Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1251702
2020 SUZUKI V-S TROM 1050XT R I D E R E V I E W P44 the V-Strom on the dirt without feel- ing guilty. As we soon found out, this bike could take you just about anywhere and do so without com- pletely depleting your bank account, as it sold for just under nine grand when it first came out. That wasn't cheap, but at least it wasn't enough to instantly scare off those who were beginning to catch the ADV bug. The V-Strom took on its first sig- nificant overhaul in 2014 when it got, most notably, a larger motor and the company's first-ever traction control system. And, of course, it received a much-needed styling update. Four years later, the V-Strom showed up with what Suzuki called Motion Track Anti-lock and Combined Brake Sys- tem, or, simply put, corning ABS. Now, for 2020, the V-Strom 1050 got another shot in the arm by getting improved electronics, more rider aids and more power. You would assume, and rightfully so, that based on its new "1050" moniker, the 'Strom got its power boost due to a bump in displace- ment, but you would assume incor- rectly. Displacement remains the same as before at 1037cc as do bore and stroke at 100.0 x 66.0mm, but to satisfy Euro5 emission mandates, Suzuki made updates to the engine (which, by the way, dates back to the old TL1000S days) that made it somehow both cleaner and more powerful. Suzuki's claimed output has been bumped up from 99 horse- power at 8000 rpm to 106 horse- power at 8500 rpm. Peak torque, however, dropped a bit from 75 lb-ft at 4000 rpm to 74 lb-ft at 6000 rpm. You can contribute this to the engine's new larger throttle bodies, updated fuel mapping, revised cam timing, higher-compression pistons and a revised exhaust system. The new V-Strom also gets a new radiator with 15 percent more capacity and a new liquid-cooled oil cooler located where the oil filter is attached to the engine. A new ride-by-wire system allows for Suzuki's new Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS). There are three options: "A" (most aggressive), "B" and "C" modes. Traction control has been updated, as well, with three levels (two presets plus off) now at your fingertips. Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.) is a significant upgrade over the previous model. This elec- tronics package utilizes a new six (formerly five)-axis Bosch IMU. It of- fers a new cruise control system and plenty of rider aids and convenienc- es, such as Motion Track Anti-lock The V-Strom's calling is the pavement, but it doesn't mind some light-duty off- roading every now and then.