Suzuki Announces V-Strom 800DE and GSX-8S for 2023

This story comes from Onthrottle.co.nz - Written by Mathieu Day-Gillett

Here it is folks! The all-new middleweight Suzuki V-Strom has finally arrived with Suzuki pulling the covers off the 2023 V-Strom 800DE at EICMA in Milan.

"Adventure is its Purpose" is the tagline Suzuki has given the new bike, and they really mean business. Everything is new - nothing is held over from the 2022 DL650.

At its heart is Suzuki's new parallel-twin engine. A 776cc Parallel-Twin with a 270-degree crankshaft producing 62kw and 78Nm. That 270-degree crankshaft should give the new V-Strom a familiar almost v-twin feel, and we imagine, a great sound out of an aftermarket pipe down the line.

Like the 1050DE it gets a quick-shifter and switchable ABS as standard equipment.

Fuel range is always important for ADV  bikes and the new V-Strom carries on Suzuki's longstanding tradition of plonking a big ol' 20-litre fuel tank in front of the 855mm high seat. The new parallel-twin engine has a claimed consumption of 22.7km/l which would put the theoretical range at an impressive 450km give or take.

The new V-Strom 800DE should be more than capable to take on Yamaha's Tenere 700 and the rest of the middleweight adventure class with the chassis sporting 220 mm ground clearance, a 21-inch front wheel and 220mm of suspension travel at both ends.

If the V-Strom 800DE has an Achilles heel, it is the bike's weight. Suzuki claims a kerb weight of 230kg for the DL800, that's about 20kg heavier than the benchmark for the class. That said, if you were shopping for the best outright performance in an ADV you wouldn't be buying a Suzuki anyway, would you?

Pricing and New Zealand availability are yet to be announced by Suzuki NZ.

Styling follows the same DR-Big lines as the DL1050 range, but with sharper lines that seem to follow the original bikes better - probably thanks to the all-new ground up design of the V-Strom 800DE.

Unveiled alongside the new V-Strom  800DE is the new GSX-8S naked middleweight. Like the new 'Strom, it utilises Suzuki's new 776cc parallel twin engine but loses 1kw to the V-strom with a peak of 61kw.

The GSX-8S introduces a load of technology into the middleweight Suzuki street bike lineup. Included in the package are full LED lighting, TFT dash, a bi-directional quickshifter, traction control and rider modes.

Unlike what many theorized, the DL650 and SV650 will remain in the Suzuki global lineup for "lovers of V-twin engines".