2020 SUZUKI V-S TROM 1050XT
R I D E R E V I E W
P42
The big-bore adventure (ADV) class of motorcycles
was pretty much a niche back then, not like it is today.
Adventure bikes, or sport enduro touring bikes which
Suzuki dubbed the V-Strom back then, were already
gaining in popularity in Europe and other parts of the
world, thanks to fun land rovers like BMW's R 1150 GS,
Cagiva's Gran Canyon and Triumph's Tiger, and Suzuki
took notice. You have to hand it to Suzuki for being
one of the first Japanese manufacturers to recognize
this growing category; they saw an opportunity and
went for it. So, the V-Strom—the V standing for the
bike's V-twin engine configuration and Strom a Ger-
man word meaning "a stream of wind"—was born.
The V-Strom was and still is a big hit for the com-
pany. It proved to be versatile, a great commuter and
a fun and easy motorcycle to ride that could be ridden
all day (with or without a passenger) in great comfort.
It could also reasonably handle those not-maintained
country roads and even embarrass a sport bike rider
or two on paved canyon roads. You could also take
(Above) The 'Strom's engine gets a number
of changes for 2020, but an increase in
displacement isn't one of them, despite what it
now says on the side of the bike. (Top) The 1050,
with its throwback bright yellow coloring (as well
as the bold white/orange option), was inspired
by Suzuki's Ichiro Mayata, who designed Suzuki's
DR-Z Paris-Dakar rally bike in the 1980s.
