03/06/2026
GO BIG OR GO HOME đȘ
That is what Suzuki must have thought, when designing the Suzuki DR800S. Born from the brandâs ambitions regarding the Paris-Dakar rally, it went down in the history books as the largest production single-cylinder engine ever for quite some time. No surprise its nickname became âDR Bigâ.
Its predecessor was released in 1988, being the Suzuki DR750S. With a radical 727cc single-cylinder engine, that was already a huge dual sport bike. The DR750S, with its high-mounted front fender, aggressive styling, and great offroad capabilities became a hit right from the get go.
But that wasnât enough for Suzuki. So in 1990, they bored out the engine to a whopping 779cc, creating âDR Bigâ. It generated impressive low-end torque. It inherited the iconic high-mounted front fender - also known as a âduckbillâ - and had a 29-liter fuel tank. Speaking about proper transcontinental range!
You could go on for miles with the Suzuki DR800S, both on road and off-road. The 1991-version got a slightly smaller fuel tank, since the brand recognized the 29-liter version was a bit bulky for offroading. 1992, the motorbike got a complete overhaul, and eventually production stopped in 2000.
Until today, the Suzuki DR Big still has a strong fan base, thanks to its unapologetic looks, its iconic bulkiness and well.. who doesnât love a great dose of torque.