2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT | First Ride Review

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
The 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT offers more power, more sophisticated electronics, more touring features and cool retro styling. (Photography courtesy Suzuki)

The Suzuki V-Strom 1000 is an old lion of the adventure-touring world. When it debuted for 2002, there weren’t many liter-class adventure bikes to choose from, and the few you could buy were European. There was the standard-bearer BMW R 1150 GS plus a handful of others like the Aprilia ETV1000 CapoNord, Cagiva Gran Canyon, Moto Guzzi Quota and Triumph Tiger 955i. Back then adventure touring was still a niche segment, and most of these models faded away after a few years.

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
The 2020 V-Strom 1050XT is equipped with the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System, which includes cruise control, cornering/combined ABS, traction control, hill hold control, slope dependent control and load dependent control and uses a six-axis Interial Measurement Unit (IMU).

When it launched the DL1000 V-Strom, Suzuki became the first Japanese manufacturer to offer a big adventure bike in the U.S., and its domestic competitors stayed on the sidelines until Yamaha introduced the Super Ténéré for 2012. The V-Strom had a 996cc liquid-cooled, 90-degree V-twin derived from the TL1000S/R sportbikes and a twin-spar aluminum frame, and it delivered impressive horsepower, torque and handling. Although it had a 19-inch front wheel and tallish suspension, the DL1000 was best suited to the paved roads where most adventure bike owners spend most of their time.

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
The 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050, V-Strom 1050XT and V-Strom 1050XT Adventure have a new LCD display that provides a wealth of info and makes it easy to navigate between throttle response (SDMS), ABS and TC modes.

The DL1000 underwent few changes until 2014, when it got a larger, more powerful engine, Suzuki’s first-ever traction control system and updates to its chassis, styling and ergonomics. Four years later, Suzuki gave the V-Strom 1000 another refresh, bringing its appearance in line with the V-Strom 650 and adding IMU-based cornering ABS, which Suzuki calls the Motion Track Anti-lock and Combined Brake System. Here we are just two years later with yet another update, and the big V-Strom looks and performs better than ever.

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2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
Based on the 90-degree V-twin from the ’90s-era TL1000S/R sportbikes, the V-Strom 1050’s 1,037cc V-twin has been improved and refined over time. It is now Euro 5 compliant and makes more power and torque at higher revs.

Although engine displacement remains the same at 1,037cc, for 2020 Suzuki decided to change the name to V-Strom 1050 and offer three versions—a standard model, the V-Strom 1050XT and the V-Strom 1050XT Adventure. All have a revised engine that’s Euro 5 compliant and produces more horsepower and torque at higher revs thanks to larger throttle bodies, new fuel mapping and cam timing, higher-compression pistons and a revised exhaust. Claimed output has increased from 99 horsepower at 8,000 rpm to 106 at 8,500 rpm, whereas peak torque is down a bit, from 75 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm to 74 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm, though there’s more grunt at high rpm. New throttle-by-wire has enabled the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector, which offers three throttle response modes (A, B and C). Other changes include an updated traction control system with three levels of intervention, new instrumentation and LED lighting, a lighter, reshaped tapered aluminum handlebar, wider footpegs and new Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A41 tires.

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
The 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT in Pearl Brilliant White/Glass Blaze Orange. New styling is courtesy of Ichiro Miyata, who designed the ’80s-era DR-Big dual-sport below.
Suzuki DR-Big
The Suzuki DR-Big was a 797cc single-cylinder dual-sport that was introduced in 1988 but never came to the U.S. Its styling and color scheme provided inspiration for the new V-Strom 1050XT.

Ichiro Miyata, who designed Suzuki’s DR-Z Paris-Dakar racer and DR-Big dual-sport in the 1980s, also designed the V-Strom 1050, and its sharp beak and geometric lines are very similar to those found on the old DRs. The cool retro styling, unfortunately, gets lost on the standard V-Strom 1050 ($13,399) because it’s only available in Glass Sparkle Black/Solid Iron Gray. The V-Strom 1050XT ($14,799), on the other hand, looks fantastic in either throwback color combos—Champion Yellow No. 2 with a blue seat and blue accents or Pearl Brilliant White/Glass Blaze Orange. Spending the extra $1,400 for the XT replaces the base model’s cast wheels with tubeless spoked wheels and adds the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System, a different windscreen with toolless height adjustment, more stylish hand guards and mirrors, a height-adjustable seat, a centerstand, engine guards and a lower engine cowl. The V-Strom 1050XT Adventure ($16,999) adds quick-release aluminum panniers and heated grips, but it’s only available in Glass Sparkle Black; for my money, I’d buy a colorful XT and buy the panniers and heated grips separately (there are nearly 60 items on the accessory list).

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 Glass Sparkle Black/Solid Iron Gray
The 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 is only available in Glass Sparkle Black/Solid Iron Gray, a color scheme that does little to show off the cool retro styling.
2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT Adventure Glass Sparkle Black
Likewise, the 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT Adventure, which adds aluminum panniers and heated grips, only comes in Glass Sparkle Black.

The big upgrade for 2020 is the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System, a comprehensive electronics package that uses a new six-axis (up from five) IMU and includes cruise control, cornering/combined ABS, hill hold control, slope dependent control (which mitigates rear wheel lift when braking downhill) and load dependent control (which adjusts brake pressure based on rider/passenger/luggage weight). Connecting all of the control units and sensors is a new Controller Area Network (CAN), which simplifies the wiring harness and offers faster data transmission.

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
Although it has a 19-inch front wheel, 90/10 adventure tires and 6.3 inches of suspension travel, like all V-Stroms the new 1050XT is best suited to pavement. It has plenty of low to midrange grunt and handles well.

Greg’s Gear
Helmet: Arai XD4
Jacket & Pants: Aether Divide
Boots: Sidi Gavia Gore-Tex

What has made the V-Strom 1000 a perennial favorite over the years is its user-friendliness. It has always been an approachable, versatile, dependable motorcycle that’s blessedly free of quirks. With its new electronics, the V-Strom 1050XT is the most technologically advanced V-Strom to date but it retains its welcoming disposition. During the press launch we rode the XT on some of southern Spain’s best paved roads, with a few miles of dirt thrown in for good measure. From seating comfort and wind protection to throttle response, engine performance and handling, the V-Strom 1050XT felt well rounded and satisfying to ride. About the only thing missing on that cool January day were the accessory heated grips.

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT Champion Yellow No. 2
The 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT in Champion Yellow No. 2 with a blue seat and blue accents, a color scheme inspired by Suzuki’s DR-Z rally racer below.
Suzuki DR-Z Type 2 Paris-Dakar
The 1991 Suzuki DR-Z Type 2 was raced in the Paris-Tripoli Dakar Rally. Like the new V-Strom 1050, it was designed by Ichiro Miyata.

As we left the coastal town of Marbella on our test ride and ascended into the Sierra Nevada range on the fast, winding and damp A-366, I started out in mode A, which offers direct throttle response and was just on the cusp of being too abrupt for my taste. The mode button and large rocker switch next to the left grip make it easy to navigate through the various modes for throttle response, traction control and ABS, as well as operate cruise control (which only works in gears 4-6 from 31-99 mph). Mode B felt just right, and the fueling was consistent and never stumbled in on/off transitions. The V-Strom still pulls strongly in the low- to midrange, while the revised engine’s newfound liveliness at high revs rewards exuberant grip twisting. And thanks to the assist-and-slipper hydraulic clutch, even aggressive shifting of the 6-speed transmission was drama-free.

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
Standard equipment on the 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT includes an accessory/engine protection bar and lower engine cowl. The cylinder head, clutch covers, magneto cover and water pump case have a bronze finish to provide contrast with the black engine.

The new V-Strom uses the same fully adjustable 43mm upside-down fork and rebound- and (remote) preload-adjustable link-type rear shock, both with 6.3 inches of travel, as before, though damping is softer in the front and stiffer in the rear. Those changes weren’t readily apparent from the saddle, and the 1050XT was pleasantly compliant on fast, smooth pavement and bumpy, rocky dirt. Also unchanged are the Tokico monoblock 4-piston front calipers and Nissin 2-piston rear caliper, which exhibited good initial bite but felt rather vague otherwise even though there was plenty of stopping power. The cornering/combined ABS now has two modes, offering more or less intervention, but it cannot be turned off.

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
The V-Strom 1050XT’s new windscreen can be adjusted through 11 positions over a 2-inch range, but the quick-release lever is not accessible on the fly. It’s the silver part just above the new LED headlight, which looks a lot like the squarish one on the new Suzuki Katana.

The XT’s new windscreen deflects air well and is height adjustable over a two-inch range, but because the quick-release lever is on the lower front of the windscreen, just above the headlight, adjustments must be made while the bike is parked. Behind the windscreen is an accessory bar that’s ideal for mounting a smartphone or GPS, and there’s a new USB outlet on the left side of the dash (there’s also an SAE 12V socket under the seat). The new seat is comfortable and height adjustable (33.5/34.3 inches), but the adjustment process requires swapping out bolts under the seat using the wrench in the toolkit. The brake lever, clutch lever, shifter and rear brake pedal are all adjustable, so riders should have little difficulty dialing in the V-Strom to suit their preferences.

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
Like its predecessors, the 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT is suitable for light off-roading. The oil filter and undercarriage are vulnerable, so installing the accessory skid plate is recommended before you go boony bashing.

With three major updates in the past six years, the V-Strom 1000/1050 has evolved quickly. What was once a fun and competent but rather basic adventure touring motorcycle has become sophisticated and refined. The V-Strom 1050XT offers a higher margin of safety, more versatility and more touring features while retaining the fun, go-anywhere spirit of the original.

Check out Rider‘s 2020 Guide to New/Updated Street Motorcycles

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT Specs

Base Price: $14,799
Website: suzukicycles.com
Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse 90-degree V-twin, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
Displacement: 1,037cc
Bore x Stroke: 100.0 x 66.0mm
Transmission: 6-speed, hydraulically-actuated wet assist-and-slipper clutch
Final Drive: O-ring chain
Wheelbase: 61.2 in.
Rake/Trail: 25.3 degrees/4.3 in.
Seat Height: 33.5/34.3 in.
Claimed Wet Weight: 545 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 5.3 gals.
MPG: NA

2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT
This is what the 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT looks like disassembled. We don’t recommend doing this with yours.

15 COMMENTS

  1. So I don’t want rusty spoked wheels after 6 months. Does that mean I don’t get Cruise control and cornering ABS etc?
    A bit confused what comes with what.

    • If you want cruise control and cornering ABS (and all of the electronics in the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System), then you have to buy the V-Strom 1050XT or XT Adventure, both of which come standard with tubeless spoked wheels. Only the base-model V-Strom 1050 has cast wheels, but not cruise control or cornering ABS.

  2. XT Adventure or Kawi Versys 1000 SE?
    Both street oriented ADVs, 16,999 vs 17,999.
    Would love to get your opinion since neither is prob available for demos, at least not in my neck of the woods(NY tri-state area)

    • The Kawasaki is even more street-oriented with a 17-inch front wheel and cast wheels front/back. The Versys also has electronic suspension and its in-line four makes more power than the V-Strom’s V-twin. That said, the electronics on the Versys are not user-friendly. The Suzuki’s biggest advantage is light off-road capability, if that appeals to you.

      If you’re in the NY tri-state area, head to the Americade rally in Lake George during the first week of June. Kawasaki and Suzuki should both be there with demo fleets. Appointments always fill up fast for demos, so make sure you get there as early as possible to sign up for your bike of choice. Website: https://americade.com/

    • Also, after strong initial bite the brakes feel rather vague. But otherwise, we found very little to complain about. The V-Strom 1050XT isn’t the lightest or the most powerful or the most fully featured adventure tourer you can buy, but it is refined, versatile, user-friendly and a good value.

  3. Been riding fifty years, owned many bikes, previously bought three new Suzuki ‘Stroms (‘09, ‘12, ‘15) and cumulatively used them hard and long for over 200 000 trouble-free kilometers. I eagerly waited for this new rendition, however, it leaves me unimpressed. Very unimpressed. From where I sit my choice is to buy an unsold ‘18 or ‘19 model and farkle the hell out of it (again) or buy the Tiger 900 or what appears to be a brilliant 2020 Africa Twin. I’ll remain a Suzuki V-Strom fan, and I have great stories to tell but, sadly, my wallet will open to other manufacturers.

  4. I am blown away that this old motor is Euro 5 compliant! Suzuki did something right when they designed it way back when.
    That’s one area where Suzuki is underrated – their engines.

    This is a great looking bike and I’m not even an ADV guy. Bright colors and fun graphics schemes are never a bad thing.

  5. Looks like a nice bike but what is with the beak?! Why are these things so popular? They are ugly, In my opinion and they are a deal breaker.

  6. Recently bought a yellow. I’m a massive fan of the TL1000r and the moment I test rode this the love for it came flooding back. I’ve had GSA’s in the past but would never go back to one now, this thing is just so much fun and as I spend 99% of my time riding bikes on roads (as Suzuki knew most ADV riders do, gravel roads are not off-road) this beauty fits the bill. Handling is so sweet and the way it develops the power is a face cracking smiling. The old V Strom was good but a bit bland to look at, where as this just fires me up (beauty in the eye of the beholder!)

  7. Thanks for this review, as I’m salivating at this bike. Of all the motorcycle magazine reviews, Rider always has the best ones, since they write from a very real world perspective. It’s the only magazine I subscribe to.

    Love the new aesthetics and features. I used to own an SV1000S, and loved the motor (also derived from the TL1000 engine). This new VStrom looks like a really comfortable version of the SV1K, along with the new feature set, the VS1050 is very compelling for me.

    Interesting comment on the XT Adventure model, as this was my first thought for a purchase. Not coming from an ADV backround (current bike is an HD Switchback, and only cruisers and SV variants prior), are the bags not considered “good”? Curious as to what bags the author would have preferred?

    Again, thanks for the review on this bike.

  8. So-called Adventure bikes are almost always so ugly that many would be embarrassed to be seen on them, and while the original DL1000 was no beauty, at least it didn’t have one of those goofy looking beaks. The standard Wee Strom that came out back in 2012 I think it was looked pretty decent, but it wasn’t long before they put a beak on all of those too. Ugh 😩

  9. This is my third V-Strom:
    2006 DL1000
    2014 DL650
    2020 DL1050 XT Adventure.
    After owning Harleys, Ducati, Guzzis, Triumph, Victory, and Kawasaki the new Strom is by far the best bike I’ve ever owned. A keeper for sure.
    Thank you, Suzuki. You never fail to impress.

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