Is the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE a Good Adventure Bike? Part 1 

Living in the middle of England which is slowly becoming one big housing estate I'm super jealous of the terrain you have to ride I'd happily swap sports bike for adventure bike and stop having to dodge police and speed cameras every ride out

This bike is bulletproof for sure!!

Great trip on a great bike ! Thanks for the content mate, looking forward for part 2

Awesome ride. I've been waiting on a new video like this.

What a fun ride. you sound like you are having more fun than anyone else, even when stuff isn't going quite the way you want it to. I'm enjoying watching you find the capability of the bike in your videos, the combo of you ripping it up and thinking out loud is good stuff.

Have as yet to ever define any of your adventures, or reviews for that matter, as dull. Curtis, I love what you do. Thanks so much!

I've been looking forward to seeing this trip mate, and you don't disappoint, that route looks great fun! The wee DE looks to be in its natural element too, great to see you're liking it so much. Cheers 🤙

Great videos. Loved seeing you doing way more than just gravel/log roads. Really giving an impression of what the bike is capable of, with the right skills and setup!! Keep up the great work.

Looks a cracking bike.Wishing you many happy KM's.

Wow, doing that track at dusk on your own I give you props 💪💪👌 you are one heck of a skilled rider👍 So glad you’re enjoying the 800DE🤙 The more mods you do will make it stand out more! I spoke to Barkbusters Aus & I think they do a kit or are very close doing them for the DE. No bike is perfect. But this is a great start 🙌

Awesome video. Such a beautiful ride and looks like a great time. It definitely sold me on getting this as my next bike.

GORGEOUS video brother! You have always had a good channel, but quality is really getting top-notch. The way your edits turn out etc.-- it's entertaining the whole way thru! Your hard work is appreciated. Made my day watching this, bummed I couldn't get my 800DE out this weekend. Keep 'em coming! So glad you bought that Suzuki! 🤜🤛 Let us know what suspension settings you settle on!

Great video mate. Fantastic production value. Well done!

0nly found your channel a little while ago. Quickly became one of my go to channels. What a gun 👍

You said your off-road tyres worked well on the tarmac - and you were definitely hustling - I think this is probably a testament to Suzuki's chassis design. 😁👍

Great video man, what an awesome ride. Bike looks good!

Great trip. Keep the way you are making content as it is entertaining and very watchable. You are keen riding in the dark on unknown tracks....oh yes Adventure.

That bike is so quiet... I can't wait to see what kind of exhaust you get for it 😎 I'm about to take my 2015 big bore KLR on a high altitude ride today. Starting elevation 5,430ft and ending at 14,128ft above sea level 🔥

Great day of riding Curtis. 👍 You dodged one with that bungee strap. Straps, Sticks, Deja Vu moment!

Awesome vid mate, I've done some similar tracks at night on my old DL650, not easy! Great stuff bud. You're getting me keen to look at getting another lol

Mate you find the best tracks, looks like you're really gonna get the most out of that strom!

Oh , that's great! Great to see, what the v Strom 800 can do with a good driver! thx for sharing this enjoyable video! It looks really easy, with an skilled rider like you :) I am still riding a modified 650 v Strom, with more ground clearance and longer suspension. Btw. : I am using Australian Softbags from Andy Strapz. After some journeys (Greece, Italy, Morocco, Spain...) I can really recommend them. Greetings from Austria! Looking forward for the sandy part!

Bellthorpe is awesome so is the pine forest at wild horse Mountain, great riding, love the video. Looking forward to the next video

Great 👍 Vid mate , a good test of the Strom . Happy 😃 days

Nothing like a mechanical as the sun is setting on a track you are not familiar with. A proper adventure ride! Really appreciate your vid as I look for a replacement for my trusty 990, for exactly this kind of terrain...even that shitty clay! :) Looking forward to part II. Thanks!

Congratulations Sir, great channel. I just found it and subscribed. Finally someone actually using the mighty DR Big for what it was intended for. I love the Suzuki just wish they would of given us an updated Doctor. Cheers from Canada!

Good to see you’re giving the bike a real world test, great work. Have a look at the Rhinowalk 48lt panniers, I’m running a set on my 890R and reckon they’re great value for money

Oh man, give me a break! I'm so jealous. 😀So cool your trip!!! Wish I could join. The Netherlands is not a place to ride your bike like this! Great video. Love it.

Curtis ,have you ever considered a shaft drive bike:] You are really testing out the new Strom! Can't wait for part 2.

This bike suits you really well. It makes sense you need to hear the bike! I think the people that like the quiet exhaust, (myself included), don’t really do much aggressive off-road. I mostly commute and use it as a daily casual rider. Hearing the bike in a lot of situations off road is definitely important! Great video!

Nice ride and good to see the V Strom in action.

One of my favourite rides, and yes it would have to be the most treacherous clay in these parts. Haven't been all the way, but I'm working up to it. Had to have a bit of a laugh, you managed to find "Lantana" again 👍 Great ride by the looks of it, I need to get some more luggage sorted to do longer rides where I might run out of daylight.

Looking forward to day 2. Those hills were a bit nasty at night.

9:26 ... good old Aussie bush etiquette ... someone has left a recovery track alongside a bog hole. No need to wait for Russell Coight to turn up :)

best looking bike in my book. Can't wait for it to be for sale secnd hand.

Definitely got lucky with the strap not doing any damage or locked up your rear tire nice vid the 800 DE is a big contender 👍🤟

18:55 did you just invent the word ‘stickist’ ? 😮 I like it! Good show sir!

...fantastic skills, fantastic playground in your country, fantastic video....🎯🎯🎯 fantastic bike...( had the same, but didnt know what this bike can do....whoaaa👍🍀) thanks for this review greetings from germany...✌

What a terrific ride. Jeeez i had no idea you were so close to us. We were at Kilkivan just 2 days ago, and we got 166 acreas at Maryborough. Amazing!! Looking at our Vstrom at Twba tomorrow, to supplement the stable of CRF's. Might link up one day hey!! 👍👍👏👏

Yup. Keeping my WR250R. Easier to suffer a bit on the highway than a lot in the dirt on the big beasts.

There's a post on Fbook in the world 800de group that the slip-on from the Suzuki Bandit 600 circa 2001 fits up on the 800de. Could be a cheap option to up the noise with an eBay slip-on. Love the vid btw

Holy crap that big DR is working it!!! So glad to see this content keep up the great work brother 👊

Kilkivan is actually where I have planned to get to then drop in on my son just out of Gympie, knew it would be a full day ride, so it was great to watch. Cheers

Can you do a side by side comparison with the klr? I know its written off but i reckon you can make a pretty good video using old footage. Comparing weight, offroad ability, highway ability etc Thanks

Bellthorpe becomes hellthorpe in the wet. At the 19 min mark there is an old gold mine on the right that’s worth a quick look. Does the DE come with an chain guide? Couldnt see one when you were pulling out the strap that was stuck. Be worth the investment with your luck with stuff getting stuck in the chain. What soft luggage are you considering? Looking forward to part 2.

Nice ride Curtis. I have been to the Gympie dealer, the Hervey Bay dealer and the Bundaberg dealer and no one has a 800DE in stock - no one!! Its giving me the shits as I really want to see one in the flesh and take it for a test ride!! Geez that VSTROM is quiet!

Ive been leaning towards this bike for awhile. Probably going to pick one up in a week or so. I seen one with an exhaust and it sounded incredible. That stock exhaust has to go lol oh and btw i live in southwest virginia and it looks the exact same as where you are riding. Red clay and all. Never woulda thought

Your kidding me you guys found the grip track when you desperately needed it 😂 👍 how bout that. What a break

Two decades ago I used to ride trails like this. The bike of choice was a DT200/DT230. Comfortable on the highway and low maintenance because it's a true dual sport not based on a race bike, yet really light at just over 100kg so easy and not tiring in rough and slippery conditions. Nobody makes a bike like that anymore, the nearest you get is a CRF300 which is at least 30kg too heavy and underpowered.

Great video! I’m testing out the Transalp this weekend but I think I’m gonna get the VStrom as my mate and I spend more time off roading than on road. Which tyres did you put on yours?

Great content. I purchased a demo last week due partly to your reviews. Such a fun bike! The weight dissapears even at walking speed. Really well balanced and not top heavy feeling. I sat on a T7 a year ago and it just felt so awkward despite me really trying to like it. Certainly heavy at a standstill but they all are really. Mine has a Scorpion slip on, sounds great but a tad loud. Thanks for the reviews.

Great video.....as always. What is it with new bikes all the main light is up in the tree tops? What tires are you running on the Suzuki?

that red/clay part in bellthorpe can be a challenge despite it looking like a simple backroad…never gets a chance to dry out either

If it’s a bike and you have adventures on it, it is by definition a good adventure bike.

Thanks

Great vid. Any damage from the bike going over? Gotta try those tracks. Good old Maryborough I was born there grew up in Hervey Bay.

Time to invest in some decent rackless panniers Curtis! Awesome ride though 👍🏻

Would the 250 ‘strom be able to handle the type of routes you took on this video? I only ask as there were a few times you sounded a bit out of breath wrestling the 800 when it got a bit boggy and also when it ended on the side. I’m only 5’7” (70kg) so worried if I ever decide to go off road, an 800 maybe a tad too big for me, especially when things get tougher, where as a lighter bike I always assume would be easier to manoeuvre. Geat riding, and thanks for sharing some fantastic scenery that I would never have even thought existed (Pom from the City here lol)

Fantastic 👍🏻

Muito bom seu vídeo enduro trilha aventura com esse tanque 800DE aqui BR 🇧🇷

Go the Vstrom! Yew.😎

How are you liking this bike off-road compared to your KLR? Is the extra ~50 pounds noticeable? I'm considering swapping my '23 KLR for one of these, I already know it will be a huge upgrade on-road but have to say I like the KLR off-road so I'm hoping this is as good or better aside from the extra weight.

Amazingly strong luggage strap!

you get me hyped to ride bikes i wouldnt normally want to lol... i went and tried to trade my mt07 in on one of these the other day..the black and blue adventure model and they gave me a super lowball on mt. but i accepted an offer and ran my credit. was great i just dont have enough credit history.. bike came out to way more than i wanted anyways.. almost $16,000 us dollars

That bike really looks the goods with the new rubber on it, It was no worse than the T7, I think its mainly the rider that makes a good bike great, Will you get the bigger screen as well,

I am back with more question. Would you have enjoyed this trip more with a Tenere 700? Is the 800de as capable as the T7? Which one is easier / funnier to ride?

I just bought a 390 adventure as my first bike, kind of wishing I got one of these 😆

You've ridden both this and the Triumph Tiger 900, which do you prefer? I like the Tigers, but man this bike is good.

Kinda like how did a full branch go right through your KLR rear wheel and chain, wow :)

How do you mount your gps or phone to that bar above the display?

Gday mate, Some reviews have said the 800de motor gets very hot , have you found that I know its still our winter in QLD ??

Does it come with spoked tubeless like the 650 XT?

I wonder if auxiliary lights on crash bars would help?

Awe…the joys of solo travel, by motorcycle. Murphy Law continues to be consistent.

I'm waiting for the used 800DE market with all the farkles pre-installed.

The tenere seems to be struggling compared to the suzuki 😂

How is it for someone new to bikes? My bro got a t700 and want to ride with him. Im 5ft 9in and a 30in seam

Your mate should never ride alone 😂

What map system do you use mate?

I don't know which one to choose! This or ktm 790 adventure 2023... Please help me! Now! 😢🙏

What Tusk pannier system is on that T7?

Do you reckon you could do this route with a honda cb500x ?

V-Strom 800 DE, KTM 890 Adventure or Tuareg? You had them all - what’s your opinion?

Why is your brake fluid black already ?

You remind me of an Australian Benny Hill lol.... thats a good thing for me haha.....

This or ktm 790 adventure 2023?

aaaayyeeeee

Love your videos, Curtis . I have a 800 DE and absolutely love it. Can I ask you how and what sort of phone mount you have used? Thats exactly how I want to do mine. Cheers Andy. 👍

Ok I buy v storm 800de 👍

Please get some rok straps 👍🏻

Fantastic vid. Glad you are loving the Suzi. Impressed with your 'cool' at finding the strap wedged in your chain. I need to learn how to calm the fv

LMFAO that’s how us old dudes are supposed to fall

Check out desert express build

those robot like headlights are in fashion, suzuki, yamaha, ktm, honda, cfmoto...

قوه قوه

I don't really ride at night, so I don't have the best frame of reference, but those headlights seem awful!

You sir, need shaft drive

Gotta.get.yourself some riding lights on that girl.

If it would receive a facelift, that would be great. I never understood the styling of the front end having 2 “fenders” that pointy nose thing is ugly. A total deal breaker for me. Same with the Triumph Tiger 🤮

The cheesy cheap ass kickstand that needs a bigger foot got you i see.