The middle-weight adventure motorcycle segment in India has one more contender in the form of the new Suzuki V-Strom 800DE. On sale in the global markets for a while, the motorcycle was launched in India recently at Rs 10.30 lakh, ex-showroom.
The new V-Strom has to fend itself from competition in the form of the BMW F850 GS, Triumph Tiger 900, and the Honda Transalp 750. All. three motorcycles are designed to be ridden all day on the road while being equally capable off the road. Here’s how they compete.
Suzuki V-Strom 800DE
Let’s start with the V-Strom 800DE — the motorcycle gets the right equipment in terms of long travel suspension from Showa, spoked wheels front and rear, disc brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS, traction control, ride modes, and a TFT dash amongst others.
All the vehicles in the segment, the ones that the V-Strom 800DE competes with, have a similar setup. The Tiger is the only motorcycle with a road-biased version and a full-fledged adventure version. The motorcycles have similar features as well, while some offer phone connectivity and navigation.
However, most customers in the segment will rely on their phones or dedicated navigation devices for navigation and their helmet intercoms back up as a means for call notifications.
Suzuki V-Strom 800DE vs competition — Engine specifications
Engine capacity and performance play a big role in the segment as they need to have enough muscle to munch miles, while the power needs to be usable off-road. That said, the V-Strom 800DE, BMW, and Honda use twin-cylinder powerhouses, while the Triumph Tiger uses a triple. Power output from all the motorcycles is in the same ballpark.
| Specs | 800DE | 850GS | Tiger 900 | Transalp |
| Engine | 776 cc | 853 cc | 888 cc | 755 cc |
| Power | 83 bhp | 94 bhp | 94 bhp | 90 bhp |
| Torque | 78 Nm | 92 Nm | 87 Nm | 75 Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Suspension Travel | 220 mm | 230 mm | 180 mm | 200 mm |
| Seat Height | 855 mm | 860 mm | 840 mm | 850 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 220 mm | 250 mm | 203 mm | 212 mm |
| Wheels | 21/17 | 21/17 | 19/17 | 21/18 |
| Fuel Capacity | 20-litres | 15-litres | 20-litres | 16.9-litres |
Going by the spec-sheet, the BMW GS and the Tiger 900 have the most power while the 850 GS has the most torque. The GS has the most suspension travel while also offering the most ground clearance and has the tallest seat. However, the fuel tank capacity is a let down for the German motorcycle.