Suzuki V-Strom 800RE Review
POSTED: 13/08/2024
The fourth incarnation of the ‘new’ Suzuki 776cc DOHC 270° crank parallel twin engine, Following on from the V-Strom 800DE, GSX8-S and GSX8-R.
Marketed as the RE - Road Explorer, whereas the DE is the Dual sport Explorer (Dirt Edition!)
It is effectively the road version of the DE, with cast wheels instead of wire spoke and a 19” front wheel rather than the 21” of the DE. Suspension travel is reduced compared with the DE giving the bike a lot lower profile and reducing the overall height to 825mm and a weight of 223 kilos. The handlebars are lower than the DE canting the rider slightly more forward, but not to the extent of putting pressure on the wrists.
Shared elements with the DE are the frame and most of the body work. Fly screens are different with the RE having a larger screen both height and widthwise.
The RE has a nice stance, although does sit a little low at the front for my liking, exaggerating the ‘beak’, albeit very similar to its sibling DE’s front end. The lower suspension and 19” front wheel creating this effect.
Swinging my leg over the RE, the saddle is extremely comfortable, wide enough to support and the foam being firm enough to compliment that support. I rode the machine for an hour with no moving around to relieve any pressure, unlike my own Africa Twin which is like a plank!
Feet are virtually flat on the floor which, given the saddle width, is surprising. The fairing seems a long way from me, and quite low. It makes the bike seem long for some reason.
Firing up the engine the exhaust gives a nice, if muted, soundtrack. Revving it gives a nice tone. The gear box slips happily into the first of its six speeds with no drama and the clutch, a little on the heavy side but not requiring Mr Universe levels of effort. As the ride developed, I never gave this a second though, so maybe it was just having ridden a very light clutched bike before?
Quite a long travel to the biting point, but engagement is smooth and predictable.
Pulling out into traffic from 5-Ways Motorcycle Centre, Hull, the engine spins up nicely and pulls me safely across the carriageway with purpose. Braking for the traffic lights, the front brake has tremendous feedback, firm and progressive, to the point of being sharp.
Confidence in the DE is immediately there.
Working my way through city centre traffic and backed up jams, I get a feel for it’s slow speed manoeuvrability and once I’ve got my head round the way it delivers power and its dimensions, I find it easy to filter. For a 200+kilo bike it doesn’t feel heavy or cumbersome.
Out onto the A63 dual carriageway at NSL the pick-up is phenomenal! I feel a very slight vibration around 6-7k revs, but this is the only time I notice it throughout the ride. Gear shifts are slick with the quick shifter going up the box. ‘Butter smooth’ but not quite so slick down the box. As good as Yamaha on the upshift, but not as smooth down. Still not bad though. The wind protection at the national speed limit is very good. No excessive wind noise or buffeting, and no noticeable pressure on shoulders or body. It is a very nice place to be! The power delivery is silky, and it has a real punch to it. Braking to come off the A63, slipping into traffic in the first lane and the brakes are superb, lovely and progressive, loads of feel and they feel so well sorted.
Onto the back roads of East Yorkshire and the chassis shows itself to be another class act. It is almost a ‘think about it and it’s happened’ – it is so responsive. It holds every line really well – the tyres obviously working really well in conjunction with the chassis. Combined with the 800 twin engine which just keeps on delivering no matter what is asked of it, it is a sublime package. It just rides so well!
Following a new style Defender in black with blacked out windows and an ‘attitude’ and another SUV, we wait turn right off a main (country) road. The Defender and I have to wait for another car on the opposite carriageway as the first car turns and accelerates into the minor road. Nothing oncoming as we turn into the minor road I go onto the right side of the road to get past the Defender who decides it’s race time. As I am halfway past the driver
floors the accelerator to prevent me overtaking him as we close in on the other SUV. As the road is still clear, there is no safety issue, just a question mark over the mentality of the Defender pilot! I open the RE’s throttle and ‘slick-shift’ through the gears as I get out of the no-man’s land I’ve been left in. The turbo phallus is outgunned by the little Suzuki as I pass the other SUV. I look at the speedo on the simple and clear TFT screen and see the speed limit is reached in fourth gear and as I look in the huge handlebar mounted mirrors, I see a huge cloud of black diesel smoke from the Defender. It was just an overtake, but the ego in the Defender just didn’t want a little blue bike overtaking him. Pathetic!
I settle into a lovely rhythm as the 800RE just hugs every corner, gripping well and complimenting the input it receives. The feel is unbelievable, and the chassis keeps feeding back. This really is a great bike.
I make my way back to the outskirts of the city and into urban traffic. Again, in this environment the 800RE simply delivers. The gearing is excellent for these roads (as it was for the country roads) and I am actually giddy with excitement as I return to 5-Ways.
I have not felt this excited after a ride for many years. It is a fantastic bike – I realise I am running out of superlatives – but I am SO impressed.
Please don’t test ride one. It will cost you money. No, it really will, you will want to own one and ride around England, Scotland, Wales and Europe!
Whether you sign for a RE, DE, 8S or 8R, based on the engine performance, you will not be disappointed and WILL embarrass riders of larger capacity machines. The power delivery works through the range, the chassis and suspension just work and make the bike nimble. It will eat up whatever is thrown at it.
Suzuki have really hit the sweet spot with the V-Strom 800RE. Mega! As I write this I am still buzzing…
Currently retailing at £9699, with 4.9% finance.
Review written by Chris Hood
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