The Suzuki V-STROM 800DE received broadly positive feedback at a worldwide unified press test held in Sardinia, Italy, in February 2023. The rides were arranged in two separate two-day group sessions between 19 and 24 February, attracting 49 media representatives from 13 countries. Sardinia’s hilly terrain and mix of paved and unpaved roads provided the setting for a motorcycle presented as capable of combining touring with exploration beyond the tarmac.

Suzuki engineers gave technical presentations and spoke directly with the participating media riders. The format allowed journalists to ask questions and clarify details, while also giving the engineers feedback on how experienced motorcyclists assessed the result of the motorcycle’s development. The overall response from participants placed the V-STROM 800DE strongly in the mid-size adventure category. Their comments focused on the balance between the stability and control required for highway riding and the flexibility needed on gravel roads.

Engine and chassis

The 776 cm³ parallel-twin engine attracted particular attention. Participants described its power delivery as smooth, linear and controllable, with low vibration and little mechanical noise. They also pointed to strong drive from low rpm and a useful spread of power across the rev range. In their assessment, that combination supports relaxed long-distance riding on open roads while also making the motorcycle easier to control at lower speeds on forest roads and trails beyond the pavement. These are impressions attributed to riders at the media event, not independent performance measurements by Athenian Rider.

The chassis and suspension follow the V-STROM family’s adventure-oriented layout, with a long wheelbase, long rake and high ground clearance. The supplied description links this geometry with stability on unpaved surfaces. The solid-mount seat is designed to allow freedom of movement while retaining comfort on longer touring runs. One participant reported that, despite the stated 230 kg curb weight and 21-inch front wheel, the motorcycle remained nimble on paved roads. No additional suspension measurements or independently recorded performance figures are provided.

Electronics and design

Standard equipment includes a bi-directional quickshifter, allowing upshifts and downshifts without operating the clutch lever while the motorcycle is moving. Participants considered it particularly useful across the varied gradients and surfaces encountered during the Sardinia rides. They also described the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector and the Suzuki Traction Control System as easy to operate and configure; the latter includes a G (Gravel) mode. Two-mode ABS is also listed among the equipment.

The electronic package includes a 5-inch colour TFT LCD multifunction instrument panel. Test participants found it easy to read and easy to set using its three buttons. Styling received similarly positive attention, with praise for the sharp angular bodywork, the headlight and the distinctive beak associated with the V-STROM family. The colours named in the material are Champion Yellow, Glass Sparkle Black and Glass Mat Mechanical Gray.

The Sardinia event consequently presented the V-STROM 800DE as a dual-purpose adventure motorcycle, with an intended role on both paved roads and unpaved routes. The positive response centred on the way the engine, stable chassis and configurable electronics work together in changing conditions. That conclusion belongs to the participants in the media test and should not be read as an Athenian Rider road test. The supplied evidence contains no Greek pricing or availability information.