goes well. Been loving my 2023DE Adventure. I would recommend soft luggage solution or review a few options that could work best with the stock pannier setup. I've tried my Nelson Rigg Enduro bags...but they really don't easily install and kinda small and the rear fender hooks interfere with the OEM topbox going on. So I've been substituting my giant loop Klamath. Thanks for taking on the Suzuki. Cheers!
Full disclosure, I own a Transalp. I looked at the Suziki and agree it does not feel very top heavy compared to the T7 or my Africa Twin I had. But numbers don't lie. 500 plus pounds was a deal breaker for me. As usual another great review, but I think you love for the color yellow is swaying you some 😃 As you mention the extra $1,300 for the version you have is a great value. Keep the content coming
And the TA airbox access was a deal breaker for me!
A no ride recall issued on the rear tire. Notices to some owners goes out in 7-26-24 depending on your serial number.
Beautiful bike, reliable. I prefer the V85TT for the same money. 850cc 75hp, tubeless tires, adjustable suspension, skid plate, CC, heated grips, 6.1 gallon tank, shaft drive and panniers and top box. Easy to work on and bulletproof engine.
Ian, your videos are the best! Thanks for doing what you do.
My pleasure!
Finally some 800DE long term content. Granted I already own one so I'm committed at this point. My biggest complaint, and really only complaint about it is the engine heat can be rough in the summer.
yes, I took a long ride yesterday, it was really hot on my legs, like really bad...
@@BigRockMoto It's nice in the winter at least. I usually only notice it in city riding at 105+ outside
Love ours too 🥰🥰. But you forgot the awful headlight ...
Hey Ian thank you for the video and I can’t wait for the series! (1 year owner here!)
It just seems like the video is unlisted I could only find it in the playlist of the bike. Don’t know if it’s normal wanted to inform you!
See you!
Yep, not released until next week but since you found it this way, you get it early!
yes I just got the notice and wow 800 views in twenty minutes then read comments 6 days old???
@@justlucky13 I usually post up videos early for patreon members, then release to everyone a few days to a week later. there is also a secret way to find them, in the playlists...
@@BigRockMoto I will check playlist from now on Thanks
Nice exatly the video series I wanted!
Amazing bike! I'd definitely buy one if and when i upgrade my CRF300L. Thanks Ian for the, once again, fantastic and thorough video.
A friend has the Aprillia and is very pleased with it, so far. Not enough miles to be sure yet. But the dealer network is the elephant in the room for sure. We’re all waiting to see how it goes for him, before we commit. Ian, you can be our guinea pig.
As for the cooling vest: yes I have one too, and I just refill it using any tap I can find. At a camping spot, or fuel station… Anything works really.
I use a two gallon zip lock bag to put my cooling vest in, then add about a pint or so of water. I usually carry enough along for one refill but that depends on where you’re going and availability of water. Add ice to that zip bag to really cool you off too. Have a great trip on that Ian!
The 800RE windshield is a direct bolt on and is a superior windscreen. I wish it came as an option, but you have to buy it separate.
Your microphone does an incredible job blocking wind noise. I'm on edge between this and the Tuareg. You can find great deals on Aprilia since they've been out for a few years. Good luck on your trip Ian!
Really looking forward to you continuing doing your upgrades and testing of the v-strom 800. I really love your reviews and how you examine each bike and have been watching for many years now. Currently have a z900 and though it's fun on Twisties it leaves much to be desired on rides any longer than 2 hours for me due to getting older (50) having a somewhat tall frame at 6 for 2 and back issues. Been eyeing the new 800 for awhile and have been seriously thinking about an adventure bike that can do freeway, canyons and a really good amount of off road. The Suzuki I feel may very well be the 1. Looking forward to your further review and mods on this machine.
Currently own the Vstrom 250sx, love it so much, but dream of oneday getting my hands on the 800de. Also wouldnt mind a review of the bike I already own😅
Thanks Ian for that awesome review, I guess the Suzuki V Strom doesn’t get the credibility that it should very good value for the money. It looks like a good bike. Looking forward to the other videos thanks.