Suzuki V-Strom 800DE And GSX-8R Showcased At 2024 Bharat Mobility Expo

Suzuki’s stall caught everyone’s attention at the 2024 Bharat Mobility Expo as the Japanese manufacturer showcased the V-Strom 800DE and the GSX-8R. Both bikes are built on the same platform and share a lot of components and features.

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE

The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE is an off-road adventure bike that features similar design elements as the previous V-Strom with modern tweaks and features. It gets a new pair of vertically stacked hexagonal LED headlights along with LED indicators and taillight. The ADV is powered by a new 776cc parallel twin engine with a 270-degree crankshaft that produces 84.3PS and 78Nm. It comes with a 20-litre fuel tank.

The V-Strom 800DE features a 5-inch colour TFT LCD instrument cluster. It also gets the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.) with three riding modes: Active, Basic and Comfort. Additionally, the ADV comes with a Bi-directional Quickshifter, Ride-by-Wire and Traction Control. It includes a G (Gravel) mode and the rear ABS can be turned off for off-road rides.

The V-Strom 800DE comes equipped with a longer front and rear suspension compared to the V-Strom 600. It gets a 220mm Showa inverted fork and 220mm Showa rear monoshock with preload adjustability. The ADV is fitted with 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wire-spoked wheels, wrapped with 90-section front and 150-section rear tubed tyres. Braking is managed by dual discs at the front and a single disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS. It has a ground clearance of 220mm, a kerb weight of 230kg and an 855mm seat height.

The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE goes head to head with the Honda XL750 Transalp, Triumph Tiger 850 Sport and the BMW F 850 GS.

Suzuki GSX-8R

The Suzuki GSX-8R is the manufacturer’s new 800cc sport bike. Though the GSX-8R features a new and futuristic design, it remains easily recognizable as part of the GSX family. Like the V-Strom, it also features the manufacturer’s new twin vertically stacked hexagonal LED headlights with LED indicators and taillight. The 800cc sportbike shares the same 776cc parallel twin engine with a 270-degree crankshaft from the V-Strom 800DE that makes 81.8hp and 77.9Nm. 

In terms of features, the sportbike shares the 5-inch colour TFT LCD display with V-Strom 800DE and gets the same features as its ADV counterpart. The GSX-8R also comes with Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.) and three riding modes: Active, Basic and Comfort. Moreover, the bike also has a bi-directional quickshifter, ride-by-wire and traction control.

The Suzuki GSX-8R gets an aluminium clip-on handlebar and has an aerodynamically tested windscreen. The sportbike is equipped with a Showa inverted fork and Showa rear monoshock with preload adjustability. It gets 17-inch alloy wheels with 120-section front and 180-section rear tubeless tyres. The sports bike has a twin front and single rear disc brake with dual-channel ABS. It weighs 205kg and has an 810mm seat height.

The GSX-8R doesn’t have a direct competitor. However, the Honda CBR650R, Kawasaki Ninja 650, Aprilia RS 660 and the upcoming Triumph Daytona 660 can be considered smaller-capacity alternatives while the Ducati SuperSport 950 and Panigale V2 are the more premium alternatives.