Rally ready racer | SR75 World Team Suzuki create off-road ready race bike from V-Strom 800DE

Suzuki’s resident off-road racing team, SR75 World Team Suzuki, has created a one-off rally ready version of the V-Strom 800DE, reminiscent of the DR Big of old, which the team intends to race later this season. 

Taking the existing adventure platform, which the Japanese brand say is already the most off-road focused V-Strom ever, they have fitted an AS3 sump guard, a pair of full wrap-around handguards and bar risers – atop of which sits a set of RM-Z450 motocross bars. 

Whilst the 776cc parallel twin remains standard, the team have fitted an FMF titanium exhaust system for weight saving and a GP Grafix livery kit completes the factory look. 

Standard Showa suspension remains at both ends, although the team say they’ve not finished the project yet, so this is likely to be altered before the V-Strom’s racing debut. 

OEM spoked wheels have been replaced with stronger units from Envy, which bumps the rear wheel up to 18 inches from the standard 17 inch – although the front stays at 21 inches.  

The rear hoop is also down from the standard 4.5-inch width to a more off-road focused 2.15-inch. This opens up a world of dedicated enduro and rally rubber; Suzuki have opted to fit Dunlop D209RR tyres and puncture proof mousses. 

SR75 Suzuki team owner, Geoff Walker, commented, “This is really stage one of the build and we will make some more modifications before we go racing, but we think we’ve taken what was already a solid base package for an adventure bike you could hard ride off-road or into town for a coffee and turned it into a bike that can hold its own in a competitive rally.”