800DE Price is out

[Dark-Strom]

Not a Honda lover but it would be the Transalp even though its got horrible spoke wheels but at least no beak or nostril or other gawd awful front appendage like other makes...

[Lincsman]

To be honest it looks like the bike has just been made and left out in the heat and everything just melted. It looks awful. Why put tubed tyres on a tourer, surely tubeless would have made more sense. Get a puncture on that and it's wait for the RAC to turn up, unless you're a dab hand and love the aggro that goes with inner tubes.

[crump]

I don't think it's being sold as a tourer is it?
More an out and out adventure bike, something to do your round the world trip on. Of course hardly anyone will use them for that, it's as much a fashion as anything.
Too many people (like me) watch too many YouTube videos such as Itchy Boots and Charly Sinewan and want to try and buy a bit of adventure. Of course it's too expensive, too tall, too heavy for any of that but it will still sell.

[Upt North]

When you're right Mr.Crump, you're right.
Upt'North.

[Lincsman]

I don't think it's being sold as a tourer is it?  More an out and out adventure bike

I think it's a bit of both.

[graingerblaze]

For anyone interested, Honda have announced the price of their new Transalp… £9.5k. That’s a grand less than the 800DE 

[Fat Rat]

And no daft beak 

[graingerblaze]

Just a quick price comparison done by Visordown 

[mr_diver]

and the Transalp is a Honda, so better!           
  

[The Doctor 46]

I don't feel sorry for people who put down a deposit on a bike they haven't even seen yet and then when they have it, complain that it's not what they expected. They pay for being "The Jones's" so that's their loss and the used markets gain.

[Brockett]

As with any comparison, spot the differences and apply values to each.
The first question should be, does this bike do what I want a bike to do?
Unfortunately the answer to that is mostly obscured by the rose tinted glasses and thick layers of journalistic hyperbole.  The answer will be revealed in two years.
As for prices IIRC the "new" and current large stroms were thought to be a bit too expensive when they were first put to the market.

[Dark-Strom]

On the Transalp,  quality has been reported as iffy on Honda bikes made in Thailand...but again suppose its how you look after a bike...
Think Mr.B has the right idea, hold judgement til you can see em in the flesh...

[mr_diver]

The early CB500's (new from 2013) were a bit patchy, but they were a budget bike, and usually used as commuters or by new riders who don't  look after them in the way someone who's looked after bikes before will.

The NC700 & 750 were built to a higher standard and hold up a bit better to commuting - but apparently the clutches don't last that long.

My 'onda is a Spanish one, the paint is thick and overall build quality is far superior to what is coming out of Thailand, but you just have to treat it like it is and look after the bloody thing!

[graingerblaze]

I'm sure the quality of all the bikes will be very good, and as said before if looked after will last years looking that way. I don't blame Suzuki charging more either, looking at inflation and the cost of steel and aluminium around the world it is inevitable new bikes will cost more... its just interesting how all these bikes compare cost wise. The Honda doesn't have adjustable suspension whereas the 800DE does, so you can see where some costs have come from. I just hope its a success for Suzuki, and when they reduce the price (as they usually do) it's to stimulate more sales not just to capture some.

At this price point, I would buy a second hand 1050 rather than a new bike 

[Tigerjohn]

On the Transalp,  quality has been reported as iffy on Honda bikes made in Thailand...

Eh? Surely, material specs and build quality will be subject to the same quality control standards as bikes built in Japan? I've never found an issue with my Thai-assembled Hondas and most Triumph owners seem content with their Thai built Triumphs. Christ, my old XSR was assembled in France but still didn't fall apart. And my Honda Jazz was built in Swindon FFS, but it's the most reliable car I've ever owned!

[Brockett]

A quick look at the specs shows the Honda has a bit more power but at another 1k further up the rev range. The Suzuki has a bit more torque 400rpm lower. The Suzuki is 5mm taller but 22 Kg heavier with a 20 litre fuel capacity as opposed to the Honda at 16 litres.
I see the Transalp as a solo rider, no luggage, occaisional unmade road bike whereas the Suzuki will be sometimes two up with some luggage and rarely used off road.  to be honest I have no idea where there are unmade roads around my part of the country.   I suspect those who desire a 'dual sport' bike for rides on desert roads will prefer the Transalp. I can't see it appealing to the folks who already have an F800 type bike.