Suzuki V-Strom 800RE Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule for the Suzuki V-Strom 800RE, Suzuki’s standard middleweight road-oriented adventure bike. The below is sourced from the owner’s manual and cross-referenced with other parts sources from the web. You can see screenshots from the owner’s manual at the end of this document for reference.
The Suzuki V-Strom 800RE is sometimes (including in the owner’s manual) just called the “V-Strom 800”, with the adventure model called the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE. But to ensure we’re explicitly referencing the road-going version — which has some different maintenance specs — we’ll always call it the V-Strom 800RE.
The Suzuki V-Strom 800RE is a road-going version of the V-Strom 800DE, which Suzuki released the year prior. Both are models for Suzuki, co-existing with the third-gen Suzuki V-Strom 650 for now, though it seems that that model’s days are numbered.
Unlike past V-Stroms (but similar to occasional small-displacement models), the V-Strom 800RE is powered by a parallel twin motor. But similar to other V-Stroms, the RE has a 19-inch front wheel and cast rims, making it more of a road-going motorcycle.
The core of the V-Strom 800RE is the same as that of the DE, a liquid-cooled 776cc DOHC parallel twin-cylinder motor with four valves per cylinder. It makes 62 kW / 84 hp at 8500 rpm under EURO 5 trim.
The Suzuki V-Strom 800RE is co-released with the Suzuki GSX-8R, a fairing-clad sportbike that goes along with the Suzuki GSX-8S. This makes four motorcycles with the Suzuki 776 cc engine.
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Suzuki V-Strom 800RE Service Intervals
Overall, like other liquid-cooled Suzuki motorcycles, the Suzuki V-Strom 800RE has 3750 mile / 6000 km or annual service intervals. At every service, change the oil, inspect or replace the spark plugs, inspect / replace the air filter, and do a host of other checks.
The major valve service interval for the V-Strom 800RE is every 15000 miles / 24000 km.
The V-Strom 800RE has a cable clutch, so keep the cable lubricated, and periodically change the brake fluid.
And of course, make sure you change the coolant periodically too — more often if you use anything other than Suzuki super long-life coolant (blue).
Suzuki V-Strom 800RE Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the V-Strom 800RE. Keep following it every 3750 miles / 6000 km or year.
| mi x 1000 | 0.6 | 3.75 | 7.5 | 11.25 | 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | Every |
| Standard annual inspection checklist (see below) – Perform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil – Change (Recommended 10W-40 engine oil of JASO MA / API SJ or better equivalent) Tighten drain plug to 23 Nm / 17 lb-ft | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil filter – Change Tighten filter to 20 Nm / 15 lb-ft | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Air filter (polyester foam type) – Clean | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Air filter (non-woven type) – Inspect | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Air filter (non-woven type) – Replace | ✓ | |||||
| Spark plugs – Inspect | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Spark plugs – Change (NGK LMAR8BI-9) | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Steering – Check for smooth operation and adjust as necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Front fork – Check for smooth operation, no leaks | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Rear suspension – Check for smooth operation, no leaks | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Coolant (Suzuki super long-life coolant, or an alternative) | ✓ | 4 years | ||||
| Brake fluid – Replace (Castrol DOT 4) | 2 years | |||||
| Brake hoses – Replace | 4 years | |||||
| Throttle valve sync – Inspect / Adjust | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| PAIR (air supply system) – Inspect | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Evap emission control system – Inspect | ✓ | ✓ |
V-Strom 800RE Annual Inspection Checklist
Below is the annual inspection checklist for the V-Strom 800RE.
| V-Strom 800 RE Annual Inspection Checklist |
|---|
| Fuel hoses – Inspect condition and routing |
| Radiator hoses – Inspect condition and routing |
| Clutch – Check function, adjust play. Lubricate cable as necessary |
| Brake fluid – Inspect level; top up as necessary |
| Brake hoses – Inspect condition |
| Drive chain – Inspect |
| Drive chain – Clean / lubricate Perform every 1000 km / 600 mi |
| Lights and electrical equipment – Check function |
| Tires – Inspect condition and pressure |
| Chassis bolts and nuts – Inspect / Tighten |
| General lubrication – Perform Perform every 1000 km / 600 mi |
Maintaining your Chain on your Suzuki V-Strom 800RE
Maintain your V-Strom’s chain regularly. This is especially important if you ride your V-Strom 800DE on dirt roads, where the chain can get a bit more abuse.
Either use a good-quality (and affordable) chain lube like Motul Chain Paste, or use a full-on Motul Chain Care Kit to clean and restore a chain.
Suzuki recommends that you maintain your chain according to the following schedule.
| Chain maintenance item | Every |
|---|---|
| Check chain * Correct tension/slack (see below for checks) * Adequate lubrication * No excessive wear/damage | Ride (pre-ride check) |
| Clean and lubricate chain | 1000 km / 600 miles |
Damage includes loose pins, damaged rollers, dry or rusted links, kinked or binding links, excessive wear, and improper adjustment.
Measuring and adjusting Chain Slack
The 800RE’s chain slack spec is different from that of the 800DE.
For Suzuki, chain slack is defined as the free play of the chain (the bottom segment) at its loosest point. To measure chain slack:
- Put your bike in neutral and on its kickstand on a level surface with no load on it (no luggage / heavy accessories)
- Use a steel ruler and optionally gloves or a rag to move the chain up and down at the middle part of the bottom chain segment. Measure the deflection.
- Check chain slack at multiple points, moving the bike forwards or backwards.
Target chain slack for the V-Strom 800RE (note: different from that of the V-Strom 800DE): 25-35 mm or 1.0-1.4 inches
If the chain slack is out of spec, you need to adjust it.
Adjusting chain slack
This is the procedure to adjust chain slack on the V-Strom 800RE. The torque specs for the parts to tighten are below, too.
- Loosen the axle nut.
- Loosen the lock nuts on the left and right.
- Turn the adjuster bolts until you reach the target slack level.
- Make sure you keep the chain aligned, using the reference marks on both sides of the axle.
- Tighten the axle nut (torque: 74 lb-ft or 100 Nm)
- Re-check the slack to make sure it’s still right.
- Tighten the adjuster lock nuts (22 Nm / 17 lb-ft)
Wheels and Tires for the V-Strom 800RE
The Suzuki V-Strom 800RE ships with Dunlop D614 tires on cast rims.
In contrast with its DE sibling, the tires are tubeless — the V-Strom 800DE’s wheels have inner tubes.
Below are the tire sizes and recommended pressures.
| Wheel | Tire size | Tire pressure (cold) (Solo) | Tire pressure (cold) (Full load) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front | 110/80R19 M/C 59V | 225 kPa / 2.25 bar / 33 psi | 225-250 kPa / 2.25-2.5 bar / 33-36 psi |
| Rear | 150/70R17 M/C 69V | 290 kPa / 2.9 bar / 42 psi | 250-290 kPa / 2.5-2.9 bar / 36-42 psi |
The quoted tire pressures are dependent on load (two-up, with luggage etc.). Adjust the tire pressures to suit your riding style and conditions.
About the Suzuki V-Strom 800RE
The Suzuki V-Strom 800RE is the road-going V-Strom, with different wheels, suspension, and features from the V-Strom 800DE.
The V-Strom 800RE replaces the standard V-Strom 650. Suzuki actually calls the new motorcycle just the “Suzuki V-Strom 800”. If in doubt, look for cast wheels and a less adventurous stance than the RE, plus different colour schemes, if you’re familiar with them.
Here’s what they look like, side by side:
For decades, the Suzuki V-Strom 650 was the underdog of the adventure motorcycle market, the “if you know, you know” secret bike. It wasn’t an off-road bike, but it could handle going off-road. It wasn’t intended to be a distance bike, but in the earlier years, many liked the “Wee-Strom” more than its bigger sibling, the earlier-generation V-Strom 1000.
The first V-Strom 650 came after the first Suzuki SV650 naked sport bike. But as time went on, they just began to co-exist in the same line-up of motorcycles. The V-Strom 800DE was released at the same time as the revised GSX-8S naked sport bike.
The engine in the Suzuki V-Strom 800RE is the same as the DE – a 776cc liquid-cooled parallel twin. It is a fairly long-stroke engine and has a compression ratio of 12.8:1, which is partly why the 800 motorcycles need premium fuel (Pump octane 90 with the North American (R+M)/2 method, which equates to 95 RON/ROZ).
Originally, “V” in “V-Strom” meant a V-shaped engine, like as in “V-twin”. But there have been V-Stroms with other engine formats. The Suzuki V-Strom 250 had a parallel twin. And the newer V-Strom 250SX has a single-cylinder engine.
But one difference between the V-Strom 800’s engine and that of the V-Strom 250’s block is that the V-Strom 800 has a 270-degree crankshaft. This has some traction advantages, but most notably for many users of road motorcycles, it gives the engine a bit of a burble and crackle that you might think of as “character”.
Being a parallel twin has one distinct advantage when it comes to doing service: Access! There’s only one cylinder head to remove when you have to get to the camshafts and valves for the major service.
The Suzuki V-Strom 800RE comes with ride-by-wire, which means that the V-Strom 800RE has power modes on top of ABS and TC. Unfortunately, there’s no IMU or cruise control.
And naturally, along with many other new motorcycles being released, the V-Strom 800RE has a 5-inch colour TFT display.
If you’re wondering how it’s different from the V-Strom 800DE, here are the specifics. The engine and chassis are the same.
| Item | 800RE (Road) | 800DE (Adventure) |
|---|---|---|
| Front suspension | Showa SFF-BP, preload adjustable | Showa SFF-BP USD, adjustable |
| Rear suspension | Showa monoshock, preload (remote) and rebound adjustable | Showa monoshock, fully adjustable |
| Front suspension travel | 150mm | 220 mm |
| Rear suspension travel | 150 mm | 220 mm |
| Front brakes | 2 x 310 mm discs, Nissin radial four-piston calipers | 2 x 310 mm discs, Nissinaxial two-piston calipers |
| Front wheel / tyre | -19 | Spoked 90/90-21, tubed |
| Rear wheel / tyre | -17 | Spoked 150/70-17, tubed |
| Ride modes | ABS, TC, Ride modes | Same plus off-road modes, can disable rear ABS |
| Weight | 223 kg / 492 lb | 230 kg / 507 lb |
Even though some might write off the V-Strom 800RE as being a lower-spec adventure motorcycle, there are lots of benefits to the configuration for people who spend most of their time on road.
The smaller front wheel and lower suspension actually means that the RE is a quicker-handling bike on road surfaces. It has easier turn-in and more predictability when decelerating and accelerating out of corners. Most motorcycles with large front wheels suffer a bit in these scenarios; the 19-inch wheel on the RE solves this.
The lower suspension leads to a lower ride height, too — a frequent bugbear of people of shorter stature looking at adventure motorcycles.
And the brakes are actually higher spec than that of the DE, with four-piston callipers that are on Suzuki’s mid-range sport bikes. Combined with a slightly lower weight and less likelihood that you’ll be packing your entire life onto the back, the RE has a more engaging ride on the road.
Of course, if you think you’ll be spending any significant time off-road, the DE is your bike. Spoked rims and ABS that can be disabled say it all. But neither motorcycle comes with cruise control, sadly.
Reference — Screenshots from the Manual for the Suzuki V-Strom 800RE
Below are some reference screenshots from the Suzuki V-Strom 800RE’s owner’s manual.
As usual, you can download the full manual for the Suzuki V-Strom 800 directly from Suzuki’s website here. From 2024, the Suzuki V-Strom 800RE and V-Strom 800DE share the same manual, but some specific parts items only apply to each motorcycle due to different specs.
