Collecting the Suzuki 800DE – kindly on loan from Suzuki GB for a couple of weeks – means a visit to Milton Keynes, and for those of you not familiar with “MK”, it is famous for roundabouts and concrete cows.
The six original concrete cows were created in 1978 by the American artist Liz Leyh. Still, it is the roundabouts, aka Traffic Circles, that make Milton Keynes an ideal place to get to know the road manners of a motorcycle.
For once, the town planners who designed MK thought about traffic and created an outer framework of wide dual carriageways interlinked by well-sized roundabouts with good cross views.
The result is that getting across MK at pace is achieved with minimum stress. You can read the traffic flow, and the roundabouts are of a size that doesn’t require you to slow to a walking pace to negotiate them, thereby minimising pollution and keeping the traffic moving.
And when you find yourself on a Suzuki 800DE – a motorcycle you have never ridden before – a trip across MK quickly lets you know how the two of you will get on with each other.
Suzuki 800DE
For a motorcycle that is acknowledged as having an off-road bias, it is a damn fine street bike. My first 100 meters on the 800DE were along the footpath next to Suzuki’s HQ and between a couple of cars on my way to the main gate.
The steering is light, the 800DE well balanced, and the security of Suzuki’s Low RPM Assist system minimises my fear of an embarrassing low-speed stall that would result in the inevitable face plant on the car park tarmac, in full view of everyone.
Suzuki V-Strom 800DE
- 776cc Parallel Twin – 84 BHP – 78 Nm
- 230 Kg – 855mm Seat Height – Low Seat Option
- 3-Year to 7-Year Warranty (70K Miles)
- Fully Adjustable Suspension
- Suzuki SIRS Electronics Package
- 220m Ground Clearance
- 220mm of Suspension Travel
- Switchable ABS – Detachable Rear Subframe
- Tubed rims – 90/90R21 and 150/70R17 tyres
A few hundred meters beyond the main gate, I turn onto one of the national speed limit link roads that interconnect the MK roundabouts, and it is time to get down to business.
The quick shifter is a blessing and maximises the forward motion between roundabout exits, but it feels a tad on the abrupt side on the downshift when braking on the way in.
The 3rd gear punch off the roundabout is impressive, so much so that the maths of the gearing suggests that 95mph in 3rd is 9,500 RPM. So, from a 30mph exit of the roundabout to well over the legal limit, all without changing gear.
But I’m enjoying the clutch-less upshifts too much not to play with the quick shifter, and I soon find an easy 3rd to 5th to 3rd rhythm between the roundabouts.
Newport Pagnell Services
Twenty miles into the ride home, I stopped at Newport Pagnell Services for an overpriced cup of coffee and bun that had perhaps been on display a few hours (days?) too long.
It may only have been 20 miles, but the Suzuki 800DE and I are already friends, which is strange for me as I’ve never been a fan of 21-inch front wheels. Until now, I’ve found them vague and disconnected.
The Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour 90-90/21 and 150-70/17 (yes, 17) tyres are giving me solid feedback, and the fully adjustable suspension is plush and accommodating at the standard factory settings.
Perhaps an extra click on the remote rear preload adjuster, but I decided not to mess with anything yet as it is all working sweetly.
Motorways and A Roads
Sadly, the rest of my day is full of “stuff” that needs to happen before disappearing with the Suzuki 800DE to Scotland for a week along with my colleague Roger, who is riding the Honda XL750 Transalp, so the route home isn’t the most entertaining.
At motorway speeds, the stubby screen on the 800DE is a masterpiece. It keeps the wind off my body, so the hour-long motorway bash at 70 (ish) MPH takes no effort.
There is little or no wind roar from the screen or road noise from the Dunlop Trailmax tyres – unlike the howling Metzlers on the Transalp, but that is a different story. It is so comfortable a ride that I’m listening to Internet Radio through my Sena 50S. At least I am when I’m not getting a Safety Camera warning from the excellent CamSam.
Turning onto the fast A roads, I notice the dominating road presence the Suzuki 800DE has. I’m getting a lot of help from car drivers, giving me space on the outside and good landing zones to pull into as I hopscotch my way past the slower-moving traffic.
Third or fourth gear. Roll the throttle on. Accelerate past, then roll the throttle when level with the driver to land in the gap without having to flash a brake light in someone’s face.
Yes, it is childish to take pleasure in not being stuck in a line of traffic behind a tractor/caravan/lorry, but it is payback for the cold and rainy days when our desire to ride still outweighs taking the car.
And Finally
Fifteen miles from home, I turn off onto the back roads. The 100 miles of getting to know the Suzuki 800DE has me feeling confident that I’m going to enjoy that last part of my ride the most, and I’m not disappointed.
That 3rd gear punch out of the corners has the stupid grin back on my face, and the handling on the fast and slower bends helps me maintain motivated forward motion.
Coming out of a corner in 2nd had the traction control light flashing briefly as the front forks reached the limit of their extension and perhaps a centimetre or two more.
The brakes are just how I like them. There is an abundance of feel as soon as I apply any pressure to the front or the rear brake, and they can easily be persuaded to bring the 230 Kgs 800DE and the lump riding it to a stop in dramatic fashion if needed.
Yet it is that 21-inch front wheel that impresses me the most. There is a road we often use to evaluate suspension on test rides. The road is an absolute shit show of tarmac patches and uneven road surfaces.
With a 17-inch front wheel, the road is awful. 19-inch (KTM 1090 / 1290), and the road is OK, but with the 800DE’s 21-inch and fully adjustable suspension, I could barely feel the undulations. Impressive stuff.
What Next?
In a word – Scotland. Roger is riding the Honda XL750 Transalp, and I’m taking the Suzuki 800DE as we explore the roads less travelled.
Neither of us has any off-road talent, so we’ll stick to the sealed road surfaces and perhaps a little light gravel, which is probably the most popular way these bikes will be used.
As to which one is better than the other … I have a feeling it will be a very tight decision based on personal choices, but that is what a week head-to-head is all about.
