How does the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE compare to the Honda Transalp?

Middleweight adventure bikes are all the rage in Europe, and that popularity has extended to South Africa as overland adventurers seek out smaller displacement machines to tackle our varied terrain. How does the Suzuki V-Strom stack up against Honda's Transalp?

Lawrence Minnie

14 Sep 2026 · 13:17Motorcycle News4 min read

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The middleweight adventure segment is hotter than ever, and two Japanese giants are fighting for dominance in the 700–800cc class. Suzuki overhauled its adventure lineup with the V-Strom 800DE, while Honda revived a legendary moniker with the XL750 Transalp, updated with innovative options like their E-Clutch system.

Related: How does the Honda Transalp compare to the KTM 790 Adventure?

Both motorcycles target riders seeking long-distance comfort paired with genuine dual-purpose versatility, but they approach the brief with distinctly different philosophies.

Suzuki DL800 DE V Strom and GSX-8S (2023) Launch - First Ride Review

Engines and Performance: Low-End Grunt vs High-Revving Punch

Underneath the bodywork, both manufacturers departed from traditional layouts in favour of modern parallel-twins featuring a 270° crankshaft. This firing order mimics the feel and traction characteristics of a V-twin, providing a characterful exhaust note and linear power delivery.

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE: Suzuki uses a 776cc DOHC parallel-twin engine with a long-stroke configuration designed to deliver immediate low-down grunt and usable mid-range pull. To smooth out vibrations, Suzuki introduced the Suzuki Cross Balancer system, positioning two balancers at 90° to the crankshaft—a first for a production motorcycle. Power delivery is managed via the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (SDMS), which offers three throttle maps (Active, Basic, Comfort).
Honda XL750 Transalp: Honda’s 755cc liquid-cooled Unicam parallel-twin favours a rev-happy nature with punchy mid-to-top-end performance. Throttle-by-Wire (TBW) provides four preset riding modes plus customisable parameters for engine power, engine braking, and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) with integrated Wheelie Control.

Where the Suzuki excels is in low-speed technical crawling, pulling cleanly off the bottom. The Honda shines when the road opens up, rewarding riders who like to push higher into the rev range.

Gearbox Tech: Quickshifter vs E-Clutch

Transmission technology is a major point of differentiation between these two adventure contenders.

Suzuki fits the V-Strom 800DE with a standard Bi-directional Quick Shift System paired with the Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS). SCAS acts as a slipper/assist clutch to reduce lever effort and prevent rear-wheel hop during aggressive downshifts. The bi-directional quickshifter allows clutchless upshifts and downshifts seamlessly while on the move.

Honda counters with its high-tech E-Clutch technology on the XL750 Transalp. The E-Clutch system automates clutch operation during starting, stopping, and gear changes. Riders can use the foot shift pedal without pulling the clutch lever at all—even when coming to a complete stop—while maintaining the option to operate the clutch manually at any moment.

Off-Road Capability

For riders who plan to venture off the tarmac, hardware specs reveal clear differences in geometry, suspension travel, and overall weight.

Feature	Suzuki V-Strom 800DE	Honda XL750 Transalp
Engine Capacity	776 cc	755 cc
Front Wheel	21-inch (90/90-21, tube-type)	21-inch spoked
Rear Wheel	17-inch (150/70R17, tube-type)	18-inch spoked
Ground Clearance	220 mm	Adventure tuned
Seat Height	855 mm	Accessible adventure ergonomics
Curb Mass / Weight	230 kg	Lightweight overall footprint
Fuel Tank	20 Litres	Touring capacity

The V-Strom 800DE leans heavily into off-road readiness. It boasts 220mm of ground clearance and 220mm of fully adjustable front- and rear-suspension travel via inverted front forks and a link-type rear shock. Its 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wire-spoked wheel setup gives it strong tracking over rough terrain, supported by a dedicated Gravel (G) Mode in its traction control settings and switchable ABS for the rear wheel.

The Honda Transalp XL750 adopts a slightly more road-biased adventure-touring setup with its 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked-wheel combination. It feels noticeably lighter on its feet than the Suzuki. The lower overall weight makes the Transalp easier to manoeuvre at slow speeds and less tiring on tight, twisty mountain passes.

Rider Electronics and Everyday Usability

Both bikes feature 5.0-inch colour TFT displays that serve as the command centre for rider aids, vehicle status, and trip metrics.

Suzuki Electronics (SIRS): The Suzuki Intelligent Ride System includes SDMS power modes, multi-stage Traction Control (including Gravel Mode), Rear ABS off mode, and the standard bi-directional quickshifter. The interface is straightforward, prioritising quick on-the-fly adjustments.
Honda Electronics: The Transalp comes equipped with Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity for turn-by-turn navigation, call management, and music control. Its safety suite includes 2-channel ABS, HSTC with Wheelie Control, Engine Brake control, and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) auto-cancelling indicators.

For long-distance touring, the Suzuki’s 20-litre fuel tank offers an edge in range over long highway stretches between fill-ups. However, the Honda’s lighter chassis and optional E-Clutch make it an incredibly versatile daily commuter that doubles as a weekend tourer.

Verdict

Choosing between these two mid-capacity adventure bikes comes down to where you spend most of your saddle time:

Pick the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE if your heart lies in unpaved exploration. With 220mm of fully adjustable suspension travel, 220mm of ground clearance, a dedicated Gravel mode, and a standard quickshifter, it is built to tackle rugged trails out of the crate.
Pick the Honda XL750 Transalp if you want an agile, lightweight adventure tourer with cutting-edge tech. Its rev-happy parallel twin, Honda RoadSync connectivity, and optional E-Clutch make it a refined choice for daily commuting, fast tarmac sweeps, and light off-road touring.

Written by Lawrence Minnie

Lawrence has been involved with motorsports for almost 30 years. Whether it's two wheels or four, if it has an engine, he will try to race it. This love of motor vehicles has led him to ride, drive, film, photograph, and write about his passion. Freelance for a while but now a permanent fixture on the AutoTrader team for over 7 years, Lawrence contributes written, photographic, and video content for AutoTrader and AutoTrader Bikes.Read more

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