Honda Africa Twin 1100 vs. Suzuki V-Strom 800DE | Which Should You Buy? 

Got the 800. No complaints after a 2200 km trip this week 👍

Personally, I’d absolutely go with crazy man Curtis Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE “special”! Any day & every weekend. If you haven’t broken it by now… It can’t be broken. Cheers🤙🇦🇺

Thanks Curtis...the 800 for me. A very good all-rounder at a reasonable price. I'll probably tape the wheels for tubeless tyres. Also, the slightly lower CofG in my mind definitely makes the bike feel lighter than the AT. An important consideration for a 70 year old!

Excellet review Curtis. Your channel has become an Adventure riders must watch. It just goes to show how good the 800DE when it's compared the Hondas flagship.

I was very close to buying V-strom this winter (Sweden). I opted out of the African twin because of the price level, so my Honda comparison was the Transalp, I don't think it was close to the competition in several ways. So I ended up buying an Aprilia Tuareg 660 which I have now had time to drive a bit....what a bike! It gives me the feeling of joy and happiness every time I drive it. But I also liked the Suzuki V-strom on the test drive I did, a very nice engine for its size.

Great video! Most interesting comparison. I do like that DE but have a very nicely set up DR650. I've had 3 Suzukis. They are excellent motorcycles.

Good to see you. Nice comparison. Having now tested some ADV's I would have to go with an Africa Twin. I am just too tall and beefy for the mid-weights. The motorcycle I ended up with is a late 2017 BMW R1200 GSA with very low miles. It fits perfectly and I can still flat foot it at a stop. My off road will be mostly farm roads to visit friends or campsite areas. Just turned 69 years of age and no way will I get real narley alone. The bulk of my riding will be on tarmac and it is a great street bike. I still look forward to watching your content and Godspeed to you!

800 de, got it for the reliability and versatility. I am though running into a problem buying some aftermarket accessories, but that's to be expected with a newer bike. Quickly becoming my favorite yt adv channel, I'd love to go to Australia and ride. I'll just settle for Mississippi for now. Cheers my friend, happy trails......

Last year I was down to the T7 and VStrom 800 when a low mileage 2017 Africa twin popped up locally. Loaded with all the crash protection and soft bags. The 2017 also has a button for ABS and TC. Real happy with the Africa Twin.

Great comparison always love your work!

They both look awesome, and you got to give credit to both bikes firstly to the Africa twin being a 1100ccc and still being able to compete off-road against the smaller displacement vstrom. You could be forgiven or thinking Africa twin vrs vstrom 1050 would be the more fair comparison but it doesn’t seem to bother the Honda, And then the 800 vstrom being able to stand it ground against a 1000+cc bike , I think it’s a draw👍

Bought the Vstrom800DE because of value for money. Turned out to be a great decision not just in a financial standpoint but also it performs very well. For the riding that I do (not aggressive on/offroad) this suits me very well. Only needed crashbars and aux lights and you're good to go. Might be moding mine with a high-mount exhaust but still on the edge to do it or not. I always watch your videos a day before a group offroad ride to hype me up pre-ride. 😅

I’m so happy with the v-strom and if you think it’s good of road , it’s way enough for my driving !

Well done! Finally someone talkin sense about the important stuff like airfilter locations. Did you mention that the Suz got the delight of a gps mounting bar ?

Sitting here just finishing up editing a video trying to figure out what to do while it exports and seen this video. Literally couldn't of been a better video for me. The 2 bikes im currently looking at and just cant decide on. Been leaning towards the vstrom based off price and comfort, but man if that africa twin isn't the best looking adventure bike out there (imo) and obviously much more capable, the switches/electronics and the filter location of it though have also swayed me towards the vstrom... Tough choice indeed

Really great breakdown mate. Good work man. Braaaarp

WOW allot closer then I thought. Great job brother

Excellent comparison! I was looking at these two bikes as well and wanted to hear about how much and which ways they differ.

Wow, shocked to hear you go over the air filter locations! And thinking the Africa Twin is alone in that respect, it's not, and what are these companies thinking? Super fine w/ my Tuareg thanks. I do watch all your videos Curtis, the testing footage is amazing, I'm floored by the off road terrains you throw these bikes through, and the comparison charts you did recently was highly commendable and helpful. Love the way you've expanded your channel from the days of the good ol' KLR, you've taken the bull by the horns!

Great edit dude 😊

Great comparison of two of the great middleweight bikes. I have the same AT in red and can’t stop riding it. Calling it the “standard “or “base model” under sells it a bit. It’s precisely designed for both on and off road use. Unlike the heavier and more expensive variants. We are spoilt for choice in this age. Lucky us!

I just bought the 800DE. The more expensive a bike is, the heavier the taxes are in my country, so a AT would be €5000 more than the 800DE) For me it’s a travel bike, riding fire roads at the most. I need a bike to see the world, so I traded my 650 XT for the 800 (as I have hit to many traffic barriers with the low clearance of the 650), especially in South America. Thanks for your great videos!

It really comes down to budget. There are many good, reasonably priced bikes now that will do everything well enough to enjoy yourself without sacrificing too much. The goal must be just to be able to get out there, you don’t need the ultimate bike to be happy!

I own the 800DE i. South pf France....and 22 000 km so far What à bike!!!!! Best choice ever

I just grabed a vstrom 800de picking it up in 10 days, can't wait.

Yes mate, not seen many vids that compare these two, the DE usually gets lumped in with the Transalp. Gotta say it's great to see the DE holds up well. I like it a lot, Suzuki would get my money all day long. Your final point is on point, if you're worried about a difference of 30mm in ground clearance between these two, then maybe you need a more off road focused ride anyway. In which case an enduro with 300mm+ might be more suitable 😉 or an 890R in rally spec for an extra load of £💰's if you really want a bigger displacement machine and money is not your main concern 🤔

Great comparison!!! With so many "very good" lower-priced middleweight adventure bikes in the marketplace these days it's getting harder to justify spending more on the bigger & more expensive adventure bikes (IMO, the only reason to do so, is if you're riding two-up/ lots of luggage, want more power, or if you are 6'2" inches tall or higher)

Greetings from Austria mate. Good Video!

Excellent review 👌 Im in two minds about getting something a little more offroad. Currently rocking the Vstrom 1000xt which has all the offroad gear thrown at it. Great bike and a capable dirt tracker. Just blows throught the suspension too easiy and rattles your teeth if you firm it up a click. Always chasing the unicorn 😁😁

I haven't added a mid-sized ADV yet(I "light" ADV on a DRz400)...So thanks for the excellent comparison, I'm still sure I want the V-Strom 800DE, sprung correctly for my weight\load, I'm sure I could adventure on it for as long as I hold together 😉

I chose the VStrom 800DE Adventure (factory crash bars, and baseplate) mostly because I couldn’t find an AT in my area that was kitted the way I wanted. Happy with the Suzuki so far with 800 miles in.

I’m looking for an adventure bike, but im having some difficulty in deciding what to go for so these comparisons really help! 👍

I have a africa twin and love it its such a great road bike and the air filters are not that bad to get to with practice but in the uk we don't have bull dust

It’s very impressive to say the list that you compared the 800cc with the 1100cc , i could have said why not comparing it with the Vstrom 1050 but at this point it makes me want have the 800 even more if it can keep up with a bigger engine and segment like the africa twin

I like most adventure bike options, which makes it hard to choose.always wanted to get the T7, and also looked into a second hand africa twin, we do a fair bit of 2 up riding and no real off road so thought the T7 might be a bit uncomfortable. Opted for the v strom 800 for a bit more comfort and got a demo for the same price as an older africa twin, I can not fault the bike

Good honest comparison mate 👍🏼 For me after owning four V-Strom’s (1 x DLA650 1 x DL1000 2 x DLA1000) I was drawn to something more off-road capable. I was tied of bottoming the V-Stom’s out and wanted more ground clearance. IMO the AT is next level and will improve anyone’s riding ability. The AT took improved my riding and confidence 💯 The stock suspension is streets ahead of the V-Strom’s, excellent off road and eats up the twisties. I haven’t ridden the DE800 but compared to the V-Strom’s I had, the vibration is far less on the AT and easier to put in the big days in the saddle. Yes the electrics are a PITA, but I absolutely love the cruise control, it’s a game changer for long distance travel. The air filter service I can do in less than 15 mins, one screw on each side, no need to remove front spoiler. Each to their own, we are very lucky we have so many options on the market to choose from… but I’m still yet to find the “unicorn” 😂

The lower compression of the Honda engine was a big selling point to me. When I top off the tank of my Yamaha Raider with premium fuel, I can tell the difference when the fuel that is actually dispensed is not so premium.

I already bought the VStrom. A lot less buttons on the left bar. I find it more comfortable than the AT.

Hey Curtis I,ll be sticking with my 690 ,hopefully we will get to ride again soon

Great comparison!

I've aready vioted with my wallet and bought the DE, you can get criuse control for $ik from mc cruise and get the springs for your weight front a rear and Bobs your uncle.

You need to see how "girl on a bike" turns the AT around in tight situations if not super steep and flat But very narrow. She gets off bike and acelerates bike whiie pivoting on her hip amazing I havnt done yet But hopefully will at some point Great comparison vid! AT all day everyday.

My 800 should be here next week!😊

interested in the 800RE which is supposed to be more road biased but could still do plenty of gravel...

hi Curtis, excellent review here but I have a little bit of an off-topic question, since I'm already decided to go with the v-strom instead of the AT, my new question is: Should I get the v-strom 800RE standard 17'' front wheel version or the V-Strom 800DE ? Not sure if you've ridden both by now, but I won't be doing much off-road with it but that big suspension on the DE looks good and it's probably more confortable.. Anyway, Ride Safe!

800DE based on air filter, price, and ease of use. Only complaint would be the tube wheels. I'd look into a conversion along with shocks.

Yer love your videos mate as I thought I'm glade o got the vstrom 800de blood do it all drill bits this bike the quite achiever I study hard before I got one in December and with help watching you mate I think iv made a smart choice it's a bike that suits me at my age also thanks for your videos mate good job buddy 👍

First of all, thanks for the excellent comparison test of these two motorcycles. Half a year ago, I decided on the 800DE and every day I love that bike more and more. I think the definite winner of the value for money category. Considering that I drive 80% of the time on the road, I'm more than happy with the suspension, it also gives me a sense of security that it won't let me down even on the offroad. that's quite enough for me. the comfortable seat and the driving position give me the confidence that I could use up the last drop of gasoline without taking a break while driving.

By the time I think I'll get to having the big adventure bike, the 800 will be for me. Gotta concede that it's a do- all bike as opposed to the AT being extremely good at playing Dakar rally and not being very good at the rest.

My AT made it 100k mikes before making it into the shop for repairs. It was wore out spark plug boots and counterfit ngk spark plugs! The resitors wore out! If i would have thought to check, could have kept it out of the shop for a while longer i bet. Oh and shes unstoppable on ATV trails and wide single track. Way more capable than i am for sure.

It is also worth mentioning that the compression on the Honda is lower than in the Suzuki, which makes it possible to use worse quality fuel. Also, the exhaust sound on the Honda is simply divine. But in defense of Suzuki is its price and if in Suzuki to invest the price difference with Honda in suspension upgrades, then there is a difficult choice....

Been waiting for someone to do this comparison. Due to the weight being identical I think it’s worth discussing. I’d have to say though, if I were to choose one for around the world tour, I might take the 800 DE over the Africa twin because of the air box placement and the more padded seat. I’m sure an after market cruise control for the Suzuki is just around the corner.

Thanks Curtis, my favorit ist the 800DE because its comfortabel and you can modification the suspension. What kind of suspension setting would you prefer for 80/20 up to 60/40 street/offroad use ?

I wanted to buy a Honda, but after off-road tests it turned out to be top heavy, and the Vstrom was easier to drive offroad (low center of gravity) if it had tubeless wheels....

I choose the R1200GS (2004 - 2012 model) . It is the same wet weight at 229kg. + it's a beautiful air cooled boxer with shaft drive, para-lever and tele-lever suspension. Also much easier to pick up when it falls over because the cylinder heads hold it 30% of the way up off the ground. And it has unbelievable slow speed balance off road. It feels like it has power steering. It's comfortable, and practical for commuting. Good for 2 up. With probably a lower centre of gravity than either of these. All the electronic features on the newer bikes are a down side to me, just extra weight, price and complexity/reliability.

I choose the DR650!😂 Great video - thanks! (Africa Twin & DR650 owner).

great comparison Curtis what would you pick the AT or the Triumph Rally pro I am in two minds and you have ridden both

Picked up a 23 800de adventure model with only 400 miles on it for only $8500 bucks. Dude gave me a free $300 scorpion helmet and the suzuki 38l top carry case, I think I scored the deal of a lifetime.

Good comparison. Does the AT have tubeless wheels? Also, is the 17" rear on the Strom any hindrance?

Africa twin !! Big time

Great video. However, V Strom is out of consideration due to tubed tyres. Most of riders like myself, are not skilled to change flat tyre on the trip. AT 2024, Tuareg 660, KTM 790/890 MGuzzi850, Norden901 are on my short list.

Since I can't afford either, I will pick the Africa Twin.

I like very much the 800DE but I'll choose theNew 2024 Africa twin for tubeless tires and Cruise control! thanks for your great review

I bought the V-storm last year. Given the fact I am not much of an off road motorcyclist, although I have an extensive mountain bike background. The V-strom in my experience has the clearance and suspension travel I need, if I need anymore I probably would look for a proper dual sport instead. I think Suzuki knocked it out of the park with this bike!

The Honda for me ,

The 2024 model Honda AT Standard has become even better. 7nm more torque, at low engine rpm and tubeless tires. Greetings Michael

Great warranty with the suzuki, honda take note

Hey mate, can you do husqvarna norden review, please?

I'd go for the VStrom. My current problem is choosing between the 800DE and 1050DE...

Selling my Africa Twin after 8 years and 81000 km, with a good share of off-road riding, just received my 800 DE. Much lighter bike feeling both on and off-road (I got a chance to test the DE off-road before buying). Both are great bikes, and I like Suzuki's move out of the 'always more cc, always more power, always more $$' race of other brands. The DE fits perfectly with my all year-long work commute, off-road riding with no duo trips. Less show up than with the AT? I don't care.

Nice comparison! Still believe that the Aprilia Tuareg is the unicorn.

Africa twin is 20.5k now in base model - probably going to pull the trigger on one shortly!

If I have the money I will go africa twin, otherwise v strom. But tuareg is the bike that I want, the specs, the design everything is brilliant - my only worry is it is not Japanese . Which adv bike I should choose if I need to ride in the sand dunes?

I'll probably wait till the vstrom gets the cruise control because I'm really think it's gonna get in the future

Suzuki 800DE Is my choice, It's just unfortunate it doesn't have cruise control.

the AT for me but i am biased by already owning one 🙂

Hi Curtis, any plans to upgrade your 800DE suspension? Been riding a lot of offroad on my DE and starting to bottom out a lot even at the max preload settings. Do you have any to recommend? Thank you

Tengo la 800, sin embargo soy un novato en el oficio road, pero definitivamente me disfruto lo poco que la exijo, neumaticos que recomienden?

I've come to find that simple is better. So the VStrom would get the nod from me between the two bikes. After a lot of back & forth I've decided to keep my 890 Adventure S. It kinda runs into the ground clearance issue, except I've never bottomed it out. I would if I ran the bike on some of your tracks. lol If I ever feel like I need more suspension I'll upgrade it, then I'll have an 890 Adventure R, and ya know, I got it on a holdover price, so it cost about what an 800 DE is going for these days in the US. I think I'm going to keep the 501 as well and get a trailer. These bikes are total weapons in the element they were designed to run. So your comment at the end is dead on about riding thew big bikes on gnarly tracks, just grab a lighter capable bike.

Suzuki all day!

Neither one for me... would probably go with the Transalp if I was buying new (unless they bring the other T7 models to the US)

i may a bm800gs cheap used. the adv n trav r more

Everyone is saying and I’d agree that the Aprilia is the best performing bike but 12k mile valve adjustment is crazy, Suzuki isn’t much better at 15k as the Yamaha T7 is at a massive 24k miles. No one ever talks about service/maintenance costs. Surly for an adventure bike this should be taken in to consideration ???

suzuki de no doubt about

I had EXACTLY this dilemma with EXACTLY these two bikes. And in my case I was very lucky in that the $ difference didn't really matter. What clinched it for me in the DE's favour was airbox access and stupid switchgear/electronics. Love the bike, but its headlight is the worst I've seen. My old '85 XL600 was tons better

If it had cruise, V Storm in a heartbeat

Suzuki all the way.

Still waiting for a review of an unrestricted Honda CRF 450 RL and a stock CRF 300 rally 🙂…personally think 200 plus kg is too much for the average rider wanting to do serious off road exploring . Looked up the specs of my old IT 200 L approx 1985 ….95 kg dry , six speed , approx 29 kW stock . That was a go anywhere bike , tall seat , but I never noticed due to its narrowness , never dropped it at standstill , would wheelstand for ever , amazing 2 stroke engine . $1750 list price in 1985 brand new . Not too good on the road over 90km however , too light .😊

Will not buy any adv bike where getting the air filter out is a nightmare eg AT.

I would choose the V-Strom affer the awful experience I had with my Africa twin 30th anniversary edition. It’s cheaper, it has a super torqui engine and it’s build like a little tank!

which model is this africa?couse the new model is tubeless

Funny old world we live in; choosing between bikes based on a level of functionality that is redundant to 95% of us. Great comparison though Curtis.

I have a KLR650 gen 3 and like it off road but hate her on road, I going to upgrade soon and 2 bikes on the short list. V Strom and Tuareg….I know Tuareg is better but what about reliability on the Italian? v Strom is 12K USD out of the door, I could have the same for the Aprilia. Really hard to find goons I tel about reliability.

Which crash bars are those on the DE, sw motech?

I have a vstrom 800de.. will you be upgrading the suspension on yours?

Well since an "Adventure Bike" has to have cruise control to really spend any time on the road there is no contest. If you want an overweight dirt bike there are better options.

Which one would I choose......neither! I would choose a Norden 901!!

i gota klr650 n atk 605 dual.sportenduro

Man, crf is not offroad capable, its an extremely top heavy,tippy,easy to drop bike, never go offoad with it, Vstrom is on a different level offroad.

In terms of displacement-wise comparison, AT should be targeted by a VSTROM1050, and VSTROM800's real opponent would be Transalp 750. Still don't know why Suzuki want to add two counter-balancer, bloating this midweight up on par with a liter heavy adv bike. I definitely admit, if we were riding on tourer bike or road bike, those extra two counter-balance shaft would smooth vibrations further and improve riding comfort while Translaps has none. But come on, we are riding on ADV bike which prioritize weight over riding smoothness such extra component would become a redundancy.