Suzuki V-Strom 800 Review: Adventure Riding in Catalonia and the Pyrenees

Every winter pulls us back to Barcelona. Motorcycles, sunshine, and the stunning roads around Catalonia's capital help us escape the cold season. Yet, even as the Garraf, coastal areas, and renowned routes continue to thrill, the desire to break free from the norm eventually grows. This is how our tour with the Suzuki V-Strom 800 came to be. Initially, the route was envisioned on a grander scale, covering Andorra, France, and multiple passes in a single day. However, a last-minute change of plans turned the three-country adventure into a journey across Catalonia, deep into the Pyrenees. This shift didn't make the day any smaller—just more intriguing.

Suddenly, the focus shifts away from a checklist of spectacular destinations to the experience itself. From Barcelona, the journey takes us through Garraf, over Montserrat and Cardona, into the pre-Pyrenees, past Gósol and the Pedraforca, and finally up to the unfinished Coll de Pal Pass. Check out the Calimoto link to the tour here. It quickly becomes apparent whether the V-Strom 800 is suited for such a versatile day of travel.

After many days on powerful, high-tech machines like the BMW R 1300 RT, KTM 1390 Super Adventure R, or BMW R 1300 RS, the Suzuki V-Strom 800 feels almost like a counterpoint. This is precisely what makes it so intriguing for this tour. For a long one-day journey through Catalonia, you don't need a bike that aims to impress with extreme power or advanced electronics. You need a machine that works right out of the gate, builds confidence, and still offers the joy of riding on two wheels. That's why the choice fell on the V-Strom 800. From the start, it promises less spectacle and more substance. Pragmatic durability, ample comfort, an upright seating position, a good suspension, and decent wind protection matter much more on a route like this than any spec sheet numbers.

Then there's the character of the 800cc twin. It delivers strong low-end torque, enabling a relaxed, gear-lazy ride while still providing enough dynamism to keep things exciting on mountain roads. Even before the actual journey begins, the Suzuki instills a sense of reliability. You hop on and expect it to perform its duties without any fuss. This straightforward confidence is invaluable on a tour. The V-Strom 800 isn't chosen for being the most spectacular option but because it provides the calm, honest companionship needed for a diverse journey through cityscapes, coastlines, rolling hills, and high mountains. It was evident from the outset that the V-Strom 800 covers the pragmatic side of motorcycling. But does it also offer that special something that makes eyes sparkle and a biker's heart race?

Right from the first few kilometers, the V-Strom 800 showcases its everyday capabilities. In and around Barcelona, it's not about maximum aggression in the morning, but accessibility. The Suzuki immediately feels pleasant here. The clutch, engine character, and seating position make the initial urban and suburban miles uncomplicated, which is crucial for a successful day on the road. A bike might perform exceptionally on the dream road, but if it becomes a hassle in heavy traffic or during slow transitions, it leaves a sour taste. The V-Strom gets everything right from the start. It rides lightly, with a forgiving and composed nature, without feeling lifeless. This impression extends through the initial stretches in the Parc del Garraf.

What stands out is how naturally the Suzuki slots into this touring rhythm. The engine pulls the bike smoothly and powerfully out of slow corners. Thanks to the torque-focused nature of the twin, there's no frantic gear searching; you just roll on the throttle out of the bend. At the same time, the adventure touring ergonomics feel so familiar that no adjustment period is needed. Hop on, feel comfortable, and ride off—that's a quality that's hard to capture in technical specs but is incredibly valuable on a journey. The V-Strom 800 turns the start of the day into a relaxed prelude to whatever comes next, rather than a test.

Compared to its DE model sibling, the V-Strom 800 might not be seen as a hardcore adventure machine. It's not about rugged offroad escapades but rather the kind of terrain where an adventure bike often finds itself in everyday life. Gentle gravel paths, uneven surfaces, patched roads, and loose stretches that call more for realistic touring capability than enduro heroics. Heading out from Parc del Garraf onto wide, finely gravelled tracks, the Suzuki never feels stressed, overwhelmed, or out of place, even when stationary or moving slowly.

This is largely due to its relaxed baseline setup. The upright seating and functional standing position, comfort-oriented suspension, and accessible power delivery make the V-Strom 800 a machine that doesn't rely on perfect conditions. It continues calmly and reassuringly even when the ground is less than ideal. With 150 mm of suspension travel and 185 mm of ground clearance, it's more than capable of handling minor bumps. The engine chugs along steadily over rough terrain, and the brakes, tuned for comfort, don't add stress when slowing down. On very loose surfaces, you need to be cautious when braking, as the ABS cannot be turned off and engages quickly. Overall, the V-Strom's ease-of-use qualities are often more valuable to many riders than any dramatic marketing images of sideways drifting tails. The Suzuki doesn't require constant correction or aggressive riding on loose or rough surfaces. While it isn't a no-compromise off-road enduro, it's certainly a motorcycle that impresses on real journeys, even when the tarmac ends or its quality significantly diminishes. This kind of groundedness suits the essence of the V-Strom 800.

Heading further north, we traverse the Montserrat mountain range and reach the Cardona fortress. The hours and winding country roads fly by, thanks to the beautiful landscapes and fantastic routes. The V-Strom 800 handles the mix of relaxed cruising and short, fun sections exceptionally well. We often have to hop onto short stretches of highway, as filming takes time and sprawling industrial areas are best bypassed. It's in these moments that the V-Strom 800 proves it can handle not just curves but also the more mundane linking episodes comfortably. Even after several hours in the saddle, the seat remains comfortable, and the joy of touring is undiminished. The rider barely perceives it as a burden, thanks to the seating position, suspension, and overall easygoing character that make the journey effortless. The windscreen could extend a bit higher for my 6'1" frame, but the slight turbulence at the top of the helmet is hardly bothersome. Moreover, its fuel consumption of under 4.5 L/100km makes for straightforward and efficient travel. This ability to turn necessary transit stretches into a normal part of the travel day, rather than a chore, is one of the Suzuki's greatest strengths. A touring motorcycle doesn't need to constantly dazzle; it just needs to perform reliably throughout the day. And the V-Strom 800 does so convincingly.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of this journey is just how much riding joy the Suzuki V-Strom 800 offers on winding mountain roads. By the time you hit the B400 in the Pyrenean foothills, it becomes clear that this bike is capable of much more than its relaxed appearance and reputation might suggest. The road itself is a gift: long curves, grippy asphalt, little traffic, and a backdrop that leaves you wanting more. It's here that the V-Strom truly gets to show its capabilities. And it does so in a very charming way—not as an aggressive sport machine, but as an honest adventure tourer with enough dynamism to provide genuine riding pleasure on such roads. The twin delivers strong mid-range torque, responds cleanly, and perfectly complements a riding style that thrives on rhythm and flow.

The suspension is clearly comfort-oriented, yet not mushy. It provides enough feedback to build confidence even in lean angles and maintains stability on roads that are not always in perfect condition. This is particularly important in northern Spain and the Pyrenean foothills, where the asphalt often varies or is patchy. The Suzuki remains predictable, good-natured, and pleasantly controllable. Sure, the lean angle is more limited than a purebred corner carver or tall adventure tourers, and the V-Strom 800 is certainly no sportbike. But it doesn't need to be. What matters is that it effortlessly leans into turns when desired, grips the throttle robustly, and lets you carve through the corners with a big grin under your helmet. While it operates within clear limits, it does so with motivation and without any major weaknesses on twisty roads.

Complementing this versatile journey is the fitted tire, the Eurogrip Trailhound STR. Initially an unknown factor, this tire proves to be a perfect match for the Suzuki V-Strom 800 as the day unfolds. Its harmonious, predictable steering behavior, which aligns well with the bike's character, stands out. It feels eager yet not jittery, fostering confidence and enhancing the riding experience that makes the V-Strom so enjoyable on winding roads. Additionally, it performs impressively on varying asphalt, in shaded sections, and even in cold and damp conditions at the Coll de Pal without showing any significant weaknesses.

The day through Catalonia concludes at the unfinished Coll de Pal Pass, ending at an altitude of 2,106 meters at the Molina Massif. The Suzuki V-Strom 800 has successfully journeyed from the beach near Barcelona to the snow walls of the Pyrenees, just awakening from winter. It's a motorcycle that truly shines on trips like this. It doesn't need to constantly prove itself; it simply works. In the morning traffic around Barcelona, it's relaxed and good-natured, on connecting stretches, it's comfortable and unobtrusive, surprisingly entertaining on winding country roads, and still composed in harsher, cooler environments. This versatility makes it a well-rounded travel companion. It's not a bike for grand showy effects or extreme scenarios but for real travel days with many facets. The V-Strom 800 is not a sharp sport machine, nor a hardcore offroad weapon, nor merely a prestige object. Yet, by no means is it a dull bread-and-butter bike either. Those seeking a motorcycle that can handle everything from morning city traffic to winding mountain roads and a cold finale at Coll de Pal will find a very well-rounded package in the Suzuki V-Strom 800. And that's precisely why it leaves a lasting positive impression.