Dirt ad Trail Online Nov 2020

The New Suzuki V-Strom 1050.
We are going to start this feature by
telling you that you NEED to go and ride
this bike. It’s a helluva lot of bike for your
money…
Here is a history lesson for you: Suzuki
introduced the first-generation DL1000
V-Strom in 2002. This was before the
term adventure bike was even really
coined. When it launched the DL1000
V-Strom, Suzuki became the first Japanese
manufacturer to offer a big adventure
bike and its domestic competitors
effectively stayed on the sidelines until
Yamaha introduced the Super Ténéré for
2012.Our editor has a copy of Bike-SA
where he wrote that this style of bike was
going to be massive…
Suzuki DL1050 XT
At that time – superbikes were everything
and the comment was met with quiet sniggering.
Look around you now. In 18 years,
the ADV-touring segment has exploded in
popularity with more focused subcategories
and, of course, higher price tags
Fast forward to 2020.If it aint broke don’t
fix it!
The V-Strom is only now in its third generation
and yet its chassis and 1,037cc
90-degree V-twin engine are little changed.
A new design direction by Ichiro Miyata
looks contemporary and fresh, inspired by
the classic Suzuki DR Big, a single-cylinder
dual sport designed by the same man way
back in 1988. The restyle gives the V-Strom
a presence the previous generations more
conservative looks could never command.
The 2020 V-Strom’s new 1050 XT designation
is a displacement boost in name
only, as bore and stroke figures remain
unchanged. Compensating for power-sapping
Euro 5 compliance, Suzuki boosted
horsepower by about six ponies by using
new pistons, larger bore throttle bodies,
and a camshaft with revised cam profiles
that decreases valve overlap and increases
valve lift. Suzuki claims 106 hp and 74
pound-feet of torque. It’s all about its easy,
willing, even-handed delivery, exactly what
you want on any ADV machine.
KYB forks and rear shock have new
internals, which give the 1050XT a tauter,
plusher feel compared to the old bike.
43mm upside-down fork and rebound- and
(remote) preload-adjustable link-type rear
shock, both with 6.3 inches of travel, as
before, though damping is softer in the front
and stiffer in the rear. It’s not a massive
change, but does feel slightly firmer. The
Tokico monobloc brakes easily cope with
the XT’s 247kg, the cornering/combined
ABS now has two modes, offering more, or
less intervention, but it cannot be turned off.
The XT comes with new ride-by-wire tech
and rider aids, tubeless spoked wheels, a
centerstand, crash guards, a hand-adjustable
windscreen, lightweight brush guards,
and cruise control. The addition of a Bosch
six-axis IMU provides a modern suite of
rider aids, including two-level cornering
ABS, three-level traction control (plus off),
Hill Hold Control, Slope Dependent Control,
and Load Dependent Control. A new ECU
operates a ride-by-wire system with three
rider modes.
All as standard.
The bike is big, bold and comfortable –
without having a massive bike feel to it. Relation
from the bars to bum to (New, Wider)
pegs is totally natural and comfortable.
One thing that every commented on is how
narrow the tapered standard bars feel. This
is not an issue – merely an observation.
The XT’s new windscreen deflects air
well and is height adjustable over a
two-inch range, but because the quick-release
lever is on the lower front of the
windscreen, just above the headlight,
adjustments must be made while the bike
is parked. Behind the windscreen is an
accessory bar that’s ideal for mounting a
smartphone or GPS, and there’s a new
USB outlet on the left side of the dash
(there’s also an SAE 12V socket under
the seat). The new seat is comfortable
and height adjustable (33.5/34.3 inches),
but the adjustment process requires
swapping out bolts under the seat using
the wrench in the toolkit. The brake lever,
clutch lever, shifter and rear brake pedal
are all adjustable, so riders should have
little difficulty dialing in the V-Strom to suit
their preferences.
What has made the V-Strom 1000 a firm
favorite over the years is its user-friendliness.
It has always been an approachable,
versatile, dependable motorcycle
that’s easy to ride and free of quirks. With
its new electronics, the V-Strom 1050XT
is the most technologically advanced
V-Strom to date but it retains its friendly
personality. From seating comfort and
wind protection to throttle response,
engine performance and handling, the
V-Strom 1050XT is just so well rounded
and fun to ride.
What was once a fun and competent but
rather basic adventure touring motorcycle
has become sophisticated and
refined. The V-Strom 1050XT offers more
versatility and more touring features while
retaining the fun, go-anywhere spirit of
the original.
Kurt Says: The new Suzuki 1050 V
-Strom impressed me no end, it was the
last bike in the row for me to ride,
and I had a hard time giving it to someone
else. I never liked its predecessor,
but the all-new 1050 is incredible, with
the headlight and front mudguard very
reminiscent of the age old DR 800 BIG.
The 1050 is amazing all round, very
stable on dirt, ample power on tar, very
comfortable, the only fault I could find
was wind protection at speed, although
only after I gave it to someone else did I
realize the screen could adjusted higher,
with an extremely simple locking system.
If I was looking for a Cape to Cairo bike
the 1050 would be right up there. It was
economical, had a comfortable saddle,
fairly easy to read dash, straight forward
handlebar controls, overall a very cool
bike!
Donovan Says: The apt word to describe
the V-Strom is Lovely. It’s a word
a mother uses to describe her son’s new
girlfriend. It’s mother-code for: “you better
bloody-well marry this one and not take
back that b**** ex of yours!”
The V-Strom is a machine that ticks every
single box – a motor that’s perky yet useable,
a chassis that is light and steady,
comfort for days, enough electronics to
keep it from falling off cliffs and a price
tag that says “is it” to everything else on
this test.
And it has looks from the days when
Dakar racing machines were built hardy
and rough, a claim modern Dakar racers
will dispute with a litany of case busting
facts and figures but we shall pursue this
line of thought nonetheless.
The V-Strom is a machine any rider could
enjoy every single day in nearly every
circumstance.
And mother always knows best.
Debbie Says: I started out on her. A lovely
stable solid, reliable ride. Comfortable.
Easy to negotiate through the traffic.
So, we find our first dirt track… for me
it was don’t drop this girl, I mean how
embarrassing would that be amongst the
Big Boys…!! She negotiated well and
swallowed up the road with solid determination.
I did not find her heavy at all. A
lovely all-round bike.
Kyle says: I have always had a soft
spot for the V-Strom and I am always
astonished that there are not a lot more
of them running around. This bike should
be a best seller. It is one of my absolute
favorite bikes. It just does everything so
well. The kind of bike that you can do
anything on without any fuss.
Glenn Say: I have always really enjoyed
the ‘Stroms – however… I referred the
650 to the old 1000. The 1050 really is a
breath of fresh air and I think that it is a
brilliant, comfortable, practical machine.
Oh yes – I love the Dr Big styling too. My
eyes keep getting drawn to the prices –
and in my head, the big Suzuki represents
great value for money. We need
to get one for a good long trip across
Lesotho soon…
Sean says:
I really do not understand the South
African biking public. Maybe everybody is
trying to over compensate for something
and … judging by the amount of Ford
Rangers out there with ox wagon wheels,
bonnet scoops and ‘Raptor’ sticker kits
out there I am pretty convinced that that
is the case.
If the SA biking public was as serious
about biking as they were about the
image they portrayed there would be a lot
more of these Suzuki DL 1050’s on the
road and trails. Check out this month’s
centrespread, that’s our Kyle Lawrenson
catching some ‘Big Air’ on the boss of
Suzuki Bikes SA personal 1050 XT.
Yes, it is only a 1050cc, not a 1200, 1250
0r 1290cc, but it packs a pretty mean kick
off the line and easily runs over 200kmh.
Yes it doesn’t have a power shifter or
some of the electronic gadgets that the
other bikes have, but it also doesn’t have
their price tag. The new V-Strom brilliant
off road, excellent on the tar … even two
up with luggage it can accelerate from
120kmh to well over 180kmh when overtaking
a long line of traffic and no real
gap to do it in quite safely and quickly.
It is also nice and narrow, so squeezing
through almost non-existent gaps in traffic,
between trees and rocks or down narrow
gulley’s is a breeze. Similar ground
clearance to most adventure bikes means
it can traverse mostly anything any other
bike can.
Just outside the town of Magaliesberg, I
followed a goat track into a ravine which
eventually faded into dense riverine bush
and I had to blaze a new trail through
virgin bush over rocks and anthills up the
side to get out… No problem for the DL
1050, not once did I feel that the Suz was
not up to the task. In fact, all the other
riders were a little dumbstruck at where
we, (the DL and I), emerged from.
So do me a favour, ignore that loud
mouth tjommie leaning against the bar
or around the braai fire, ignore all the
keyboard ninja’s who spend more time
on their keyboards than on their bikes, (if
they even have a bike), ignore the paid
brand ambassadors and go spend a day
or two on the new DL 1050 XT V-Strom,
then make an informed decision.