L4 650 to 800 DE!

[stoatsngroats]

I’ve been tempted away from my lovely white 650 Wee to the 800 DE, in part because the deal worked for me!
A test ride confirmed some doubts about size/weight on the DE, and it was such a pleasure to ride, I made the decision and rode home on a 12 month old, 1k mile DE!
If you’re considering a similar move, it is well worth arranging a test on either the DE or RE, as they are fantastic bikes!

[UK_Vstrom650]

Hope you enjoy it.
Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the new bike once you have some miles on it.

[stoatsngroats]

  happy to share my thoughts as I put miles on, which started yesterday for a short run into Portsmouth area.
Screen isn’t very good at 70mph, it feels like a naked bike, but otherwise all good!
Some minor vibes at this speed, but I don’t seem affected by this, and some heat from the right side which I think is the catalytic converter.
None of this spoils the ride though, and the power delivery is really nice.
The quickshifter isn’t something I really needed, but it does have some positive effects when getting up to speed.
The comfort is quite different and an improvement over my L4, which the previous owner had lowered by 10mm or so.
Stand over height is good for me at 5’ 11 and 32” leg, and the weight doesn’t feel heavy, if you catch my drift!
Overall, I’m happy to have a newer bike, as my L4 was my first large bike after passing my test, and I did 9k miles in the first 12 months, getting close to the 15k mile service this month, I just wanted a newer bike for leisure as I don’t commute now.

[2112]

Looks great in black with gold wheels & forks 

[The Doctor 46]

Reminds me of the the JPS race cars, lovely. 

[Gillie76]

Your new 800 looks MINT! Love the usd forks and the black and gold 😍

[stoatsngroats]

@Gillie76 yep, it’s is a lovely bike! Top box and quad lock added recently!
😀🙏

[Brockett]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So I am free to say that in my opinion the new 800 adventure bike is just a little awkward looking as if it is transitioning through the chrysalis stage from the lovely form of the MK 1 V-Strom though this rather unfinished state to an as yet unknown creature.  Compare it to the MK1  of Graingerblaze - see what I mean?

[stoatsngroats]

@Brocket- No arguing from me matey, but I happen to really like it! Maybe minor changes might improve it - I’d prefer twin side-by-side headlights for example, but it makes no difference- it’s a bike I turn to admire when I walk away from it! 🙏

[Barbel Mick]

Got to agree with that. I loved the looks of my gen 2 650 but this 800 is far better looking to me. Every time I go in the garage or walk towards it when out I'm thinking .... yeah!! 
But I prefer not to look at it front the front. 

[Brockett]

What it does and how it does it, is more important than how it looks. I know because I once bought a Tracer and that had odd bits of plastic tacked on all over the front half. Although it had a superb motor the rest of it didn't rise much above mediocre. Hard seat, grim screen and poor suspension. I hope the 800 is better. In truth I probably would have bought one if only my hips were 20 years younger.

[stoatsngroats]

So, a short update on my experience of the 800DE after 1k miles.

I mentioned the buffeting, heat and minor vibes earlier, and can confirm these remain, but none significantly affect my enjoyment of this bike, and I%u2019m glad I was able to change away from my lovely L4, which served me very well for 2 years as I settled into commuting year round in all weathers.
The 800DE though is purely a leisure bike, as I do not commute any longer.
It has done some local(ish) runs, the farthest being Bognor Regis to Basingstoke and vv, for a specific purpose, and was a lovely run out with my brother on his CB1100.
On the homeward journey, bro said lets do a couple of acceleration comparisons, in 4th at 40mph/ 5th at 50mph etc, a few times.
The DE beat the CB every time, a surprise to us both.

Bro now has a BSA 650 Gold Star, and has been running it in - we have shared almost all of the 600 Miles together, and the DE is a cracking bike - I have just ridden to Portsmouth this morning, and had a wonderful time.
Everything the L4 650 did for me, the 800DE does better.

I love it!
Image is at Hayling Island, 800DE and BSA Gold Star a few weeks back.

[Sir Trev]

Glad you're enjoying it. I feel the same about my 800RE, as do all other 800 riders I've encountered in the last few months.

I noticed Motobob put out a video review of the RE the other day, praising it's all round ability. Some of the viewer comments though are ridiculous, most of which are from people who've clearly never tried either flavour and cannot imagine why anyone would choose one over their own blinkered choice of ride.

[stoatsngroats]

@Sir Trev…
Yes, there are many who complain about the issues I mention, and many more who complain about no cruise/wire wheels/tubed tyres etc, but these things do not worry me at all.
The overall feel of the bike, acceleration, handling and comfort are all better (for me) than my L4, and I really love riding this bike - it always gets a look back when I leave it somewhere! 😀🙏