Suzuki V-Strom 800DE vs Honda XL750 Transalp Spec Comparison: Which One Should You Buy?

After showcasing the V-Strom 800DE at the Bharat Mobility Expo in February 2024, Suzuki has finally added the third big bike to its India lineup. The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE retails at Rs 10.30 lakh (introductory price, ex-showroom), which makes it Rs 70,000 less expensive than its main rival – the Honda XL750 Transalp. The newly launched V-Strom 800DE replaces the V-Strom 650 XT and will go on sale alongside the Katana and the Hayabusa. The bookings for the motorcycle, available in three colour options, are underway at all Suzuki big-bike dealerships across India. Here, we compare the relatively new Suzuki V-Strom 800DE with the Honda XL750 Transalp, launched in November last year.

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE vs Honda XL750 Transalp: Powertrain

Powering the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE is a new 776cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine with a 270-degree crankshaft. The power and torque figures stand at 83bhp at 8,500rpm and 78Nm at 6,800rpm, respectively. The transmission duties of the bike are taken care of by a 6-speed unit, along with an assist and slipper clutch. 

Meanwhile, the Honda XL750 Transalp's 755cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine puts out 90bhp at 9,500rpm and 75Nm of torque at 7,250rpm and is coupled to a 6-speed gearbox. The Honda bike also gets an assist and slipper clutch.

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE vs Honda XL750 Transalp: Hardware

The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE uses the same steel frame as the Suzuki GSX-8S naked middleweight motorcycle. The suspension setup consists of a fully adjustable upside-down fork at the front and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear, both supplied by Showa. In comparison, the chassis of the Honda XL750 Transalp is a steel diamond unit, suspended by an upside-down front fork and a rear monoshock, both featuring preload adjustability.

As for the braking hardware, the V-Strom 800DE gets dual 310mm discs with four-piston callipers at the front and a single 260mm disc with a single-piston calliper at the rear, supported by dual-channel ABS (standard). The XL750 Transalp, on the other side, features dual 310mm discs with hydraulic 2-piston callipers at the front and a 256mm single disc with a 1-pot calliper at the back. It also gets dual-channel ABS as standard. 

In terms of wheel sizes, the V-Strom 800DE rolls on 21-inch front and 17-inch rear spoked wheels wrapped in tube-type tyres, whereas the Transalp comes with 21-inch front and 18-inch rear tubed wire-spoked wheels. 

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE vs Honda XL750 Transalp: Dimensions, Weight

Tipping the scales at 232 kilograms, the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE is 24 kilograms heavier than the Honda XL750 Transalp. In terms of dimensions, the V-Strom 800DE has a fuel tank capacity of 20 litres, while its ground clearance, seat height, and wheelbase stand at 220mm, 855mm, and 1,570mm, respectively. Here's how it fares against its rival:

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE vs Honda XL750 Transalp: Features

Features-wise, both bikes offer a 5.0-inch TFT screen, voice control, ride-by-wire, LED illumination, traction control, ABS, and a bi-directional quickshifter. But, the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE gets four riding modes (Active, Basic, Comfort, and Gravel), whereas the Transalp has five (Sport, Standard, Rain, Gravel, and User). 

The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE is available in three colour options: Champion Yellow No. 2, Glass Matte Mechanical Gray, and Glass Sparkle Black. Meanwhile, the XL750 Transalp can be had in two colour options: Ross White and Matte Ballistic Black.