A novelty for Suzuki, the platform consisting of the 776 cc twin-cylinder engine and steel frame may soon receive a new evolution. Born with the V-Strom 800 DE (the maxi-enduro with a 21-inch front wheel) and the GSX-8S, this platform will certainly not be limited to just two models. We have already mentioned the likely arrival of a fairing for the GSX-8R, while making some assumptions about the V-Strom 800 with a 19-inch front wheel, based on emissions documents filed with the California Air Resources Board and vehicle homologation documents from Switzerland discovered by our colleagues at Motorcycle.com, who published very low-resolution photos of the bike taken at Australian homologation authorities.
As mentioned, the V-Strom 800 loses the DE suffix to receive a 19-inch front wheel with a 110/80-19 tire, and other details point to a taller fairing and a weight loss of a good 7 kg (probably due to the absence of the sump guard and handlebar protectors), as well as a change in external dimensions that suggest the same approach and philosophy expected for the two 1050 models. Notice the photo of the suspension with less travel than the DE, the alloy wheels, and a different and more protective fairing.
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Will we see it at EICMA 2023? From our point of view, it is very likely. More uncertain is the fate of the twin-cylinder engine and, consequently, of the V-Strom 650, the adventure touring bike from Hamamatsu’s production: an excellent and best-selling bike, but that may capitulate at this moment, both due to the presence of the V-Strom 800, which somewhat overlaps, and because at this moment there may no longer be any reason to update the glorious 650 cc V-twin engine for the future Euro5+. We will see.
