RIDE REVIEW I 2023 SUZUKI V-STROM 1050DE
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The additional ground clearance is one of the
benefits of the DE's new suspension. The fully
adjustable 43mm KYB fork and single shock
are completely reworked internally and tuned
for more aggressive off-road riding. Plus, you
get more wheel travel at both ends
than the XT, albeit only a half-inch
more (if that), but we'll take it. The
downside? Seat height has grown 1.1
inches to 34.6 inches. But Suzuki does
offer a lower profile seat as an option.
The DE also features a longer swingarm—
with a resulting longer wheelbase—that Suzuki
says offers 10% more torsional rigidity versus
the previous generation swingarm. The idea
here is to improve straight-line stability in
motion.
The new suspension updates
included a
modified frame with slightly tweaked dimen
-
sions and added strength built around specific
areas
(such as the rear fender and battery
mounts). You'll want this because you'll ride the
DE harder in the dirt now.
Suzuki updated the 6-axis Inertial Measure-
ment Unit (IMU) and the Suzuki Intel-
ligent Ride System (SIRS) electronics
suite, which
includes ride modes,
cornering ABS, multimode traction con-
trol, cruise control and braking systems
that
compensate for hill starts, slope
and load. The latest design also features an
updated throttle-by-wire system, a new lighter
and smaller Bosch ABS control unit, a new CAN
(Controller Area Network) wiring system, and a
new 32-bit ECM (Engine Control Module). What
captures our attention most is you can disable
the rear ABS now. Thanks for listening, Suzuki.
You can't completely turn off the front ABS, but
The 2023 Suzuki
V-Strom 1050DE
combines a little bit
of both old and new
technology.
