One bike we ’ ve been very much looking forward to riding is the all-new V-Strom 800DE . Of course , it is always exciting to ride a new adventure machine and word had already been filtering through from our friends in the Northern hemisphere that the 21-inch front wheel 800 was a good ride . However , the weather forecast for the Australasian launch in Whanganui was not ideal , to say the least . Call me soft , but sunny conditions are my preferred for getting to know a new bike … but , because I spent many years riding enduros in the Lismore Forest , basically on the town ’ s doorstep , I guessed I ’ d be okay . Besides , the area has some fantastic gravel roads and Suzuki boss Simon Mead , an old enduro racing mate from way way back , was going to be leading the way . So , I just knew an awesome ride lay ahead , whatever the conditions .
HOMEWORK Suzuki has done its homework and cunningly played a long-ish game before introducing the V-Strom 800DE . Rather than jump hastily in to
the mid-sized adventure market , it looks like the designers and engineers weighed up the opposition and decided their ideal machine should sit nicely between Yamaha ’ s Tenere 700 and the 850 / 890 of BMW / KTM . The V-Strom range has always been somewhat conservative , but none-the less a decent , people pleasing , solid performer that is axe reliable . Suzuki has looked at the market and positioned this new 800 right where it believes there is a void and filled it with a machine their customer base is looking for . That is , a great performing , all round capable machine that does not cost the earth – with a 21-inch front wheel , rather than the 19- inch wheel the V-Strom range has had forever . And straight up – this new 800 will win riders over whether they are traditional Suzuki people or not – it is a bloody good ride . Previous model V-Strom ’ s have been lambasted for the 19-inch front wheel . Adventure bikes have 21-inch front wheels , right ? Well , yes and no , it all depends … In Europe ‘ the road less travelled ’ is probably still tarmac . In NZ almost certainly not . The bottom line is – on
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