Dirt & Trail Aug2020

A new LCD
dash brings the
V-Strom 1050’s
dash into the
modern era.
The 2020
V-Strom 1050
engine puts out
an additional 6
horsepower.
for 2020, though, with a power
increase from 100 horsepower
to 106 horsepower thanks to
new electronic throttles, higher
compression pistons, and revised
cam profiles that increase lift and
reduce overlap. As a result the
V-Strom 1050 now meets the latest
Euro5 emissions limits. When we
posted a pic of the bike – everyone
commented on the big black
pipe. Flip guys, emission laws are
proving to be challenging… stock
pipes are getting larger in order to
pass.
Don’t tell anyone we told you,
but most shops will gladly offer
a prettier tailpipe and get rid of
all the catalytic convertors and
things. We do need to say – that
yes the pipe is bulky – but in stock
trim, the bike sounds great!
Seating is comfy and the bike
has a fairly aggressive stance but
engineers have really gone to
town on making it comfortable.
Everything fits hands and body
just right.
Although the Strom does not
have a fancy TFT display in the
cockpit, the circular digital display
is simple and easy to read. As
well as speed and revs it tells you
gear position, fuel consumption,
range and traction control mode.
We simple oakes like, but we do
wonder why Suzuki did not join
the mass market with Blue tooth
integration.
Controls and mode switching
and all that stuff is pretty simple.
The XT’s electronics include
a hill-hold system and rear
wheel lift control, as well as a
combined brake system that
automatically applies a level of
rear brake pressure when you
apply the Tokico Monoblock front
stoppers. The level of rear brake
is automatically adjusted to suit
the bike’s load. The brakes on this
bike are quite simply outstanding.
Standard features include cruise
control, a center stand as well as
a 12V under-seat electrical outlet
to accompany the instrumentmounted
USB charger that’s fitted
to all 2020 V-Strom 1050s.We used
the charger when the phone ran
down and we needed to use maps.
It’s pretty handy on any bike.
Underneath all the 2020
updates, the bones of the V-Strom
are still familiar. The aluminum
frame is the same as the previous
model, and key geometry
including the 61.2-inch (1,555mm)
wheelbase is unchanged. Curb
weight rises a fraction, the XT
weighs in at 247kg’s. Wire tubeless
wheels are fitted front and rear
and we saw 300Km’s on the 20 litre
tank.
Séan says …
I have ridden and owned many
bikes and many of them have been
Suzuki’s. For a long while, my Mrs
owned a Suzuki DR 750 BIG, also
known as the DR BIG or ‘Dr.Big’ -
and I think I actually rode that bike
more than she did. At the time I
was on a Kawasaki GPZ 1100 B1
Eddie Lawson Replica which was
a great bike but not very good off
road and I really started getting
into ‘Adventure Riding’. I used to
ride the DR BIG to work and back
-It was tall, comfortable, nimble,
quick off the mark, light on fuel
and the huge double fuel tanks
gave it amazing road presence.
So, besides being a great
adventure bike it was also perfect
for commuting. Then came along
the DR 800 BIG and both my
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