REVEALED: Suzuki V-Strom 1050 goes RUGGED

Suzuki has revealed a new, more off-road ready version of its venerable V-Strom adventure bike.

The big news is the addition of a 21-inch front wheel, which replaces the previous generation’s 19-inch number. There are spoked wheels as standard, and they come neatly wrapped in a set of Dunlop’s TRAILMAX MIXTOUR tyres. That’s a good start, right?

The engine’s the same tried and tested 1050cc powerplant from the previous generation V-Strom 1050, but Suzuki has made a few small but important tweaks to help make it even better. There’re also updates to the transmission, including taller first and sixth gears. Also, the DE actually gets a stronger drive chain with sturdier links and larger diameter pins to help it take a bit more of a beating in the dirt.

There’s also new longer travel suspension in the form of a set of fully-adjustable front forks and rear shock from KYB (which offer increased rake and trail, in addition to greater ground clearance of 190mm). It’s also 40mm longer than the standard V-Strom 1050, as a result of a new aluminium swingarm, while some tapered aluminium handlebars offer an additional 40mm of width and should help to improve ergonomics when you’re stood up on the pegs.

In addition to the new subframe, the twin-spar aluminium frame has been updated for 2023. We won’t get into all the specifics about the aluminium castings with extruded aluminium sections because all you need to know is that it’s lighter and stronger.

There’s a new fixed seat; a slightly smaller screen; a more rugged front mudguard; engine bars as standard; a sturdy-looking aluminium sump guard; and there’re even some wider steel footpegs which have been designed with off-road riders (and their boots) in mind.

More good stuff comes in the form of a centre stand and hand guards, and LED light all round, while a USB power socket next to the screen makes it easy to charge your phone or satnav on the move (and there’s actually an additional 12V socket located under the seat).

As you’d expect, there’s also a pretty sophisticated electronics package to play with… which is almost exclusively operated (bar the cruise control) using the full-colour TFT dash and switchgear on the left-hand switchgear. More specifically, the DE comes kitted out with the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS), which includes a six-axis IMU (which manages the lean angle-sensitive ABS, the ride-by-wire throttle and the linked brakes). There’s cruise control, low RPM assist and even a hill hold control, too. Using the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector, you can flick through four riding modes. There’re three for the road and an additional G (gravel) mode which has been set up specifically for off-road use. There’s also the option to turn off the rear-wheel ABS entirely. Oh, and there’s also a bi-directional quickshifter as standard.

Both the V-Strom 1050DE and V-Strom 1050 use the proven 90° V-twin engine, which remains a perfect fit, with a design that provides perfect primary balance, with each of the two cylinders cancelling out the vibration of the other. This eliminates the need for any balancer shafts, preventing the mechanical loss associated with them, and this connects to improving thermal efficiency for higher power output. The layout of the V-twin engine also allows for a slimmer chassis design with a lower centre of gravity, and this contributes to more agile handling and greater manoeuvrability.

Taking inspiration from Suzuki’s iconic DR-Z800 racer, the DE comes in either a sharp yellow and white paint job with gold rims, or a typical blue and white Suzuki colour scheme with blue rims. And there’s also a mean looking all-black version. As you’d expect, there’s a whole host of additional accessories for the bike, including aluminium luggage, heated grips, lower seat options.

It’s expected to be available in Suzuki dealerships in early 2023, but unfortunately there’s been no official news on UK pricing just yet. We’ll keep our ear to the ground and let you know when we find out more.

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