The adventure bikes you NEED not want | V-Strom 800 DE vs Transalp XL750 Review

[@BigRockMoto]

As always, beautiful production quality, and insightful commentary. Love what you do. I also love both of these bikes. I could not pick a favorite either!

[@marceliszp4803]

@BigRockMoto I saw on your channel how you drove a Transalp in offroad, but I would see destiny like this: -If you drive more on roads, choose a Honda (weaker suspension for offroad and access to the filter is difficult in dust, but it is light and the engine likes high revs). -If you like to push strong off-road, choose Tenere 700, preferably in the Extream version, but you have to be tall and strong (top heavy) and it is not comfortable for long road trips. Suzuki... combines both features, it is very comfortable on the road, but thanks to its good suspension it handles well off-road and is easier to drive offroad than the T7 (better balanced)... I chose suzuki 800de also thanks to your reviews

[@k_plax]

Spoiler alert!

[@cranedaddy678]

More 800de please! Maybe spice it up with the 800RE model vs the transalp or something :)

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks Ian. Appreciate that. The feeling is mutual! I’ve watched a ton of your stuff now and I feel like we have the same feeling about bikes 😂

[@daveraskin5199]

Cross Atlantic bro-mance maybe ? I love both your contents! Keep it up guys!!

[@ultimatist]

Congrats to the Suzuki team for coming out of nowhere with such a great bike/platform!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Couldn't agree more!

[@dashuntas.m4045]

Think you’re underselling them a bit; they always seem to be outgunned on paper but they consistently deliver platforms that are competitive and are fan favourites.

[@bradfuller1667]

I've done sections of the CABDR , miles of technical single track in the sand and rock , I've treated it like a Superbike In The canyons . The 800DE is the most underrated ADV bike on the market , I went from a 1290 to a 690 and then a Tiger , I now have the 800DE and I am truly impressed.

[@ultimatist]

@@bradfuller1667 nice! I'm pondering one... what's your single biggest gripe with the bike?

[@bradfuller1667]

@@ultimatist not really a gripe but the same soft suspension as most offroad bikes . I ordered a 18" rear wheel conversion, fork springs/ shock spring for my weight through Hessler Ralley Team and I have the cruise control on order through Veridian . The bike feels like quality and you have suzuki reliability

[@RandomGRK]

Well said. We’ve all become so stuck in the spec sheet that we’ve forgotten that we don’t actually need the spec sheet.

[@BrakeMagazine]

🙌🙌 I’m as guilty as anyone of this.

[@IdealBike]

Great review comparison and very enjoyable to watch. I own a Transalp 750 and I've test ride a V-Strom 800 DE and although I truly respect the solidity of the VStrom and the engine's precision, the Transalp 750 it's the best compromise money can buy for 95% of the casual "adventure" segment customers, myself included. With proper experience and skills, Transalp can take you whatever place you dream.

[@ionescugeorge2003]

And with a touring screen and spring upgrade for ~300€ you can get Hyperpro front and back springs for the Transalp to make it the best and most reliable allrounder bike in the price range. It's also the most economical from my research.

[@randomguy-z2l]

for a few grand less id go with the vstrom

[@goodncold]

I have a 2009 VStrom 650. It runs well. It does highway all day at 130kph. It does forestry roads. I can two up. I can haul camping gear. It’s good on gas. It’s easy to work on. With a bit of body protection I started taking it down rockier trails too. 15 years in it’s a good bike. If you are looking for a long term bike you can’t go wrong with the Suzuki.

[@matmoore5700]

Really enjoyed this. It's so good to get such an honest and unbiased real world opinion of two bikes that many will discount just because they're not a T7 or 890 Adventure and it's just what the average adventure rider needs to hear. Cinematography was spectacular too. Without doubt my favourite Motorcycling channel!

[@trailrider1980]

I have been questioning you about the vstrom 800 de video for a while. Oh well, i got a transalp review and comparo as well as a bonus. I love how you keep your content fresh and different in style than other youtubers. For exensive reviews, i have big rock moto, for short quick videos that are just informative MotoBob, for the best balance videos we got your channel. You dont beat the deadhorse like the other channels talking about the same bike over over and over. Love the video. You deserve way more susbcribers.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks man! Nice to be talked about in those circles. I’m getting there 🙌🙌

[@trailrider1980]

​​@@BrakeMagazine which one do you thinkt suits you better?

[@njiska]

"and with suspension that actually works" Fantastic.

[@dwb468]

@BrakeMagazine your videography, storytelling, and evaluations/observations are stellar. Thank you from middle America.

[@rockenjoshy]

Best review of these two bikes. Great job! I went with the Suzuki :)

[@winter-survivor]

Same here. Got mine two months ago and no regrets, just fun. 👍

[@Blinducho]

Do you have any problem with heat when ridding in heavy traffic?

[@rockenjoshy]

Yes unfortunately it does get warm at stops or slow movement.

[@Blinducho]

@rockenjoshy Thank you. I love everything about the new vstrom, but I ride 120km per day, and I need to wait in traffic sometimes.

[@rockenjoshy]

Yeah it’s a bummer all these new bikes run hot.

[@QuinnBoone]

After 6 months of research and being as i value dependability over all else i picked the best Japanese mid bike i felt would suit my 80/20 riding, the 800de. Love it and will always be as open minded as possible but i dont want to constantly be working on any bike i have other than mods and accessories...accessories...

[@Michael_Shay]

Next level cinematography as always. Beautiful stuff man. I think either of these two bikes are the ideal machine for most adventure riders if we're being honest about our riding abilities.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I think if you’re honest about the type of riding you wanna do too. If you wanna mash some gravel roads and get your feet down they’re great.

[@maxflight777]

Michael .. you are correct ! a 701 would be a far better choice.

[@scubarubanzaii]

The Transalp handles just like a CB500X, but slightly slower to tip. It’s just a lot faster and slightly heavier with a wider stature. The Transalp is closer to a CB500X than people might expect, in a great way.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Totally agree. Massive surprise tbh.

[@martythompson6509]

I walked into a showroom to buy a CB 500X. Threw a leg over the TA and couldn't believe how light it felt. Bought a TA. Figured I may as well have the extra power, engine note, ground clearance, 21" front, TFT and modes if it felt as light to handle. But the biggest thing to me is it's balance. It's one of those bikes that will make a rider way more confident. From moving it around the shed to tight single track, it flatters the rider. I also believe a lot of the testers criticisms of the TA are unfounded. I took it into enduro bike territory last weekend and only bottomed the forks twice... when I messed up two erosion mound take offs and didn't get the front up, hitting the upslope on the landing. A combination of poor timing with the throttle on my part and a slight lack of grip from the stock Dunflop mixtours..... Yeah yeah...I know... what was I doing on an enduro ride with mixtours...... I was told it was easy dirt by the KTM 500 riding leader....😁

[@chrishart8548]

I actually thought the transalp was a lot closer to the Africa twin in width and weight vs the 500x. The 500x seems more like a 125cc bike to me it's very narrow indeed. And it just doesn't seem to have any weight to it. My girlfriend really wants a 500x the TA scared the he'll out of her the weight and the size.

[@anxiousappliance]

@@chrishart8548 It weighs about 20 - 25 lbs more than the cb - maybe the size was intimidating.

[@IRLtrolls]

Fantastic video. I love the topic of “need not want” I have a WR450F that’s street legal and I’ve owned many single cylinder dualsports but I finally decided to sell my Goldwing and concours 14 and get a REAL multi cylinder adv bike. My type of riding was going to be lots and lots of highways. I live in Texas and it’s 1,000 miles just to get to Colorado. Sure I WANTED a T7 or Africa twin. I want that 21in front wheel but the more I was honest with myself the more I started to favor a shaft drive (coming from shaft drive street bikes) and a 19/17 wheel. So I looked at the GS1200 and read the horror stories of electrical gremlins and shaft drive failures and ended up with the humble Super Tenere 1200. The super tenere is a land barge. Massively heavy but it still gets the job done off-road at a slower pace and it’s great on the highway. The S Ten is arguably the most reliable motorcycle ever made. So many forum posters with 200,000 miles on their bikes. It feels more like farm equipment than a motorcycle. Tractor like. To me it’s the Toyota Land Cruiser of motorcycles

[@cowmath77]

Glad to see someone treating the transalp like a transalp, and not going on and on about how if you just put $6,000 of parts on it you can turn it into the ADV bike "it was meant to be." 🤮 Transalp is a transalp, not a GS, for the better.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I'm glad you think it was the right approach!

[@Andrew-qc9xw]

There’s so much you cannot tell about a bike by a spec sheet and there’s so much you cannot tell by actually riding them. Great article!

[@brantfurr986]

Great review as always, but I'm most impressed with your little icons indicating how the products used in the video were acquired. Hopefully that level of transparency spreads throughout the online motorcycle journalist/youtuber world.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks Brant. It’s something I hope spreads too. I don’t think anyone minds ads or that stuff but a little honesty goes a long way 😊

[@Outbackmotortek]

Amazing video, which explains these two bikes so well. Thanks for the shoutout too!

[@BrakeMagazine]

🙌🙌 thanks for supporting making these video man! 🙌🙌

[@mediocreman2]

Good review. The best advice I ever received was to make a choice and enjoy the bike. You can customize it as needed, and you can always change your mind later. Or you can sit behind a computer screen or phone and compare and complain about specs until your head explodes. The people that want something to meet every little, tiny requirement before they go and do so something or delay living life until everything is perfect are never happy anyway.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Amen

[@kenbrooks7794]

Great review Llel, Id love to try one of these modern adventure bikes. I was in at the beginning, I bought an R80g/s in '83 and ive had it ever since. Ive done a bit of trail riding with lads on T7s so i see the difference that the years have made to suspension etc.. Nice to see that manufacturers are still supporting this class of bike.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Get a test ride going! I recommend the Aprillia if you really want a night and day experience

[@disekjoumoer]

Man, I love your videos. You get it down to the point so well.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I appreciate that!

[@boreragnarok]

This is the first video I've seen from you guys. Really impressed with the production quality. Subscribed.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Awesome, thank you!

[@denniekorpi5264]

I watch everything on these bikes and I think this is the best video on them - to the point!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks!

[@chiefenumclaw7960]

I don't know which of these bikes is better.... but I DO know which moto-journalist has the best hair in the industry. I love that you're responding to the comments with the right amount of Sass they deserve. Keep on trucking, mate!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Wow, thank you! 🤩 Lucy cuts my hair and was very happy about this comment too 😂😂

[@jonwoodworker]

Watch OnTheBackWheel ride the 800DE, then tell me again what the bike can't do. For me it was an easy choice, I prefer off road and the 800DE is the clear winner.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I think you misunderstand. It can do a lot, it’s just not as easy as some other bikes, like the Transalp. Andy is less experienced than me and when it got tricky he struggled more on the DE than the Transalp. Not saying the Suzuki is bad and I get why you love it. Great bike.

[@kiplambel4052]

Too funny!!! I did a search for comparison reviews on these two bikes just a couple hours before this video was launched. I intend to buy one of these, probably the Suzi

[@BrakeMagazine]

You won't be disappointed.

[@xcaceuk]

Yet another great review from you guys, epic scenery, quality birds eye photography and as always commentary that understands the audience and provides food for thought. Thank you 🙏

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TH3G0ODGUY]

Just wanted to say that lots of your shots are amazing and the production quality as a whole is incredible!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Appreciate that, thank you

[@RedRupert64]

Another excellent vid. Those 15 minutes just flew by. Thanks.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad to hear it!

[@IanSmart-g6y]

An excellent balanced review. Personally I decided on the suzuki, it's base inclusions, better and simpler electronics, and more sophisticated and capable suspension made it a better value proposition for me. The flexibility of the engine is icing on the cake. However I couldn't adjust the shock to my preferred rider sag, even with the preload wound all the way up, I guess slightly heavier spring for the shock at least is in my near future.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I think you’ll likely wanna do both front and rear to keep them balanced 😌

[@rroberts60]

Excellent review video! Well shot, funny, and with unique insights into the bikes that so many others don't cover. This channel is definitely top tier and I'm excited to see what you come up with next. Keep up the great work!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Kind words. Thanks!

[@JamesJohnson-ov5ct]

This has to be the best review and explanation of what these bike are and intended to be. Far too many reviews wishing either were a t7, 790 etc we already have those, definitely needed a couple of true do it all comfortable machines at great price points. Thank you again for another phenomenal review.

[@314adv]

Kudos to your video editor- the little touches like the frame connecting as a timer for your commercial- really great little touches. Content is always a smash hit !!! Editing is like the icing on a cupcake

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you liked it! It was a mix of myself and editor Joe on this one!

[@imranibnismail]

As always, love your work. Great cinematography and thank you for toning down the background music. Perfect!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@mullins6429]

Thanks for a great video review of these two machines. Probably one of the more sensible tests I have seen of these two bikes. That is: ridden how most people would probably ride them. 👍🇦🇺

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mullins6429]

@@BrakeMagazine I really enjoy your videos. I just prefer to hear what a bike can do rather than what it can’t do. I can figure out what a bike can’t do on my own.

[@BrakeMagazine]

😂 Thanks. I enjoy making them too, and it's rad to hear that people get something from them.

[@chukku2175]

If you haven't already, you seriously need to thoroughly test the Tuareg660. Slightly less comfortable on the road because of the narrower seat, but makes up for it with the stock cruise control. And off the road significantly better suspension than even the Vstrom. The T7 isn't even in the competition anymore.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Don’t you worry 🙌🙌

[@chukku2175]

@@BrakeMagazine awesome

[@Jonathan-ez8tq]

T7 extreme edition is 11 800 euros Tuareg 660 is 12 800 euros The T7 extreme is definitely better then the tuareg 😅 maybe not on the road but everything else it is.

[@miro_s]

I think the Tuareg looks very good, for me definitely better than the T7 but altogether not such an impressive bike. Mainly, I found it’s lacking a few cc. Found the induction noise too loud, the catalytic converter bizarrely located, and unconvincing (cheap?) in some components. All in all I’d prefer the vstrom.

[@justmyself1000]

I had zero interest in the transalp but after watching various review videos I'm actually starting to become interested. Everybody loves the V-Strom and I've never met an unhappy V-Strom owner. And I've ridden with some guys who are on V-Strom who can ride the heck out of those things and they seem to take all of it and continue to run smoothly

[@Simonpx989]

Great video, I can say that after testing BMW, KTM, Aprilia, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Husky; these two(in the vid) were the ones that actually gave me the best on/off road feeling, welcoming my inexperience. Only 1% of the users will actually bring any ADV bike to the AfricaEcoRace or similar, so no actual point on having a super specialized machine when your skills are no match fo it, ride humble!!! 🤗

[@BrakeMagazine]

I’m not surprised. I think they’re great bikes when used as intended

[@GregLanz]

I personally feel like I'd be perfectly happy on the T7, Vstrom, or Transalp. Each having their own strengths and weaknesses and needing upgrades or parts swaps but all 3 appear to be great bikes. I went with the Transalp as I'm more on-road than off and prefer the better wind protection and more comfortable seat than the T7 and I like the extra power and lower weight than the Vstrom, and I also personally think it's the best looking although I do wish we got the gold wheel option in North America I need to find some old Africa Twin wheels to try out :)

[@chrishart8548]

Doubt they would fit. Maybe get the wheels rebuilt and at the same time make them tubeless.

[@mathieusoudier4424]

Great review! As usual great quality video, I watch your stuff even when I have no interest in the bikes reviewed, they are that entertaining and interesting. I'm in the market for one of these, I will have to go test ride them, I like the looks of the Honda better but that Zuzuki seems to impress everyone who rides it.

[@WAZZUjohn03]

A well produced and thoughtful review. This is a great market segment with strong competition from nearly every make.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks! Totally agree. A lot of good choice!

[@ProphetAndLoss]

Your reviews are top shelf. Practical riding and elegant prose in one! 👍

[@TylerMcCool]

Great work & a fair assessment - Dropping the front that smidge on the 800 exactly the same idea as myself after a couple thousand miles.. And as for the great engine, think what a tune / ECU will do ... (a couple others out there already have it tuned up in GSX-8s and I look forward to doing this sometime later this year, the gains throughout powerband are huge). Cheers and keep it up.

[@BrakeMagazine]

That has been living in my head for an age. A little re-fuel, a little Yoshi exhaust. Holy crap would that be fun.

[@TylerMcCool]

TST Industries is one of the shops working on this.. FYI @@BrakeMagazine

[@DuffersMcDuff]

Excellent video, great production and I like your delivery style. Its great to have a UK based channel that is up their with BRM, Dork in the Road and dare I say it... Fortnine??!!! Great work guys.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Much appreciated! Really kind words!

[@nkwd007]

Great video, thank you! I only tested the transalp out of the two, and only on road. Significantly lighter and more nimble than my Tiger 900 Rally Pr (although I love my bike). Transalp is great for do it all bike in my opinion. It is good for London traffic, touring and some off roading. If I had to have 1 bike only, this would be the choice for sure. I am only a bit scared of tubed tires in case of trouble somewhere in Pyrenees or Alps.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I mean, tubes aren’t perfect but it’s not mad hard to learn to change them. If you prep them well then they should be pretty reliable.

[@marksimpson5218]

Tubed tires are what real adventure riders use. Itchy boots the most travelled women on the planet.😂

[@nkwd007]

I just don't understand why would you go through the effort of removing the wheel (caring more tools..) and waste time and energy, when you may just put the plug in and go? @@marksimpson5218

[@don_sharon]

FYI - at 230 lbs, 6'4" and having watched this video, I test rode the 800DE, T700, Toureg 600, and an Africa Twin, and bought the 800DE - thanks for the push. It is superb on the road (I have a road race background), forgiving on backroads and trails, torquey and powerful throughout (I love its behavior just off idle), bullet-proof construction and it's relatively easy to work on (except plugs - yikes). At my weight and with bags, I am upgrading the suspension but I knew that going into the purchase. I also installed a cruise control for longer rides, and a mivv can and LiFePo battery to loose a couple pounds. For my style of riding, this bike is quite nearly perfect at a reasonable price, and it's not made in China.

[@BrakeMagazine]

What a riper assessment of the DE. Sounds like some great choices with those mods.

[@adamhoneybun1166]

Great review I will definitely try the v strom before I decide what to buy. Ps great to bump into you again on the ox drove. R Adam

[@BrakeMagazine]

Please do! You too Adam!

[@FineLine-Media]

My guy, you've got the voice over thing DIALLED.😉 And we both know that's the hardest part. Seriously though, that is a top notch video. Oh and that '91 Africa Twin at 00:44 is a thing of beauty.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks 🙏 It was a pretty one for sure!

[@pigmeal2224]

Have had the VStrom 6 weeks now ... a very fair review you've managed 👏👏. We loved the TA too, and in Australia it's 3 grand cheaper ... but the electronics and the awful airbox access were the clangers for us.

[@BrakeMagazine]

It’s about the same price cheaper here until you spec any extras to bring them to a similar . The extras on the Honda are pretty pricey and they brings them inline. I now just think of them at the about the same.

[@DJRomaM]

Here in Europe 800DE is 500euro cheaper than the base Transalp. Are you saying that in your country the Transalp is 3k cheaper than the 800DE?

[@pigmeal2224]

@@DJRomaM yes, that is correct.

[@DJRomaM]

@@pigmeal2224 that's strange

[@BrakeMagazine]

@@DJRomaM Yes.

[@markaurelius3119]

1. New Transalp is the best Transalp 2. Glad to see Outback M. As a sponsor. They grew so much these years, absolutely deserved 👍 3. Thanks for the review

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks for watching!

[@mididash]

I’ve now changed to a tracer 7 with some Pirelli str tyres for my green landing and off road adventures, it’s much “easier” to handle off road than the tenere and I’ve only done one lane 😂 roll on the weekend and lots of testing to be done . Keep up the great vids fella 👍🏼

[@BiglumpADV]

I rode the Tenere 700 WR at this year's ABR with a view to swapping my old Super Tenere 1200 for it, I wasn't impressed. If you're a pro you're bound to get more from it than me, but for me it was gutless and lacking any heart. The engine was dare I say dull... Then I rode the Transalp and what a bike! Great for me off road, capable and friendly on/off the throttle, and really well balanced. Honestly I think I'm sold and will be getting one. P.S we tried a few bikes, and that Transalp was my favourite

[@BrakeMagazine]

I'm not surprised tbh. It's a superb bike and everyone who rides one likes it.

[@sillytorque]

Great video quality and a refreshing honesty and look at the topic. For me despite this, find my motorbike riding and choice of the motorbike on which to do it is driven by passion and the heart.... not the brain..... These bikes are like a Skoda.. ( of which I have had several). solid, functional, good value and get the job done..... but I have that in my daily life. I want something that makes me go "phwoarr!!!" and stirs the cockles...... neither of these do that.... A Norden however......

[@BrakeMagazine]

Well said! That’s what these videos are for and I totally get that feeling!

[@aditya.ishan27]

Love the review and the comparison but the only reason I would stay away from both of them would be tubed type rims which means not having tubeless tyres and a lot of hassle to change them ... I would take my scrambler 1200x or XE or the tiger 900 over these two any day, it would do the job just fine.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I agree, I would like them too. I much prefer it and those are great bikes.

[@davidcolinfisher1034]

You may have missed the point he made about the Suzuki engine....being...amazing....take a test ride one day and see what you think

[@AnthonyDonnellyTT]

Excellent review and beautifully shot. I loved the no BS nature of it. Kudos.

[@jhackett9482]

Guys, this is the absolute best comparison of these two bikes I’ve seen. Your descriptions tell me the transalp wins for me and the 800 is best suited for others. Heading to dealer tomorrow…but if only we could switch the instrument gauges. One thing you didn’t mention is the Honda does not have a fuel range readout. Even the lowly versys 300 has that. This is 2024 right? Come on Honda!

[@donalharrington6462]

Wonderful channel. Absolutely fabulous reviews too. The love of bikes shows through.

[@Noumer0]

Got my transalp 2 months ago. It's really enjoyable to ride! ❤

[@BrakeMagazine]

It really is!

[@JulianOLeary-nv5nc]

Love the film quality, love the honest and fair review, top marks mate....top marks 👍

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks 👍

[@ultimatist]

A middle-weight category comparo with a few riders of different sizes and skill would be amazing!

[@BrakeMagazine]

It would be great to do one but putting a budget together to do it is nearly impossible for us at the moment. Even these two bikes ones the cost is a lot.

[@trashpandatrailadv]

I love that we are having mid weight arguments around ADV again, used to be only two manufacturers really filled that role, but now we got a whole hot market to argue over. T7 vs Transalp, 890 against the Pstrom 800 (jokes), and all the other lively conversation on the trail, an exciting time for our market and our sport.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I totally agree. The thing is, they’re are all genuinely good bikes. Don’t forget about the Tiger and potentially fixed F 900 GS.

[@francescoporcari8597]

​@@BrakeMagazinehe forgot possibly the best one: the Tuareg.

[@iangriffiths9930]

I’ve been looking at the Aprilia but there seems to be a lot of issues with it when you look at the forums. Nothing major but still.

[@francescoporcari8597]

@@iangriffiths9930 you know, people tend to highlight the issues, and if you google for issues you only find news about them. As far as I got the 2024 model year has solved the issues. The dealer network could be a point of concern, though.

[@BrakeMagazine]

He doesn’t know yet. He will 😂😂

[@balko-adventures]

Great video. Amazing quality as well. I wonder, how is the seat on the Transalp compare to CB500X? I've had a CB500X '22 for a year, and could'nt stand the seat on longer rides. I now have T7 with original seat, and it is much better for my bottom. Even tough it's better, I feel in the bottom after som hours on the Highway... I also felt the CB500X was a bit to cramped for me. I feel the T7 is better for my height (190cm). Althoug it is a bit top heavy. Has anyone compared the seat on T7, CB500X, Transalp and Vstrom 800DE? I guess I have to try them all..

[@BrakeMagazine]

It's hard to say without a direct test.

[@_hold_the_line_]

Interesting review, thanks. It looks like the Suzuki is a bit better as the Honda has a few issues like not remembering settings and placement of the horn button where the indicator is supposed to be, as well as more difficult air filter replacement.

[@anxiousappliance]

Horn button- really? It is 50lbs lighter and overall more agile and tactile. The Suzi is more stolid. Depends on what you like.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I actually agree with you on button placement. Honda's are a bit confusing to my thumbs. I definitely mashed on the horn multiple times when trying to cancel the indicator.

[@betasub]

​@@anxiousappliance in France, "moto journal" compared the two bikes in the same configuration and the difference was only 6kgs (12lbs I think).

[@miro_s]

@@anxiousappliance50lbs that can’t be true, either the vstrom would be unmarketable or the ta would be the unicorn we’re all looking for.

[@anxiousappliance]

@@miro_s it is true - and it is marketable etc.

[@BlackThor15]

Awesome video Llel & Team, well done! 👍👍

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thank you! 😁

[@richardsimpson3792]

Great video...I thought the Suzuki was a bit bland from original reports, but it seems like an attractive buy now. Have you put the Aprilia 660 to test yet?

[@BrakeMagazine]

Yes. It's coming shortly. I don't think the Suzuki is bland at all.

[@richardsimpson3792]

@@BrakeMagazine Watching he motorcycle market over the last few years, I thought either Suzuki was looking for a dignified gentle exit, or had something good up its sleeve. As a former Suzuki DR350 owner, I'm glad that it looks like the latter outcome. If my old KTM died, I'd look at that 800 Suzuki as an option to replace it. I rode the 890 Adv and didn't feel any connection with it at all, which was sad.

[@everydaybiker]

Nice one guys. This is exactly what's needed

[@okanaganrider4332]

Nice to see a reference to the F650GS single. I have an ‘04 and it’s great.

[@BrakeMagazine]

It sure is!

[@theflyingbogie]

All of these machines will be a slight compromise as they have to fit so many riders weight, height, riding styles and abilities. Having tried both extensively i felt the 800DE has the best motor/power delivery/ suspension with more potential to tailor to suit individual preferences. As much as i love my Hondas (and i have a few) the TA motor is more akin to a revvy sports tourer lacks low down punch. If you feel the need to test the 800DE off road, i would recommend go to Suzuki Live at Cadwell Park June 22/23. The off road test couse at the circuit that Suzuki set up is excellent and a great test for the bike and rider.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Totally agree and great shout!

[@minikdoa]

thanks a lot. great comments !

[@Kevwa51]

If my 890 Duke didn’t steal my heart before I jumped in the dirt with the Adventure, I would’ve ended up with a Transalp I think. Unfortunately for me I’ve caught KTMitis but someday I hope to be able to take a spin on a Transalp. Can’t wait to see more of both these bikes around in the US. It’s lonely off-road in my neck of the woods.

[@BrakeMagazine]

That’s hilarious. You’ll recover eventually

[@miro_s]

indeed for me too brand loyalty matters. Yet ktm has disappointed me with the way they honour warranties, so I’m trying to cure myself from ktmitis. Sold my 890R, still moan the loss of it, but it’s early days, it’ll pass and I hope to find something out there that will fill the void in my heart.

[@100CupsColombia]

The humour is coming together-good stuff

[@BrakeMagazine]

Cheers man. Tryna let it leak in there slowly 😅

[@aslankarnuf]

I love your videos. so good that I've added to my favorite video list. thank you. I have the super limited 2024 KTM 890 rally, and yet as a second bike I'm getting a transalp... love it

[@BrakeMagazine]

Wow! That’s a collection! Thanks for the kind words 🙏

[@aslankarnuf]

You're one of the very very few who actually tell things how they are. KZbin needs more people like you@@BrakeMagazine

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks!

[@Macgregor_images]

Agree with your summary bikes the Adventure Bike Market needed. Bought the V4 Motool suspension tuner based on your recommendation, great work Thankyou 😂 Ewen…

[@BrakeMagazine]

Right on! Let me know how you like it!

[@monman8183]

Transalp for me. If that was Barmouth area, you had a good day out. 👊

[@BrakeMagazine]

Full loop around that area! Hereford to Hereford loop 😀

[@greyanaroth]

This is a great review, guys. Take a bow.

[@guywolff]

Great great great and to the point .. It always comes down to the rider knowing themselves and understanding what kind of riding brings them the most joy . I have a 30 " inseam .. It's the Transalp for me .. I would love BMW to jump in with a Earles front fork and a good mono shock in the back on a 800 boxer with a 5 USgallon tank and great brakes ...

[@BrakeMagazine]

You and me both. Wouldn’t a mid sized boxer be incredible

[@VjekoV88]

IMO this video proves that there isn't everything in race with figures sheets, bikes can seem awful on paper but when you ride them you realize the point. I think these bikes are good for people who will buy them and if they outgrow them with the skills they master on them they could either update the bikes or change bikes for the more specific style of riding they want to do.

[@DarthDainese69]

I wasn't brought up with this, my words exactly, I watched Carl Fogarty "Foggy", I've had mostly sports bikes the 02 R6 is still my favourite bike that I've owned, so switching to a bike that's around twice as heavy, I feel like I'm learning to ride a bike again

[@JayBee-cr8jm]

The T in ADV is silent. It stands for touring. These are supposed to be touring bikes.

[@BrakeMagazine]

It’s almost like you’re trolling for the fun of it 😂

[@JayBee-cr8jm]

@@BrakeMagazine Why else would I do it?

[@BrakeMagazine]

😂😂

[@gezginendurocu]

Which bike is make you more happy and enjoy u while riding off-road T7 ,transalp or vstrom? I wonder Can they handle better off-road than T7

[@BrakeMagazine]

No they can’t. I wouldn’t choose a T7, I’d choose the Tuareg 660 if that was my concern.

[@miro_s]

A part of me (the one that doesn’t listen to experts) wonders about the mythical status the T7 has acquired as an off-road bike. It’s a pig, enormously top heavy, sluggish engine, crap suspension, I had an 890R and found it incommensurably better (apart from reliability issues). Indeed, the mid twin that handles offroad best.

[@praveenvaidya1284]

I would select Transalp if I want lightweight motorcycle . And, I would select V-Strom if I want mile cruncher as it has bigger fuel tank capacity. Rest other features and functionalities are mare decorations.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Good summary.

[@brianlekei8920]

Well done Llel, I love your straight forward practical take on these bikes, ones that some may turn their noses up but most would find suits them best. Bought my GS before these came out would like to have had them as an option but that’s life. Looking forward to fitting my Tailmax Raids with my Rabaconda too. Cheers Llel.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Yew! Hope that goes well. it took me a few uses to really get my head around it. Once I got the technique and order down it's been great, but it might take a while to learn!

[@LooxJJ]

Easy to work on, easy to fix, easy to upgrade, and reliable...it will do everything you ask whether it is a daily commute or around-the-world trip. That's all I can say about all V-Strom Models.

[@chriskneifl3290]

Test rode the V-Strom and loved it. What an engine! But, it feels way too heavy for a technical BDR like the one in Oregon. With luggage, it'll be tipping the scales at over 550 lbs.

[@habibi750]

I’m looking at buying a bike for BDR riding. What bikes are on your shortlist?

[@bradaaaJT]

Yo this looks more like a documentary than review. Good stuff!

[@Borderwheels]

Incredible drone shots

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks 🙏

[@bitterlifes]

Overall Suzuki it's better allrounder!

[@razerfree4359]

I was on the fence on which to pick out of these two, but after my maintenance experience with another Honda bike and looking at them up close and trough reviews I've decided to go for the V-Strom. I want to be able to do as much of the basic maintenance at home with common tools and without having to dissasemble huge chunks of the bike to gain access to thinks like batteries, filters etc. To me it looks like the V-Strom was built from the ground up as an ADV bike for people who actually ride more than 10% offroad, and the Transalp feels like it's underdelivering on purpose as to not harm Africa Twin sales.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I think you’re probably correct

[@iz723]

British fortnine. Very nicely made.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Well shit, that’s high praise!

[@SteveSeadog]

Great review Llel. When I'm ready to trade-in my F750GS, I'm fairly sure it will be for the Transalp. The only thing that puts me off is the tubed tyres. Not easy to repair when you're a long way from home.

[@BrakeMagazine]

You can convert them to tubeless if you want. There is a company called BART Tubeless that do it or you can DIY convert pretty easily too. That'll be an awesome upgrade of your bike.

[@SteveSeadog]

@@BrakeMagazine Useful info. Thanks.

[@Hans_P]

I would have a TransAlp if we could get that color in Canada ( its black or nothing ) and why no cruise control? Bit of a deal breaker for me. Thinking Tiger 900 Rally Pro now but its spendy.

[@BrakeMagazine]

It’s a shame about the black thing. The white does look good. The tiger is superb all round bike. Not amazing at anything but genuinely lovely to ride.

[@intensegamer7559]

Both really nice bikes. If you live in a sparsely populated country with lots of (good quality) dirt roads the new V-Strom seems like a perfect pick. Living in densely populated Central Europe featuring many nice tarmac roads I naturally opted for a road going bike (in my case a Tracer 900).

[@BrakeMagazine]

Depending where you live, there is aTON of gravel road in Central Europe! From the UK, we head to Europe for the good riding!

[@intensegamer7559]

@@BrakeMagazine Well, if you mean Eastern European countries like Hungary and Romania you are right. But again, I live in Central Europe, meaning i.e. Austria and Germany. Please try riding on gravel roads there for a while without getting into (serious) trouble. Cheers

[@BrakeMagazine]

I mean more in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal. I get that Austria, Switzerland and Germany are off limits :)@@intensegamer7559

[@intensegamer7559]

@@BrakeMagazine Yes, Spain is really empty when it comes to people. Good country for offroading :)

[@Junkfiles446]

the most insane review about these bikes on youtube!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Good insane or actually insane?

[@Junkfiles446]

@@BrakeMagazine ofcourse the good insane insane. pretty detailed review. not just on the specshit but on the realworld with really deep detailed comparison. never see anyone does this much. its insane. i leave a sub. thank you for this content.

[@BrakeMagazine]

@@Junkfiles446 thanks! Kind words.

[@HeimVegenAdvbike]

Nicely balanced realistic review .😊Those outback motortek bars are very solid. But, any problems adjusting the gear lever for off road boots? My bars prevent that...🤔

[@BrakeMagazine]

I didn’t notice a problem with the height of the gear lever to try.

[@podunkman2709]

Must be balanced - sponsors expect that. This is business.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Not really. I'm happy to call a spade a spade. That's why we have the system for stating how money was spent on everything in the channel. The gear lever came in a good position so I never bothered adjusting it and therefore never encountered the problem. :)@@podunkman2709

[@batcaveracing]

Nice video. I think you described these bikes perfectly.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you think so!

[@MotoEnLoCo]

I’m still undecided! Which would you pick for doing 70% road, 30% trail?

[@BrakeMagazine]

The one I found prettiest.

[@KalJoao]

Such a perfect video! Thanks. I'm currently trying to downsize from my 1250GS and having a tough time choosing since dealers don't offer tests. Of these two it's the VStrom for me since you said 'comfort' many times over. But still on the list: Norden, Tuareg, F900GS, KLR650. Can't decide! What would you get for a daily commuter (half stop and go, half freeway).

[@BrakeMagazine]

Those are really different bikes. What do you want to do when you're not commuting?

[@KalJoao]

@BrakeMagazine an occasional 2 up overnight trip down Highway 1 or up to Tahoe with my Teenager. Lots of wind in the NorCal Bay Area, so worried about going too light or too little wind protection; no full nakeds on the list. Wont actually be off-roading, just always prefer the segment for our crappy pot-hole filled and under-repaired side roads.. My previous Husky 701 SM was too svelt for the freeway very long and no fun in the rain. Thought for sure I was gonna blow off the Golden Gate Bridge a few times, but fun to flog around otherwise. The 1250 (non adventure) brought good enough wind/rain protection but was heavy in parking/city lane splitting. My K1600B actually felt lighter lane splitting with its lower center of gravity, lol. Cheers!

[@TacticalDingus]

just bought the 800 the quick shifter is insane!

[@davealston3881]

As usual an exceptional review. Wow !

[@dronetest7191]

only issue which I have with this motorcycle is that there is real heat coming from engine, above 25 C is very annoying, unfortunately is not only in traffic stop and go but heats up in highway as well, but beside this very good bike, maybe could be 20kg lighter ;)