Suzuki Karoo Adventure – Suzuki V Strom DL1050 XT
It has been a number of years since I was last in the saddle so when Suzuki South Africa invited me to take part in a cross-country adventure that would see us taking their intrepid little Suzuki Ignis and V Strom DL1050 XT adventure bike across the Klein Karoo and its stunningly beautiful landscapes I, of course, jumped the chance.
Related: Suzuki’s V-Strom - the more manoeuvrable touring bike
There was a certain amount of trepidation as the idea of tackling a 750km odd route, that was mostly offroad, in a small city car and also not having ridden for quite some time, made me begin asking my spine for forgiveness but as I was soon to find out, I had absolutely nothing to worry about.
Heritage
The 3rd gen V Strom, the 1050 XT was released in late 2020 but mostly flew under the radar due to certain restrictions being in place, it was Suzuki’s plan to bring attention to this highly capable motorcycle by having it and a vehicle of similar pricing, tackle a high adventure that would put man and both machines to the test.
The DL1050 has some unique, smile inducing styling that harkens back to its OG predecessor the DR 750 Big. It is a very good-looking motorcycle with just the right proportions, allowing the 1050 to wear the cloaks of city commuter and serious offroad adventure machine simultaneously.
Our trusty steeds were draped in Suzuki’s heritage colour scheme, that of Champion Yellow, a nod to its Dakar machine and the gloss Pearl White, Blaze Orange combo which in all honesty actually looks red. The XT machines are equipped with solid rim, spoked wheels with the Yellow models sporting gold rims. Whether fitted with or without the Adventure spec paniers, the XT looks the part. Despite the relatively low 850mm seating position, mounting and dismounting can be cumbersome with the paniers and topbox in place but you do get used them quite quickly.
Up front, the handle bars place you in a very comfortable position that allows you to drop below the 2-position adjustable screen when the wind becomes tiresome. This position also allows you a perfect view of the digital TFT dash that gives you all your readouts in a clear easy to read font. The V Strom is also fitted with cruise control, a first for Suzuki. This was incredibly helpful on the long open swaths of undulating tar road, allowing the wrist a bit of a rest.
Journey of discovery
Our trip began in the depths of the Elgin Valley in Grabouw, with my first stint of the journey being behind the wheel of the Suzuki Ignis, a few hundred kilometres later it was time to gear up at the changeover point in Barrydale. With little time to acclimate to the machine it was a straight shot to our next rest stop and this was when the first revelation hit me.
This was a 1000cc 6 speed machine that felt no heavier than a motorcycle half its size. It felt easy to handle and responded well in the corners.
The V Strom is powered by the 1037cc 90 degree V twin engine that puts out 79kW and 100Nm at 6000rpm, this is all controlled with a ride-by-wire throttle. Operating in the background to make any ride enjoyable, is the S.I.R.S (Suzuki Intelligent Ride System) this system includes Motion Track Braking, Hill Hold, Load Control, Suzuki Drive Mode Selector and Traction Control.
These systems made the DL1050 very easy to ride and control and after an hour behind the bars any hesitations I had, vanished. The kilometers of gravel road and rocky mountain trails passed beneath me, and any thoughts I had about back and neck pain evaporated as the adjustable suspension lapped up the terrain.
When the rain arrived, the ride became even more interesting as you could feel the traction control working and although the ABS was operating at full tilt, it was very unobtrusive. Despite being fitted with road biased tyres, the V Strom handled the mud and grit very well and even allowed for a little bit of sideways action before sanity prevailed.
The legends live on
With my time split evenly between the car and bike during the trip it was fascinating to observe the vistas from two different angles, all while meeting local legends, listening to the stories about mythical creatures and discovering the captivating history of this piece of the country. This was possibly one of the most interesting journeys I’ve taken and being able to do it behind a steering wheel and handlebars of two very distinct yet similar vehicles was an experience of note.
The Suzuki V Strom DL1050 XT is an ideal middle ground between larger displacement tourers and smaller engine city commuters and should definitely be on your to-ride list if you are looking for capable good looking in-betweener.
Models and Pricing
Suzuki V Strom 1050 XT - R 221 950
Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX 5MT - R 229 900
The Suzuki DL1050 V Strom comes with 2 year warranty
The Suzuki Ignis comes with a 2 year / 30 000km service plan and Suzuki’s indomitable 2 year / 500 000km warranty
Photos from Rob Till, Chris Kuun and Lawrence Minnie
