They are the two most adventure ready Suzuki V-Stroms ever made but which is best, and which one is most deserving of your hard-earned cash: the mid-weight V-Strom 800DE, or Suzuki's flagship adventure bike the V-Strom 1050DE?

To find out, James and Billy packed up their motorcycle luggage and headed into deepest, darkest Wales to ride a two-day route we've called The Spine of the Dragon.

The aim was to get as remote and wild as possible while sticking mostly to the tarmac through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the UK. As weekend motorcycle adventures go, it was up there with the best.

The incredible journey saw the boys exploring the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, which included riding the highest road in Wales, the Gospel Pass.

They then journeyed through Mid Wales, travelling deep into the Elan Valley and crossing the Cambrian mountains, before riding with fighter jets through the Mach Loop. They finished their journey in the shadow of the highest mountain in Wales, Snowdon, in Eryri National Park.

The aim of the route was to test the two adventure bikes on the type of weekend tour many of us here in the UK find ourselves doing, which included dabbling in a little trail riding action alongside the Claerwen Reservoir, one of ABR's favourite big bike friendly green lanes in Wales.

Both motorcycles were loaded with a full set of aluminium luggage. The V-Strom 800 sported Dunlop Trailmax Raid 50/50 adventure tyres, while the V-Strom 1050 was clad in Dunlop Trailmax Meridian sport touring rubber.

Apart from that, the adventure bikes were in the same state they were in when they rolled off the production. So which V-Strom performed best, the 800DE or the 1050DE? Which adventure bike was happiest carving along sweeping mountain roads? Which felt the most balanced and agile on nadgery country lanes? And which was most at home soaking up the rocks and ruts off road?

Before you watch, here's a list of the kit James and Bill wore during their ride along The Spine of the Dragon.

James
Helmet: Schuberth E2
Jacket: Rukka Kingsley
Trousers: Halvarssons Nyberg Jeans
Boots: Daytona Road Star Pro GTX
Gloves: Bartlett GTX Glove

Billy Helmet: Schuberth C5
Jacket: Halvarssons Vansbro
Trousers: Halvarssons Malung Boots: Falco Avantour 2
Gloves: Halvarssons Flon

You can find out more about the gear at bikerheadz.co.uk/

You can find out more about the V-Strom 1050DE at bikes.suzuki.co.uk/bikes/adventure/v-strom-1050de/…

And you can find out more about the V-Strom 800DE at bikes.suzuki.co.uk/bikes/adventure/v-strom-800de/?…

You can find out more about the Dunlop tyres James and Bill used at www.dunlop.eu/en_gb/motorcycle/tires/adventure-tra…