April 2016

Pragmatic Adventure:
2016 Suzuki V-Strom XT ABS
Photos by Max Klein
If you’ve ever talked
to someone that
owns a V-Strom
sidecases, is just $8,499. That’s $1,900 less, in my garage to find the $5,500 buy-in for
650, you’ve almost certainly gotten an which will get you nice cases and crash a 1000 ADV, but Sam’s already started
earful of the “best bike ever” zealotry that protection of your choice, unless you like pawning his Furbee collection to fund his
the Wee inspires—so much so that riders the really expensive stuff—in which case, own XT. And here’s the thing, putting it
actually decided the 650 was better than you might be on a different bike, Boorman. into that context, $8,499 for the XT versus
the 1000. Seriously.
$13,999 for the ADV-Strom makes it sound
Coincidentally, and perhaps nonsensically
kinda stupid. Does the 1000 get you $5,500
We’ve put a lot of miles on the most recent (hey, we report, you decide or whatever),
more worth of fun? Maybe—but it doesn’t
1000cc Stroms, both the standard and the $1,900 is the difference between a KLR650
come with those sweetly spoked tubeless
ADV versions, and they’re both very good and the XT. Although the KLR mafia—
wheels, which serious adventurers know
bikes—good enough that we’d seriously basically the single-cylinder equivalent of
are critical to serious adventuring.
consider either one as an all-round single the ex-Strom-ists—would have you believe
bike solution, even over more expensive that a KLR is eminently more capable - Editor Surj
tall-rounders. Also seriously.
off-road, if we’re talking about adventure
touring, the reality is that the KLR ain’t so The Sensible Strom
hot when the going gets really dirty, and the
Strom gets you more capabilities all around
with just 42 more pounds of ass to haul
(curb weight: 473.9 versus 432 pounds).
Further reality check: you can actually
haul ass on a Strom, plus you get ABS and
6 speeds, which even the goddamn FJRs
have now.
We’ve also had our wandering adventurer
eyes on the XT, since Suzuki released it
in 2015 with crash bars, Suzuki-labeled
Trax aluminum cases, and tubeless
spoked wheels—but surprisingly no skid
plate to keep that oh-so-exposed oil filter
and exhaust combo protected from the
adventures such rigging is intended to
inspire. We never got to ride that bike,
though, and when the XT finally came
to us, it was in 2016 trim, in other words,
stripped down to the essentials.
We’re inclined to bitch about that, but
mostly because we’re just inclined to bitch
about stuff. Did we mention there’s no skid
plate on the 2016 XT either? No? We will.
But here’s the thing, going back to basics
on the XT saves some serious scratch. The
2015 was $10,399, while the 2016, sans
The long and the Strom of it: yeah, it’s nice
when bikes come with good luggage (and
that Trax stuff is good) from the git-go,
since then you don’t have to do the hard,
hard work of turning a few bolts to mount
it yourself. But even in its 2016 clearheels
form, the XT is a compelling bike, a
utilitarian tall-rounder.
Personally, I’d probably sell all my seldomridden
“extra bikes” like the cursed
Nineties 900SS (SS for Super Stationary)
April 2016 | 14 | CityBike.com
By Sam Devine
The first moment I realize that I like the
XT is changing lanes on 580 while heading
back into The City. I look over my shoulder,
noticing I have a nice, tall view of the
highway. I gas it, not expecting much, but
am surprised to find a power delivery that
my 175 pounds of bone, muscle and beer
fat can live with. This is the beginning of
an on-going argument between me and the
2016 V-Strom 650 XT about whether or
not I need to purchase a V-Strom 650.
While the ADV-Strom 1000 came with a
ton of accessories—crash bars, luggage,
plastic skid plate and dashboard power
outlet—the Wee XT comes bone stock
and farkle-free—just metallic black paint
and a windshield. Looking it over, tires
aside, the first accessory it needs is a skid
plate since the bike’s oil filter is perched
precariously close to the ground and near
the front wheel. It’s so fully exposed that
an enraged redneck would have fairly high
odds of picking it off with a target rifle from
100 yards. “Git off muh land!”
But this is a budget-savvy ADV bike and
it would be easy enough to pack a spare
oil filter until one saved up enough box
tops from Suzuki-Os for the mail-in Mr. T
skid plate offer. “I pity the fool who don’t
go motorcycle adventuring!” (That is not
a real thing. Please do not ask Suzuki or
Mr. T about breakfast cereal promotions.)
There also aren’t any saddlebags or luggage
included, but then, most people like to pick
out their own bags or already have their
own lying around. There’s always that
dusty set of leather saddlebags at the back
of the garage. They’d work for camping
trips until you save up for a set of locking
Touratech boxes.
The bike is just a little odd looking, in
a typical V-Strom way, but that could
be a selling point depending on your
personality. The front fender is built off
the cowling, extending in a beak-like
protrusion that evokes that spectacularly
eccentric muppet, Gonzo the Great.
“Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I will eat
this rubber tire to the music of the Flight of
the Bumblebee!”