Suzuki’s V-Strom - the more manoeuvrable touring bike

In 2002, Suzuki unleashed the V-Strom on the motorcycle market. It was an adventure motorcycle with a 1 000cc V-twin motor that offered lots of torque and grunt to make a two-up trip easy.

In 2004 Suzuki added the DL 650 V-Strom and internationally it has outsold its larger brother two to one. Although a little smaller, it looked very similar to the DL1000. And they weren’t exactly pretty.

The V-Strom is not generally regarded as a tough adventure bike, but that could be misleading. The three-spoke mag rims might not inspire confidence, the ground-clearance isn’t great and the oil filter and exhaust system seem very vulnerable. But, to be honest, very few adventure riders would want to ride on surfaces and at speeds where these would become issues.

The V-twin motors are reliable, fairly fuel-efficient and have enough grunt.

In 2012 the 650 was restyled and got a modern, clean look. It also made the bike look less bulky. And in 2015 an XT version was launched, which included a new beak and spoke rims – satisfying a constant source of complaints from nay-sayers.

The DL1000 wasn’t produced from 2009, because emission requirements had gotten too strict. But in 2014, Suzuki announced a brand-new DL 1000. Not only was it restyled like the 650, everything was new – even the drivetrain.

At the time, Suzuki said their sport adventure tourer for all enthusiasts “provides a compelling counterpoint to the big and bulky touring machines from other brands”. Fighting words? Maybe. But not totally untrue.

The new engine was larger, at 1 037cc, but lighter than the previous 996cc version.

The engine features new cylinders and cylinder heads, redesigned pistons and con rods, a new crankshaft and clutch assembly, and twin coils and twin iridium spark plugs per cylinder. The entire emphasis of the redesign was on improving efficiency, reducing weight, improving response and performance, and complying with stringent emissions regulations.

These changes, together with an all-new fuel-injection system and a new, lightweight exhaust system, resulted in an average Worldwide Motorcycle Test Cycle fuel consumption figure of 20,9 km/l (4,78l/100km). This was an improvement of 16% over the previous V-twin engine.

The all-new V-Strom 1000 is the first Suzuki motorcycle to feature a three-way adjustable traction control system, ensuring rider confidence and control regardless of riding conditions. In doing so, it also ensures a more relaxed riding experience during long-distance touring.

The all-new chassis provides a slim, low-mass starting point for an equally compact and lightweight package that performs optimally in wide variety of conditions. A longer wheelbase aids stability, while the new inverted forks are adjustable for preload and damping.

As before, the pricing was excellent and on paper offered the best value for money. And that hasn’t changed.