2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT Review | Visordown.com
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 XT Review
The venerable Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT gets a refresh for 2020 with new tech, an updated engine and a Katana-style facelift... should it be added to your ADV shopping list?.
Visordown gets to grips with the re-styled and now 1050cc Suzuki V-Strom, is it a true contender in the off-road adventure sector?
Here's our first impressions after 200 miles on and off-road.
#suzuki #suzukivstrom1050xt review
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Visordown.com is the #1 online motorcycle website for news, reviews, and all things motorbike with 1 million monthly users and growing.
We’re best known for covering all the latest motorcycles launches and bike industry announcements, breaking motorbikes news, first ride, and road test.
One million monthly bikers and growing!
I would like Suzuki to make a BMW S1000 XR sport tourer type of motorcycle from the current GSXR 1000 engine and electronics... with a seat height that also accommodates slightly shorter riders.
That would be something to behold, although Suzuki seem to, at the moment, be a little shy of breaking new ground with bikes. they prefer to update and evolve existing models, not go in a whole new direction. It's a shame, as they have a long history of making bloody great bikes, the only way they'll get there again is to take risks, not by sticking to what they know.
@@visordown I agree. I'm a bit frustrated with Suzuki. I'm aware it plans to launch several new models within the coming 5 years. But I fear it may end up going the way of some Japanese auto manufacturers, such as Nissan and Mitsubishi, if it's unfocused and doesn't spend enough on R&D to keep up with the others.
i think their answer is gsx 1000 f.
@@asatti think more sports adventure touring he's thinking rather naked or just sporty touring.
I think the vstrom should go slightly more off road orientated aswell.
Longer travel suspension, and personally I'd like to see shaft drive
. . . and a high seat option for lanky mofos like me. EVRY BOTTY HAPPEE ! 😁😂
I still love my Vstrom 1000 XT 2019. After 9.000 km it still puts smile on my face. With 231 kg (lighter exhaust), sporty ride, comfort it is a bike that just does everything very good. Vtwin is great and full of life, only thing I miss is a cruise control and maybe 10 ps somethimes. Is is great and reliable.
Not sure you really ‘get’ the V Strom.
It’s an un-fussy, good value, stable, predictable adventure-styled tourer. It’s not really designed to set the world alight, but what it will do is carry you for thousands of miles comfortably and with minimal fuss. It’s (just about) fast enough, handles very, very well and has a strong record for reliability.
If you’re used to Press bikes that constantly push the envelope then it isn’t for you, and I’d argue that the benefits of the V Strom only really come out when you’re properly racking up the miles.
I’ve owned a lot of bikes, but I like my V Strom very much (2016 model, 4 years, 25,000 miles), and will often choose it over my GS for long journeys.
Totally agree, he's moaning because engine efficient, rather than a snatchy rough bike with character, what a load of boll**cks!
It’s not really good value anymore.
Exactly. I don't want "theater" from an ADV. I want to be able to trust it with my life. Quiet exhaust, comfortable ride, all the plush features. And most of all maximum reliability. This rules out BMW, KTM, Triumph, or Ducati for me.
@@magyar77 what bike beats it value wise then?
@@ams914 yup, nailed it, I don't get reviewers, they appreciate smoothness and predictability but they go on and on about this "character" which nobody bothers explaining what the hell it is, like we are supposed to know or smth ... and it sounds extremely subjective to me, like it can mean different things to different people. I like a straight forward, honest, reliable character so that's why I am a proud owner of a 2019 650 XT and love it. Except that front end which I think it's just alright :)
So a lot cheaper than BMW and way, way, way better than a BMW!!!
Yes, I completely agree with this conclusion of yours! Thanks.
Hi, by the way everything goes numb because the seat soft not hard!
If you seat your seat bones you never goes numb, only when everything around your seat bones is soft and makes pressure on various nerves you get numb.
Try it out, go cycling for 8 hours on a completely hard saddle and then do the same on a soft one.
I guarantee you'll see the light and start to love hard seats that let you use the seat bones.
Agreed about the bike saddle part
I've taken this bike out for 250 miles and broadly agree with the review. Suzuki have built a great tourer, not an off-roader. The seat is hard, but actually more comfortable than the previous XT LOL. The engine delivers the power, at all revs, without fuss or a powerband, which for touring is exactly what you want. I think it's a grand over-priced, or they need to include the heated grips & Aux lights for that money (then it would sell like hot cakes). PS you forgot to mention the cruise control.
Excellent content. After watching your reviews I feel like I might just buy the bikes without any unnecessary hype that reviewers often provide out of gratitude that somebody lent it to them. You do not make the viewer hate the bike nor have any unrealistic expectations. Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
That’s a fair review, Suzuki seem to have ironed out some of the problems from the previous model, low speed fuelling, wind turbulence from the stock screen but why didn’t they sort out a comfortable seat!
The thing is V Strom’s just aren’t about the latest and greatest, they’re dependable, cheap to own and run, with bullet proof engines and great fun.
A few things to note on the latest model: A no cost option for cast wheels is a must life’s to short to clean spokes on a road bike, the price will drop off a cliff in a year or two that’s the time to buy your ex demo for the cost of a few BMW services lol.
Somebody mentioned sticking the GSX F motor in an adventure bike frame............I’d buy that tomorrow 👍
Who says the seat is uncomfortable? Stiff doesn't mean uncomfortable. Have you sat in one? I do daily and never found it uncomfortable. In fact its the most comfortable seat I've ever had on a bike. Would softer be "more" comfortable? Sure I guess. However softer would also mean less durable. Since I want to keep mine for 200000 miles I'll take the durability....
@@ducksoff7236 The seat is garbage period go check the forums I’m not alone
@@andrewshore262 Waaah......check other forums that say its not. F88king "check the forums" wtf? LOL!
It seems to me Suzuki realise 98%of buyers want touring capability first. There’s probably only about 2-5% of riders that are actually going to do the full trans-whatever trek across the globe. They are not who Suzuki are aiming for anyway. There such a small market.
Just because Suzuki didn't make it for that specific type of riding (whether that's true or not) does not mean its not capable of it. Just look at the guy with the C90Adventures channel. He's ridden a C90 thru most of europe and large parts of asia on a bike that's basically just a cheap urban alternative to the bus.....
@@1HourMartinizing I totally agree it’s capable of it. It’s just that lots of reviewers keep dishing it’s off-road cred relative to the likes of KTM, Tenere etc. Which seems to me to be missing the point of the V-Storm. It’s not trying to be like them. It is it’s own bike.
Disclaimer: I’ve just brought a Yellow V-Storm 1050 XT. Pick it up soon. So, I believe in the Strom.
@@steveoliver177 Cool. I own a CB500x. Its not really off-road capable either - and I wouldn't want to ride that way anyway - but with the rally raid upgrade, it sure is.
@@steveoliver177 I’m here checking this review because I found that exact bike for sale somewhere lol lmk how you like it and how it compares to this review please
@@user-wr3gp8hj3i I’ve only ridden it twice as the one I’ve just brought is in the workshop waiting to fit some accessories. But my first rides confirm most of the themes in the review. It is deceptively fast. This from someone who already owns a 150 BHP Suzuki GSXS1000F. Road handling is confidence inspiring and you can ride it very spiritedly. As most reviews say it feels lighter than it’s actual weight, is very flickable, and everything on it is “easy” and the bits all work. Including the brakes. They’re impressive considering they’re not Brembos. Anyway I can’t wait to pick it up and put a few thousand kms on it.
According to spec sheets and other reviews, the “1050” is a name change only. It is a 1037 cc engine last bore and stroke change was in 2013 from the original 996cc of 2002-2012. Where I come from 300 miles is a days ride but every place is different.
I have one, it is excellent. Done just over 1000 miles, the seat is now fine.
After having bought and used three ‘Stroms for well over 200 000 km’s combined, I’ve learned to appreciate their mediocrity. Condemned by faint praise? Not really. Of all the bikes I’ve owned over fifty years, the ‘Stroms have generated the lowest cost of ownership - by far - and the highest overall reliability. But this review is right on, even as a fan (Stromtrooper) there’s no sense in claiming their performance is exhilarating. If adrenaline and/or motorcycles as a fashion statement are part of your metrics, best look elsewhere. If basic good value is what drives your decisions, it’s worth a test ride. All that said, I won’t be buying ‘Strom #4; for the same money this “new” rendition can’t compete with holdover, demos and barely used models from Triumph, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, KTM, Ducati and even bloody BMW - which I’ll never buy from again. But, that’s another story . . .
I don't get the criticism about the V2 sensation and experience. Surely it's not a 1290 KTM rush or a Ducati 1200 kick, but both can hardly be ridden without electronic intrusion off-road. If you turn TC off you can still feel a highly natural limit of the traction. Having ridden the competitors Africa Twin, Tiger 900 and Teneré 700 back to back the V-Strom delivers the most excitement if you're up for torque and low to midrange pull and really stands out in this aspect while the other bikes produce much more linear power. It even produces minimal miss firings on long trips and shakes noticeably between you legs.
Maybe the seat just needs breaking in. I used to own a KTM 950 Adventure, and it took a trip to southwest Portugal to break it in. Agony on the way down, comfortable on the way back.
Very thorough overview.
Or maybe the hard seat just altered your DNA! :)
Jeez Toad! You're probably the hardest working motorcycle journalist on you tube! By my count you've got at least 4 new bikes in your garage at any give time! Super job with the reviews! You're really taking visordown to new levels with quality content!
The one bike I want your opinion on is the 890 duke r. Looking to buy one as soon as it's available in my region! Also how it compares to other middle weight nakeds like the street triple rs & mt09 sp.
Cheers!
cheers for the feedback and yes, Casa di Visordown (Toad's house) has a very full garage!
On the duke, we're still waiting for all manufacturers to open up their press fleets again, it's on the list and will be getting a thourough going over!
It’s a touring bike, and a damned good one, that’s it.
Nice review. Did you really say 50 mpg? That sounds really good on a liter bike.
Can you do a comparison with this to a tiger 900, ktm adv 790, bmw gs 850, africa twin, all the on road middle weights. Thanks.
seat is definitely to hard, after 30 minutes my butt started to fill uncomfortable, also lack of charakter for v-twin and very silent exhaust, display is overcrowded and has small digits, but overall it is a nice bike
I like this bike....Thanks for the honest review!
Vstrom, the Ford mondeo of the biking world, which is no bad thing really
It looks great. I like the smooth throttle response you talk about. The throttle on my SV650a is as jerky as hell, so i don't want that with my next bike.
Nice review! My experiance with the VStrom, not the best looking and adranaline pumping bike. But it will never let you down in every day use and long trips. Just buy a bike that gives what you need. Most people never use what the bike they one can do. Keep up the nice work! Time to rent the new Strom for a day and test it myself.
For exactly same price or cheaper: which adventure bike (with a 19 inches front wheel) would you buy?
You can pick up 2019 Africa Twins very cheaply, of the current crop, that's probably the best adventure bike for off-road enthusiasts - although this is probably slightly better at all the road riding!
Ktm super adventure 1290 s. 2019 model
@@visordown How about a 2020 competitive model recommendation so that it's apples to apples rather than apples to figs?
Here's my 'fig' : buy a low mileage BMW GS, up to 10 years old , for less $$s than this new, full warranty 2020 VStrom
We want to keep comfy road bikes thank you, so no to 21" front, or make it alongside this one and drop the basic model and make cast/spoke wheels a choice. What we want is the new GSXS1000GT options on this DL1050, colour TFT quick shifter etc.Come on Suzuki, don't make me spends my money on a GS!!!!!
It would be a good time to take out the 650xt and do some of the same routes and off road and give your views.
Good and hoest review as always. What bikes do you consider better for the Sibirian?
The Royal Enfield is a good bike for expedition riding, very light, simple, and easy to fix on the go. Big, heavy multi-cylinder bikes with bags of tech are asking for trouble in those types of scenarios - keep it simple!
The only think I don't like about the Vstrom is the ground clearance, too low. Great engine, comfortable for long distances, nimble in the corners. Suzuki should have hired heavy and not too short test riders before launching this model.
I'd say the reason for the adjustable lever being on the outside is purely safety related, they obviously dont want you to focus on other things than riding,my tiger 1050 you had to pull and move it up or down wasnt the satest of ideas ,a roller would have been better
1050A = ABS, 1050XA = Off-road ABS (has the guards u have), 1050XT = off-road Touring (has cruise control and other rider aids)
Mr. ZiggedWhenHeShuddaZagged sorry mate, I don’t follow you...?
You said XT = eXTreme
Mr. ZiggedWhenHeShuddaZagged I know what it gets, I was referring to what XT actually means!
Then what does XA stand for? eXtra Awesome? The T just means Touring
Mr. ZiggedWhenHeShuddaZagged XA = Xylophone Attached
I had a 2015 was great two up, not so flickable as a smaller wee strom but stable and steady. Wasnt so crazy about the torque rush to 4k and then nothing so the new motor would be welcome. The bike was nicely done as a retro look, however, I ask, the 80's / 90's look ended thank God, how long will this retro look wear in the scheme of things. Sadly I think the resale will fall off a cliff.
Is it stainless steel spokes on the bike.
In description it sounds like a BMW Gs?
Hard seat = harder get torn by a branch. Soft supple seat = easier to get torn by a branch. Any more questions?
She's a beaauuuteeey, I'd av one over a bimmer/ducati. The seat is a worry, v-stroms normally had comfy seats.
This or the 2020 Africa twin?
Africa Twin! Check out our road and off-road review here!
ua-cam.com/video/E_q_8ByOOII/v-deo.html
Africa Twin for sure. Met a guy who literally toured the world, every continent except Antarctica, had 400,000 km all original parts except tires n fluids.
well done
had it for over a week and only done 300 miles on it, Yes thats a very in depth review....Not
Super sausage
Geezer, you are more mediocre than this bike. Anyone curious about buying this bike should skip this vid.
The bike is pug ugly and for that reason I'm out!
Decent comprehensive review. Seems like typical Suzuki, a good value fun bike but compromised & slightly flawed. They also need to put that engine in some other bikes too. It's definitely time for a saucy naked SV1050!
I've still got a '97 TL1000S, and I'd love them to do a modern version (although I think they'd need more capacity than 1050). The GSX-S1000 and Katana just aren't there. Suzuki don't seem to be putting in the effort of late. Instead I've only really got the KTM Superduke as candidate for open class sporting v-twin.
@@Joric78 Yep agreed. At the very least I would imagine they need to find another 30+bhp from the 1050 & a lot more torque to make it appealing. I used to own a '03 SV1000S with about 120bhp & it was a great road bike. I'd happily buy a new version if they made one.
I had a 2005 SV1000S, a good bike but they had torsional flex in the frame, the silver and the black one, the VStrom has always had the other version frame, which is stronger, they should have put a cartridge filter in the engine from day one, you need a big bashplate to protect that spin on, needs a 21inch front wheel, softer seat ,( to many makers put cheap hard foam seats on bikes, your paying big dollars for).
A good detailed review, but I do think you were out to find it's weaker points right from the start. I'm sure this would make a good all round fun bike for some people.
I dint think I did, but take your comment on board. The thing is, when a company brand a bike as an XT version (meaning extreme) you want to test that element. Had this been the stock V-Strom, we'd not have leaned so far that way.
@@visordown , I think XT is more suggesting of Cross Tourer, not extreme.
@@MrGoat61 correct 👍👍
XT stands for cross terrain. Like most journo,s, it's all about the numbers, biggest is best.
@@visordown yes, right answer, since it's XT..
Previous Owner if first generation..
Nice review man!
Nice bike. I have africa twin 2019. If not Africa, my other choice will be this bike!
Cheers
This one or the previous model? Can get the “1000” practically new for practically nothing. I’m sort of reading between the lines here and getting the feeling the older itineration of the same engine had a more sporty torque curve albeit with less HP.
I test rode this model and bought the 'older' model, coudnt tell it had 5bhp more tbh. Also saved a few grand, and its slightly lighter.
Blame European regulations for ABS that can't be turned off... Pretty sure it's a lovely new regulation for all bikes.
If they could produce the bike at the same price with a shaft drive....I'm sure there would be a lot of people out there that do would want to save themselves several thousands pounds over a GS.
Your review and a few others has talked me out of the XT as an eventual replacement for my 2012 BMW GS. Other than rider aids and interesting looks almost a step backwards.
I'm surprised they've managed to tune the character out of the engine. I've still got my '97 TL1000S, and it has character in spades.
Joric78 32 years of development and less power and no character, not what you call progress.
We'd love a go on a TL1000!
Be even harder than usual to manage at the moment, given I'm in South Australia. Got to be a few left in the UK given it achieved belated cult status. Although they tend to have been overly molested. Admittedly it didn't take me long to swap the brakes to Hayabusa units (and fit braided lines of course), ditch the rotary rear shock for an Ohlins and the K&N filter and Yoshi system were basically mandatory.
@@johnharvey5338 , you can blame bureacrats and emissions rules for that.
Gotta be the Super Sausage cafe but it's changed a lot since I biked and trucked those parts. There was another SS cafe in town too
It's a Touring ROAD bike dressed as an Adventure one.
The "right" looks have massive leverage when it comes to shoving your product down their throat to an "intended" market segment and your hand in their pockets.
Personally, I whish SUZUKI would make a COMPLETELY road oriented version with 17" wheels front and back to replace my aging 2003 SV1000N.
Something along the way of the late MultiStrada 1260 GT and the current BMW S1000XR.
Never been a fan of the adventure wheels [19/17] combo look.👎🤮
P.S: I like your reviewing style.
Calmed, not too slow, not too fast talking.
No drama, no hype, no run around.
Stay classy, Toad. 👌😊👍
I am totally sick to death of reviewers bitching about the windshield adjustment!! Once you find the sweet spot you NEVER need to adjust it again! If that's a massive issue for riders then God help us. If you do need to adjust it for whatever reason, how hard is it to stop and adjust it, unbelievable.
1:57
...did he said 2050 ?
Usual Visordown quality ie crap !
EXCELENT TEST AND BIKE....!!!!
Thorough n informative. Thanks
Very Useful Video.Enjoyed.
Is the standard V strom 1050 with Alloy wheeles better than a 2020 Ninja 1000 sx as far as the capability to do 1000kms per day?
Similar question. 1050 XT vs Ninja 1000 SX. For 80% solo city riding and 20% two-up touring. No off road.
If I want a sport tourer I would buy a Kawasaki ninja 1000 or Versys 1000. Those engines perform better. It looks like an adventure, but adventure does not stop where the pavement ends. A lot of manufactures got that except for Suzuki. KTM, BMW, Yamaha Moto Guzzi and Triumph got bikes capable of doing off road and switch off the ABS. Also Honda with the Africa Twin has that option. So from where I am sitting now Suzuki has made a beautifull bike (my opinion) that looks like an adventure but really isnt. So whats the point of buying?
A fair review, much better considered than the previous one. All the points I noticed are more or less what you pointed out, although I've no offroad or suspension fiddling experience. It's a better looking version than the previous one, but the previous standard bike can be bought for under £9k, and that really is suzuki's challenge (along with the competition like the Triumph Tiger 900). They need to knock at least 1k off this bike, then it should sell steadily.
Funny you mention that the engine lacks character, I'd expect that is something Suzuki would have wanted to highlight and not sanitize. The TL1000 had it and the SV650 has it. This bike seems a good bike in isolation but I'd be hard pressed to buy this brand new against it's peers.
Let's just take it as a sport tourer and we all won't get disappointed. :)
Manufacturers and reviews are starting to irritate me, it is good to hear about the updates in the equipment, appearance etc.
How about the updates in the engine that caused some serious failures in
some V-Stroms? Like the stator coils failing or the magnets from the
flywheel getting dislocated. These are serious embarrassing failures,
why radio silence about them?
How can you have this bike for 10 days and only put 300 miles on it 🤔 you don’t deserve to have it 😡
Dave Henderson I have four other press bikes in the garage mate, and a full time job running a website, and a family.
Keep your ****ing hair on!
@@visordown You didn't have to self-censor "sodding" Toad 😁
I have a DL1000XT and the only issue I have is with the spoked wheels which are identical on the new bike (damn). Just can't think of any good reason to trade I my bike for the new one.
If you want excitment buy a tuono. If you want a bullet proof do it all no drama bike you go for the dl.
Looks like a great on road bike, and a future broken leg off road
hmm, extensive off road testing using the road oriented battlax A41s ... interesting choice
I had a 2014. All it needed to be the perfect bike was 60 more h.p.
Nice review, did you head chance to review Yamaha Super Tenere 1200? and how would you compare in short those two? thank you
I rode a Super Tenere last weekend and have to say that it was a very comfy bike. It handled well.I didn't try out all of the settings for the electronics, but whatever it was on was solid. The only thing I would say is that the one I rode on that the motor was noisy when sitting still. I didn't do that much, so couldn't tell where it was coming from. Really fun to ride though. That being said, I just ordered a Vstrom 1050
Get it on the dyno!