Suzuki V-Strom 1050/1050 XT

Suzuki’s venerable 1,000cc adventure bike has long been a bit of a dark horse in this class. Okay, it’s not got the profile and high tech of something like the BMW R1200GS, and it’s down on sportsbike-style performance compared with Ducati’s Multistrada. But with a decent rideaway price, a definite dose of heritage thanks to its TL1000based motor and stolid styling, it’s ploughed its own furrow with some success.

It’s not been quite as strong sales wise as its smaller 650 sibling though, but remains a firm favourite with Suzuki fans. Nevertheless, it’s a little overdue for an upgrade, and the 2020 mods will help shift it closer to the showy class leaders.

The engine’s not had an enormous upgrade, but there’s seven per cent more power and Euro5 emissions compliance, thanks to bigger throttle bodies, higher lift cams with less overlap, and ramped up catalysts. The capacity is unchanged, so the new 1050 moniker is a bit of a cheat, but 1,037cc is indeed nearer 1050 than 1000, so fair play, we guess…

The main update is in a new two-model strategy. The higher-spec XT version gets a healthy boost to its electronics package, with cruise control, hill start, rider power modes and a smarter switchable ABS set up. It also comes with tubeless spoked rims, centre stand, handguards and engine bars, all as standard.

The new base model V-Strom 1050 comes with more roadbiased cast wheels, and a lower spec electronics suite, losing the cruise control and swapping the clever hill start ABS set up and three-way traction control for more basic systems.

It also comes without the centre stand, engine bars and handguards, giving a cheaper, simpler way into the V-Strom 1050 range.

It’s a testament to the strength of the original TL1000 engine design that we’re still seeing it in a new model in 2020, of course, but Suzuki probably needs to get on with some new motor designs. And at the show, they announced that they’ll have 10 all-new models launching over the next five years.

Good news for sure.