The price of progress
The V-Strom has been around for nearly 20 years, but does it add up?
Suzuki have a reputation for being ‘good value’, which they’ve earned over many years. But is the V-Strom good value, or is it just cheap? There’s a big difference. Suzuki will probably be very upset with me for saying this but in the grand scheme of things, the V-Strom hasn’t evolved that much since it was released as the DL1000 back in 2002. Sure it’s gained various bits and pieces over the years, and this iteration has made a big leap in the electronics department, but compared to how much a BMW GS has changed it’s nothing. Let me explain.
When the DL1000 launched in 2002 it had a 996cc V-twin, which produced 105bhp and 68lb.ft of torque. Fast forward nearly 20 years and the engine has grown by 41cc, gaining just one horsepower and just shy of six lb.ft of torque in the process. Of course, the emissions have reduced considerably in that time and the MPG has also improved but the wet weight has gone up by 12kg. So how does that compare to the aforementioned GS? Back in 2002 the R1150GS was the machine on offer (originally released in 1999), powered by an 1130cc flat twin that produced 83bhp and 75lb.ft. Compare that to the R1250GS, which now manages an impressive 134bhp and 106lb.ft from its 1254cc. Wet weight has, astonishingly, remained exactly the same. “Ah, but the V-Strom 1050XT is much cheaper,” you might say – and yes, you’re right. It starts from £11,559 to the BMW’s £13,705, although for that price the BMW comes with a full-colour TFT screen with smartphone connectivity as well as all the electronics of the V-Strom bar cruise control. So, if they’re electronically matched (pretty much), what your extra £2146 gets you is 20 year’s worth of power and torque improvements. That must mean the V-Strom is better value then. Surely if the BMW and V-Strom have electronically advanced near enough on par but Suzuki haven’t boosted the engines output it should be better value than its 2002 counterpart?
Not quite. An 1150GS would have cost you £7595 in 2002, which is £12,635 in today’s money, while a V-Strom would have cost you £7350, which is £12,227 today.
One bike has boosted its power by over 50% and torque by 30% and gained a heap of electronics for just £1100 more. The other has remained static and gained most of the same electronics, albeit for £660 less. I know where I’d put my money.