Dirt and Trail July 2020

oasts 15 litres, Suzuki gives you
an extra 5) and average modern
consumption of just over 4 litres
per 100KM’s means that you get
good range between tanks. They
are supremely comfortable for
long distance or that epic road
trip – and they are a helluva lot
less intimidating than the super
adventures that are available on
the market.
So – what does this all boil
down to in the real world?
We rode both bikes equally and in
the same terrain – and guess what?
They were both really, really good.
Whilst we do enjoy the BMW’s
electronics – and without boring
you – it all works really well, we do
find it all a bit distracting.
The ‘Strom is more of a get
up and go kind of bike, there is
nothing complicated about it.
Physically, the BMW feels a
little bit bigger than the Strom, the
Suzuki feels quite small and nimble
by comparison. For a day to day
bike, a smaller machine like one
of these makes more sense than
many of the hyper adventures on
the market.
This is the fun part – which
would we buy?
If you are thinking with your wallet
– then Hands down, at 130 odd
k, the V-Stom represents some of
the best value for money on the
planet. But the lack of modern
tech might just become an issue.
If you have to have the latest
and greatest tech –and you are
looking for a really smooth ride –
then the R149 odd k Beemer is for
you. All of the technology explains
the higher price tag.
But either way – both of these
bikes prove that you do not need
a Hyper adventure in order to do
everything that you want to do.
You need to ride them both and
make up your own mind – they are
both excellent, fun to ride options.
The BMW came from Clearwater
BMW (Thank you guys!) From R
148850.00 (011) 761-3500
The Suzuki came from Suzuki
South Africa. Around R130.000
www.suzukisa.co.za
This is why we ride
motorcycles...
Ergonomics and electronics:
If we were to explain the
differences in ergonomics, you
seem to sit in the Suzuki – and
on the Beemer. Both bikes are
really comfy both for pillion and
for rider. The Suzuki has a slightly
lower stance so it’s easier to get
your foot onto the ground.
In terms of build quality – both
are as expected, but the BMW
definitely has a more modern
appeal. The most notable
difference is BMW’s state of the art
TFT display, while Suzuki has kept
their digital/analogue setup for
now. We like old school – because
we are just like that, but people
who want the latest and greatest
might prefer the latest TFT tech.
BMW also wins in the
electronics fight hands down.
They give you a smorgasbord of
standard features:
• BMW Motorrad ABS
• ASC (Automatic Stability
Control)
• Driving Modes Rain / Road
• Board computer Pro
• LED rear light
• Power socket 12 V
• Adjustable brake and clutch
levers
Suzuki gives you ABS and two
channel traction control, RPM
assist.
Suzuki’s Easy Start System is
cool—just stab the button, and the
engine fires up. You don’t have to
hold it in until the twin spark-plugs
in the heads light up. Also, the
Suzuki Low RPM Assist function
makes an accidental stall of takeoff
less likely by automatically
raising the revs from idle as the
clutch is released. That’s it. We
love the simplicity.
The BMW has a teeny tiny
screen, but it is a designed work
of art and offers huge protection
on the road. The V-Stroms is
notably larger and is adjustable.
The V-Strom has a bash plate and
brush guards, the Beemer has
brush guards.
Both bikes are fast enough
to keep you ahead of any car,
comfortably hitting close to the
200KPH odd top speeds. They can
happily sustain touring speeds
around the 160 mark all day long.
The large fuel tanks (The Beemer
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