Suzuki V-Strom 800 Unveiled: Road-going Version Of The 800 DE

Suzuki has pulled the wraps off the V-Strom 800. This comes almost a year after the V-Strom 800DE was first unveiled at EICMA last year. The bike is essentially the road-going version of the 800DE so major changes include alloy wheels (with tubeless tyres) and a 19-/17-inch wheel setup. It also gets a three-way height-adjustable tall windscreen along with a bigger 20-litre fuel tank which further make it quite apt to munch miles on. 

This makes the bike a lot more similar to the V-Strom 650XT we currently have in India. But unlike the XT, this one is decked with tech. The V-Strom 800 gets a ride-by-wire system, three modes of traction control (and can be completely switched off), a bi-directional quickshifter and switchable ABS.

There’s even a 5-inch TFT console that seems to have good readability. The V-Strom 650XT is undoubtedly an excellent motorcycle but it is quite a bare bones bike when it comes to tech. And if Suzuki is now targeting the 800cc ADV segment with the V-Strom moniker, decking the bike out with tech will help it take on bikes like the Triumph Tiger 900 and the BMW F 850 GS better. 

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The V-Strom 800DE was spotted in India earlier this year and it’s quite likely that both the standard bike and the DE variant will make their way to India. Prices for it could begin from around Rs 11.5 lakh (ex-showroom) and rivals will include the Triumph Tiger 900, BMW F 850 GSA and the upcoming Honda XL750 Transalp.