Suzuki Unveils The V-Strom 1050 At Auto Expo 2020

The adventure tourer made its global debut at the 2019 EICMA

• The Suzuki V-Strom 1050 will be the brand’s flagship ADV in the country.
• Powered by a new Euro 5/BS6-compliant 1037cc liquid-cooled V-twin motor.
• Expect Suzuki to launch the ADV in the coming weeks.

Suzuki Motorcycle India has unveiled its flagship adventure tourer, the Suzuki V-Strom 1050, at the Auto Expo 2020 in the country. The motorcycle made its global debut at the 2019 EICMA in Milan, Italy.

The ADV is powered by a new Euro 5/BS6-compliant 1037cc liquid-cooled V-twin motor which generates 107.4PS at 8500rpm and 100Nm at 6000rpm. It works alongside a 6-speed transmission with assist and slipper clutch linked to a chain drive. 

The engine is tempered with a Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (power mode), which comes in three levels: A, B and C. In mode A, the motorcycle offers the maximum power output and direct throttle response whereas the settings are the opposite in the C mode. This system works in conjunction with the switchable traction control system, which comes with three levels apart from the Off setting. 

Mode 1 is for sporty performance with minimal intervention whereas mode 3 is ideal for maximum sensitivity on wet roads. You also get a low-rpm assist to help you ride effortlessly in crawling traffic. It also gets a Suzuki Easy Start System for a hassle-free start. The claimed mileage stands at 24.51kmpl, which is pretty impressive for a motor this size. This coupled with a 20-litre fuel tank should be enough for most of your off-road adventures.

Underpinnings include a KYB inverted front fork with compression and rebound damping adjustability whereas the rear comes with a bottom link monoshock with preload adjustability. It comes to a halt using twin 310mm discs with radial calipers and a 260mm disc at the rear. 

The design of the motorcycle has been inspired by both the Suzuki DR-Z prototype desert racer and the production DR BIG production ADV. The characteristic boxy headlamp is all-LED, and so is the tail lamp. However, the indicators are good old bulbs. Other notable features are a full-LCD instrument cluster and three-position adjustable windscreen. At 855mm, the seat height is pretty decent for an ADV of its class. However, we hope Suzuki also brings in the optional 30mm lower seat which the brand sells in the UK market. 

Suzuki also unveiled a more hardcore variant, the V-Strom 1050 XT, at the expo. This version features the same 19-inch front and 17-inch wheel sizes but instead of alloys, it gets spoke wheels with tubeless tyres. It also comes with an aluminium bash plate, engine crash guard, LED indicators, 850mm-870mm two-step adjustable seat, 11-position tool-less adjustable windscreen, and hand guards as standard. Interestingly, its ground clearance is 5mm lower than the road-biased V-Strom 1050, at 160mm.

Expect Suzuki to launch the motorcycle in the coming weeks. The Suzuki V-Strom 1050 will compete against the Honda Africa Twin, Ducati Multistrada 1260, and the BMW R 1250 GS. Suzuki is expected to bring the bike via the CBU route. It is likely to retail for around Rs 15 lakh (ex-showroom).