First ride: 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE is serious about the dirt | INFO MOTO

INFO MOTO jets off to New Zealand to test Suzuki&"most off-road V-Strom yet", the 800DE. What we like: - Great motor - Good value - Versatile chassis Room for improvement: - Should have cruise control - Windscreen hard to adjust - Tubeless tyres please 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE price and specs Suzuki has launched its new V-Strom 800DE, a new middleweight adventure bike landing around the same time as the new Honda XL750 Transalp, priced from $18,590 rideaway. While the parallel-twin-powered V-Strom 800DE is likely to eventually succeed its V-twin-motivated V-Strom 650XT sibling, both will remain on sale in 2023 with the latter offered in both LAMS and full-power configurations from $14,990. The new V-Strom 800DE was unveiled at the EICMA motorcycle show last year alongside the new GSX-8S, with both bikes drawing power from a new 62kW/78Nm 776cc parallel-twin motor, signalling the discontinuation of the brand’s ageing V-twin powerplant. The bike takes on familiar, yet refreshed styling, with dirt-focussed components like a 21-inch front hoop, Showa suspension (220mm travel), wide tapered handlebars and switchable ABS (rear only). Other key features include hand adjustable preload for the rear suspension, twin 310mm front brake discs, a 20-litre fuel tank and Dunlop Trailmax dual-purpose tyres on the 21- and 17-inch wire spoked wheels (front-to-rear). The bike also benefits from a special ‘gravel’ traction control mode, a 5.0-inch TFT screen, full LED lighting...