Title: 5 reasons why the Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT could be the most affordable large adventure bike
Sourced From: advwisdom.com/a/5-reasons-why-the-suzuki-v-strom-1050xt-could-be-the-most-affordable-large-adventure-bike/
Published Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2021 14:22:46 +0000
Although we ride and write about bikes week after week, the excitement of a new bike arriving at the ABR offices never fades. As soon as we hear the unmistakable growl of an approaching exhaust, we keep jumping up from our desks and outside to discuss the bike in detail.
Some keep us busy longer than we’d like to admit, others aren’t quite as beguiling, but one bike in particular caused a stir last week.
It has been ridden by longtime APR Contributor Dave, of “Ask Dave” fame. He showed up early one morning on his brand new Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT, a surprise since the last time we’d seen him he owned two BMWs. Like a proud new father, he told us about the shiny bike that stood in front of us and the reasons why he had given up both his F 800 GS and R 1200 GS for it.
After Dave set out to scrub in the new rubber on the Cotswolds roads, APR Editor James and I went inside where talks about the new V-Strom were in full swing.
We both spent time with the V-Strom, James im international introduction, and the two of us on the long-term review bike we had in the garage in 2020. We agreed that while the V-Strom didn’t generate the hype and headlines that other big adventure bikes make, it may be the cheapest “big” adventure bike out there for potential buyers hitting showrooms this summer -Bike.
To give the loyal V-Strom the recognition it deserves, here are five reasons we think it might well be the case.
How much?
I’ll start the five reasons with the most obvious of them all, price. Suzuki has long been known for making bikes at competitive prices and the V-Strom 1050XT is no different.
It’s available for less than £ 12,000, a relative bargain for the premium V-Strom range, especially when you look sideways at some of its competitors in the market (think the Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports from £ 14,649 , or the R 1250 GS Adventure from € 14.90).
For your money, you get spoked wheels as standard, a full range of electronic driving aids (we’ll get into that in a moment), crash bars, hand guards, an adjustable screen and seat, and a main stand.
In addition, the V-Strom 1050XT and 1050XT Tour are both available as part Suzuki’s summer savings offer Offer, with financing offers and the option to pocket £ 500 on Genuine Suzuki accessories to get your bike ready for your next tour. What else do you get for your hard earned money?
Performance on the road
A competitive price would be nothing without the associated performance, and luckily the V-Strom 1050XT delivers thrills and excitement from the saddle.
The 1,037 cc V-Twin develops 105 hp, more than enough to effortlessly cruise and overtake at highway speeds. It’s also high-torque across the rev range and can pull you, your luggage, and a passenger up steep mountain passes with ease, no matter what gear you’re in.
However, performance is not everything, and one of the great things about the V-Strom is its handling.
It feels nimble and agile on mountain passes and the general consensus at the ABR HQ from all of us who have ridden it is that the 1050XT feels lighter than the 247kg wet weight suggests.
V-Strom 1050XT: Suitable for tours
There are few things we enjoy more than traveling on two wheels and the V-Strom 1050XT is a more than capable partner for a weekend in Wales, two weeks in the Alps or even an RTW trip.
Life in the saddle is comfortable over long distances. The well-padded seat and adjustable windshield make all-day driving a pleasure, the 20-liter fuel tank will keep you over 200 miles between refueling, and the standard cruise control ensures long stints with French toll roads being a little easier on Wrist.
With wide handles and a soft perch for the pillion passenger, there is also plenty of space for a pillion passenger if you are traveling as a couple.
If you want to take the new V-Strom with you on your next tour, Suzuki is also currently offering £ 500 off accessories when you buy this summer. Take a look at the offer here.
Technology, technology and even more technology
While some might argue that adventure bike technology and value for money don’t go hand in hand, I would disagree. Good rider aids can improve life in the saddle and provide a safety net if something goes wrong on the way, and the V-Strom 1050XT offers an impressive amount of technology without breaking the bank.
There is cruise control, hill hold control, downhill control to stop the rear wheel lift, adjustable traction control, driver modes to mitigate the throttle response, lean-sensitive ABS and more, all powered by an inertia measuring unit that constantly returns information on any help about pitching, rolling and yaw of the bike.
Many of these are expensive optional extras on competitor motorcycles or are missing entirely, so hats off to Suzuki for delivering a full range of driver aids at a reasonable price.
The retro look
Last but not least are these looks. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and opinions can vary, but these retro looks, deliberately reminiscent of Suzuki’s famous DR-Big, have something that gets my pulse pumping.
Dave’s new bike and the long-term bike we had in 2020 (pictured above) are both in the Champion Yellow, and it’s a guaranteed eye-catcher that briefly made me dream of Dakar rallies of the 80s.
While I haven’t been lucky enough to take the V-Strom to Senegal (I still have hope), adventures in the UK have more than convinced me that the spirit of the DR-Big is in the 1050XT.
Is the V-Strom 1050XT the most affordable large adventure bike out there?
So there you have it, five reasons why we believe the Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT could be the cheapest big adventure bike out there right now.
If you want to learn more about the V-Strom, take a test drive or check out the current summer savings offer, visit Suzuki’s website for the full facts.
