This year’s model of Suzuki’s big adventure touring bike, the V-Strom 1000, is now in dealerships.
Suzuki released the last major update to the bike in 2014, and there’s really nothing in the way of changes for 2016.
The bike has received plenty of praise since the last update, especially for the improvements that were made to the engine.
But it’s often overlooked by buyers looking for an adventure touring bike, and it shouldn’t be.
The V-Strom 1000 is a good all round bike with off road capability, yet it’s still easy to live with on a day to day basis.
The engine in the V-Strom is a 1037cc, 90-degree V-Twin that uses Suzuki’s Dual Throttle Valve fuel injection. It has a very smooth power delivery for a V-twin and plenty of low down torque.
The bike also has a three mode traction control system as standard equipment. There are two active modes, and the rider can disable the system for off-road use.
Of the two active modes, Mode 1 actually allows a certain amount of rear wheel slip which can be useful on dirt.
The V-Strom 1000 also has ABS and the Suzuki Clutch Assist System that works as a slipper clutch on downshifts.
The chassis uses an aluminium twin-spar frame, fully adjustable 43mm inverted forks are fitted on the front and the rear has a single-shock suspension with adjustable rebound damping and a remote spring pre-load adjuster.
The instrument cluster on the V-Strom 1000 has an analogue tachometer and a brightness-adjustable LCD speedometer.
There’s also some nice features like a gear position indicator, and the display also shows coolant and ambient temperatures, fuel consumption and range.
For rider comfort there is a 3-way height and angle adjustable windscreen.
Suzuki has also developed an integrated three part luggage system for the V-Strom 1000.
Owners can attach and remove the side cases and top box quickly and easily without using tools.
Even though its been a couple of years since its major update, the bike is still as relevant today as it was then.
It’s always been compared to KTM’s 1190 Adventure, the Yamaha Tenere and to some degree the BMW R1200GS – although that’s a bit of an unfair comparison really!
With the recent launch of Honda’s Africa Twin, the V-Strom 1000 has probably met it’s closest match and toughest competitor yet.
The 2016 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 is slightly less expensive than the Honda at a recommended retail ride away price of $16,990, and that will help Suzuki to maintain some advantage in the competitive adventure bike segment.