[D.T.]

Oh, and the transmission is one of the best I have ever expereienced. First to second is as smooth as second to third, etc. A huge improvement opver my 2014 DL1000.

Like to hear that about the transmission. My DL is kinda junk as far as shifting. That shifter pivot is too flimsy. Like to beef it up for dropped 2nd gear shifts. My SV1000S was the best shifting bike ever.

Waiting to hear about the top end power. I hear it's non existent.

Thinking about an 8S here in the future. 🤷‍♂️

 

[Philbytx]

My 2017 650 shifts wonderfully well.

 

[mark444]

Thanks for bringing the 800 to the Rally, Rick. It gathered people around it like flies on a tur...........well, it just gathered ALOT of folks. I am very impressed with the looks.........not in the market for a new bike, but personally believe 800cc's is the "perfect" engine size for an ADV bike. Now............Rick, get out into the machine shop and design/build some farkles for it........!!!!

 

[Rhino H]

I'm personally not very happy with the DE. I purchased my 650 new in 2020,.... I've spent a ton of cash on farkles and all sort of goodies,that make the bike nearly perfect for me, and then....., along comes the DE

Imagine you're dating this awesome person and after several years, you find out there's a really hot younger sibling in the picture. This one looks amazing, does more than the one you're with and now all you want is the new one!

Thank goodness my bike is an inanimate object and it will never know that I'm thinking about the DE every time I'm riding it!

 

[Griff]

Vibes a bit at 5k but i think it's more apparent because it's so smooth under 5k..

I think the 5k vibe issue passes largely unnoticed unless of course it happens to coincide with the riders favourite cruising speed. That is the impression I am gleaning from tests.

My former Triumph 1200 Explorer had a lovely smooth motor in the most part. However it had one small buzzy patch exactly at my Motorway cruising speed. On long days that could prove tiring and sometimes handnumbing if it wasn't for CC.

When I test one of these bikes, that will be the aspect of the 5K buzz that I will check out. The bike seems really good otherwise from what I am seeing.

 

[richlandrick]

Rick, get out into the machine shop and design/build some farkles for it........!!!!

I'm looking forward to it. Designiong new parts is fun.

I think the 5k vibe issue passes largely unnoticed unless of course it happens to coincide with the riders favourite cruising speed. That is the impression I am gleaning from tests.

My former Triumph 1200 Explorer had a lovely smooth motor in the most part. However it had one small buzzy patch exactly at my Motorway cruising speed. On long days that could prove tiring and sometimes handnumbing if it wasn't for CC.

When I test one of these bikes, that will be the aspect of the 5K buzz that I will check out. The bike seems really good otherwise from what I am seeing.

Griff's assesment about the vibration is probably spot on. The bike is just incredably smooth up to 5000 rpm. It will be interesting to do bike to bike comparisons at 70 mph. I think my Vee2 transmitted more vibration at that speed.

There are vibration apps for our phones these days that take the place of a vibrometer. We can park two bikes side by side and test them at what ever RPM we want and get real comparative data.

 

[Prowler]

I picked up my new 800 DE yesterday, unloaded it from thr truck, and rode it to the Eastern Gathering and back home in a little more than 24 hours.

The bike got 57 mpg round trip. Filling the tank full reulted in a calculated 240 mile range displayed.

The first 600 miles is limited to 4500 rpm, but of course I hit 5000 plus rpm a few times. The buzz at 5000 rpm reported by one reporter is mostly imagination. I guess he felt like he needed to find some kind fault even if it was mostly imagined.

IMO,

It feels like a V-Strom when you sit on it. It sounds like a V-Strom too.

Power is what you would expect. Between the DL650 and DL1000, character more like the the very refined DL650 than the bruteness of the 1000, just more power everywhere. Fuel mapping appears perfect.

The bike is VERY smooth. With no meaningful vibration the mirrors are rock stable and crystal clear.

Handling is nimble. The bike feels much lighter than it's actul wieght.

The dispaly is beautiful, simple, and super easy to use.

The postage stamp windscreen results in no descernable buffeting, but I suspect that is because it isn't big enough to do much. Still the ride was comfortable.

The seat sucks as much as or almost as much as any V-Strom seat and will need to be replaced to do long distances comfortably.

It looks MUCH better in person than in the advertisements.

Several folks rode it at teh Iron Horse Lodge and I expect they will offer opinions as well.

For me, it's a total winner. I'm looking forward to trying it on fire roads.

Rick was generous enough to allow me some time on his brand new 800. I agree with all he described. I didn't get the time is saddle that he now has but I have had 5 V-Stroms (4 of the 1000s, and a 1050.). The 800 pulls very well and as Rick said it feels more powerful than it should. It has the nimbleness of the 650 or even better. Brakes and shifting were as smooth as the 1050.
As soon as I can find an Adventure 800 I will be on V-Strom #6. Thank you again Rick for the opportunity to ride this magnificent motorcycle. Suzuki has another winning entry into the adventure bike arena.

 

[Fly2high]

Sounds like a nice bike and fits well in between the Wee and the Vee. For me, the 800 not having cruise control is a major drawback making it a 100% no go.

 

[locoblanco]

This bike is sounding better and better. I still have a problem with the tube tire, however in all my years riding, I have never had a flat in front, though plenty in rear. Hmmm.

 

[richlandrick]

I'll bet there is enough talent on this forum to design and build a cruise control from scratch.

 

[Spokes]

I'll bet cruise control will be an added/optional feature on future models. I assume it is throttle by wire now is this correct?

 

[locoblanco]

Suzuki might expect this to be used more in the dirt and less of a long haul tourer, so saving money by leaving out the CC.

 

[V-Tom]

I'm personally not very happy with the DE. I purchased my 650 new in 2020,.... I've spent a ton of cash on farkles and all sort of goodies,that make the bike nearly perfect for me, and then....., along comes the DE

Imagine you're dating this awesome person and after several years, you find out there's a really hot younger sibling in the picture. This one looks amazing, does more than the one you're with and now all you want is the new one!

Thank goodness my bike is an inanimate object and it will never know that I'm thinking about the DE every time I'm riding it!

Envy is a terrible thing!

Is your bike less than it was before? Is it no longer perfect for you? Does all the things you did to make it better for you still doing what you intended?

Enjoy what you have and be happy that when you decide to change there is something else you can purchase and be happy with.

..Tom

 

[Hans471]

Suzuki might expect this to be used more in the dirt and less of a long haul tourer, so saving money by leaving out the CC.

Based on history of marketing the likely thing will be: If the 800 sells well in a couple of years (or sooner) there will be a more road oriented model made. It will have cast wheels, tubeless tires, cruise control and a bigger windshield and other more road oriented items. This is a new models, the current V-twins are old models. The new models will evolve while old models will fade based on sales figures. Its how business works.
Back in the late 1990's GM was considering ending the Corvette model. They built the C-4 for some years and it had hit a dead end. Luckily some of the engineers and marketing people held on and a new C-5 Corvette was, very slowly as money was in short supply at GM back then, developed. Before top management would approve it for production the engineers and marketers had to show how the model would progress through eight years. So, before it even hit the road we knew of the changes that would take place for each of the eight years of its production. I am guessing Suzuki already has a "road map" for this model of how it will evolve over the next five or more years. The marketplace will dictate how this goes. Seeing as how this new model seems a step, even a leap, forward from the "old" V-twins I expect they may fade away as production lines change over to newer designs. Suzuki invested millions of dollars into this new engine and clearly see it as the way forward.

 

[Spec]

Based on history of marketing the likely thing will be: If the 800 sells well in a couple of years (or sooner) there will be a more road oriented model made...

If the 800 sells well there's no incentive to change it.

 

[locoblanco]

If the 800 sells well there's no incentive to change it.

Different options that would make it appealing to more people should be good for sales.

 

[TinMan88]

Not buying a motorcycle because it lacks CC.
I have CC and don't even know how to deploy it. It's a novelty. Just me.

 

[NormKern]

This is a small but very good design feature. First saw it on the Yamaha FJR I bought new in 2013.

View attachment 316353

Which means you can't leave the kill switch on off while pushing the starter. The act of pushing teh starter button ensures the kill switch is set to run. A small detail, but how many times have we all wonderred why our bike wasn't starting only to find teh kill switch was turned to off?

"I got tickled with the kill switch. It reminded me of how long it took humanity to figure out that luggage could benifit from whels. Again, .like the DL1050, this bike has a three way kill/run/start switch. "
My Tiger has the same style kill switch. After living with it for a year I have learned to appreciate it as you never have those "why won't it start" moments.
Sure sounds like Suzuki has put a lot into this bike. I have to believe they knew what they were doing.

 

[Hans471]

If the 800 sells well there's no incentive to change it.

A new model soon ages. With minor changes the bike gets "freshened up" to appeal to more people. The big money to design and test this machine and then put together an assembly line has been spent. I would bet next week's lunch money that you will definitely see Suzuki add more versions of this bike during the next few years as they expand the market for it. Its cheap to add a few features or change the wheels and tires. Suzuki would be foolish not to do that and they don't stay in business by being foolish. Currently they offer three different versions of the DL650. The 800 will do a similar direction. Wait and see.

 

[Rhino H]

Envy is a terrible thing!

Is your bike less than it was before? Is it no longer perfect for you? Does all the things you did to make it better for you still doing what you intended?

Enjoy what you have and be happy that when you decide to change there is something else you can purchase and be happy with.

..Tom

Hmmmm,...

The DE is a beautiful bike and, had it been available when I bought my 650, I may have made a different decision.

I am very happy with my 650 but if I choose to upgrade, down grade or lust after another bike, that'll be up to me.

My post was an attempt at humour,....sorry it's not on point with everyone, I'll do better in the future.