I just tested the 2023 1050 vanilla (non XT, non DE) for about 250 kms, twisties in the mountains and all. What blew my mind is how smaller, nimble, agile and stable it feels compared with my 2019 650 XT (that has Ohlins suspension on it). Even on slow speed turns on grass/gravel. And now it comes with all the bells and whistles I need, TFT, quick shifter, cruise control from 25 kph and 2nd gear up, 6 axes IMU, linked brakes (the front is amazing), hill control, some fancy load breaking that ajusts the breaking force based on the weight carried (passenger, luggage so on). And I reach the bars as good as on mine if not better, which has bar risers with offset (3cm up/2 cm back). All in all, I decided I must have it so with sadness I must part ways with my beloved 650. 5 weeks to go and it feels like an eternity :)

The way you do the reviews is much better than others in that you are not on the motorcycle the whole time where it is difficult to hear everything that you're saying oh, I love the fact that you pause and present the bike whilst you stand next to it and review it properly.

Hi from Ireland. Great review . Bought my XT a month ago and am really enjoying the ride, has exceeded my expectations in every way . Don’t find it top heavy , lovely handling when slow moving and on twisty roads. I have upgraded the original screen to a Kappa screen which has added great noise and weather protection. Don’t overlook the Suzuki V Strom XT if your looking for a value for money ADV bike, give it a test ride.

Regarding the TFT screen, I think the bike is fine as it is, simple and minimal mono colour which adjusts with ambient light (I did not know that, thumbs up for pointing out), if they add the multi colour screen and connectivity it would become a BMW and we do not want that… too much complexity. You get hydraulic clutch though. Nobody points out the long front mudguard at the front, finally a mudguard that will protect the radiator from road debris. The more I look at it and the reviews the more I am convinced it is a perfect honest Japanese product, I do not think it can become any better.

Hey guys did you see at 1.40 when he said its a beautiful day a butterfly just flew in from nowhere...awesome review..as always

Hi, I have 650XT and I love it to the end. It is magic carpet for twisty roads but what I like the most is QUALITY of the product. 50000km passed together without maintenace almost, just oil and filter :). So for me despite higher specs of other products to change brand and model is almost unthinkable.

Here in Montreal, the V-Strom 1050 XT is exactly same sale price as the Tiger 900 GT (not the pro). The V-STROM is really a nice reliable bike, but its around 30kg more heavy than the Tiger 900 GT. Seat height of the VSTROM is 850-870 mm. Tiger 900 GT seat height is 810-830 mm. Front wheel fork travel : 180mm on the Tiger 900 GT; 160 mm on the V-Strom 1050 XT. I could tell you more advantages for the Tiger 900 GT versus the V-Strom 1050 XT. Just did my first 1600 km (1000 miles) with my Tiger 900 GT and i love it; its a fabulous road oriented adventure bike. Still very good for gravel & dirt roads. If you’re looking for a road & gravel oriented adventure bike: go try both to compare yourself! There is also the F750GS & the V85TT to consider.

I bought the last of the old models paid £8900 really shocked by how good the suspension and brakes are for a budget bike and pottering about 50/60mph got 67mpg now I've nearly run it in If you give it more gas you can drop it down to 49mpg just wish they would make it with 17 inch front wheel and do an xr with 19 inch.because I would say only 10 percent of people would take it off road. It is after all just a European touring tool😁

G'day Scott. We will finaly get the new XT into the showroom this coming week in the town that I live in. I currently have a 2015 650 strom, and a 2014 1000 strom. Love the bikes for their simplistic nature and utter reliability. I can even work on the bikes myself without having to have a degree in electronics/advanced technology and all that other complicated stuff. The revamped 2020 model has a few little extra's thrown at it, but nothing excessive and I think that most strom enthusiast's would appreciate that fact. Really appreciate the review brother and I will hopefully take the XT for a test ride in the coming weeks. Stay safe mate.

Hello Scott, I really like your reviews, best on YT - and for sure I'm subscribed. The Suzuki V-Stroms really appear to me as hidden treasures, especially the 1050 (XT). Didn't have it on my list whatsoever. But now, I think Suzuki did a great job with it. I like it looks, the reliability and that it's still pretty uncomplicated. No TFT, but a LCD that delivers awesomely and looks cool. Not so much power, but a V2 that kicks it anyway and is so smooth in a good way without missing the beat. Kind of heavy, but well balanced (others aren't lighter when equipped like it). Still not that expensive - why can't Suzuki be paid for a good job? Just one weird thing: Why didn't Suzuki use the technique of the IMU to also feed the traction control with it? By the way, the ABS can be shut down completely, it's just anoyingly complicated. Only actual complaint for me: The operation of the windshield - should have been like the one from the Honda VRF1200X; but well, once positioned you forget about it anyway. Other than that, you can ride and operate it without opening the manual from the get-go. Wanted to have an inline-4, now I'm considering this V2.

Just got my one two days ago down here in New Zealand what a great bike out of the box had a 2018 650 v Strom it was a great bike to but this one is even better right on the money 💰 Cheers enjoyed your review 😀

Love the new 1050 XT! Especially in orange.

NTP, Excellent review as always. You should either be a motorcycle salesman or a riding instructor. Your knowledge & your way of explaining the bikes features & town/highway/off road capabilities are excellent to us bike shoppers. Keep more coming & stay safe.

I am from Brazil and Just bought mine 1050. Bike espetacular.

Ha, Schriewer in Bissendorf, that used to be my dealer during my time in Osnabrück. Nice Crew 👍🏻 And you‘re riding the Hill-Climb-Track to Borgloh, I love that peace of road. Very nice review! 👍🏻

Nice review - I know it's a test drive but just wish you would rev it out more so we can hear the engine!

Wenn ich mir deine Videos anschaue merke ich garnicht wie schnell die Zeit vergeht. 👍👍

Always the best rider's reports from the saddle Scott. Thanks! I've had a '16 650XT for fours years that I've improved and added to, and they are such a good all-rounder. I like this new 1050 quite a bit. It's slick but not an alien space bug like most other bikes in this category. The Stroms are very well made, easy to maintain and the best value for your buck in the realistic "adventure" mile muncher market. Cheers

Great review! Love your approach. No frills, just straight up honest review.

Had budget for a new GSA, but went with a V-Strom 1050 and a Bonneville T100 instead. The torque, fueling and "rideability" of both bikes are excellent. I did test ride a Tiger 900 Pro - very nice bike and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one -- but in the end I really wanted that Bonnie ...

You finally did it! You did a rewiev of the bike i asked for! Been waiting for it. Thank you very much NTP! 😁 I have already got my Vstrom 1050XT, but your rewiev was enlightning nonetheless. I am a bit dissapointet though, that you did not explain more in detail about the drive modes (S.I.R.S) and what they do, but overall a great rewiev! Thank you again NTP!😁

Solid and good looking bike. I only wish cruse control was an option on the entry model.

Great video, nice Bike. Vstrom being still the best bang for your buck adv bike. Cannot wait to see the Vstrom 650 with this design and tech.

Hi Scott, great review as always. I’ve just bought one of these in the orange and white after having owned a 2018 model. I think Suzuki have ironed out all the little bugs the previous gen had, the biggest improvement IMO is the ride by wire throttle. I got mine with a few extras at £11,800, and as you say, this is a super bike, no question 👍👍

Sick and tired of hearing about the GS/GSA hype.Save yourself a fortune on initial cost, and cost over time.Get one of these,or even better, a Super Tenere with shaft drive.Thank you Scott!👍👍

As always Scott, great review.

A few thoughts from an owner. I had an '04 V1K, now have an '18 V1K which is very similar to the '20 (with a couple of upgrades...). I've put over 15K miles on my Vees. It is impossible to really get to the heart of a bike in a short review. There are a few things to mention after owning for a while. The engine is a peach, for sure. And one of the big benefits is the gas mileage. It is entirely possible to eek out a literal 70 mpg+ if doing highway work at between 75-80 (indicated, which is optimistic by about 10%) and it is kept, overall, under 5K rpm which is entirely possible because of the low-down torque delivery. With the right tires - exceptional Michelin Road 5s or 6s - this bike really handles and stops incredibly well. Great brakes can be even a bit better with EBC sintered pads. A exhaust can/muffler replacement is not a bad idea at all. If done with some slight modifications to the air box (bigger openings), it'll gain a bit more power, lose some weight, and sound great all at the same time. If taken care of, maintenance is exceptionally low. And these engines can go over 200K miles! Many out there now are daily drivers with over 100K on them. Regarding off-road prowess. With real knobbies - and the right person at the helm - these bikes can really rip it up on some pretty tough trails. I wouldn't expect most reviewers to be any good at a real off-road hustle. But it's a good steed for that as long as the suspension travel is kept in mind.

Another great review, Scott! I just love your reviews. Good stuff. This is an older one, but you are just so consistent, review to review.

Thank you for this bike review. I just got back into motorcycling and purchased the 650. Now after riding I am looking for more power. I thought I would ride more gravel logging roads but haven't. So I am craving just a little more passing power on the highways. Plus I would like to travel more and the 650 maybe small for highways with luggage. I am not a light weight guy, too. Lol

Slick review as usual 👍 As for the lack of tft screen I say get rid of the LCD too and put some clocks on ! I'm buying one anyway but I'd certainly buy a stripped down version !

Excellent review as always. I do like this bike in the yellow and blue but it’s behind in tech and power. I feel this bike should be around 120-130 HP and 80 ft lbs of torque.

Nice bike,it will be a option for me but I can not go back to a chain on this bike category, also,wind protection around my head is fundamental for me,and the only bike I ever drove that comes close(in the adventure class) is my actual bmw r1200gs. But this suzi do look good!

Yeah, the "Strom" is maybe the best bike with a chain drive. At least to me and I almost bought one 4 years ago. By now, in my opinion, the chain drive is her greatest weakness. Anyway she is just great, even though she is not that good looking! Thanks for taking her out Scott! 👍😎 Take care, be safe and stay healthy.

I still have my 2014 VStrom 1000 adv Great Bike. I can only imagine that this bike is even better. The VStrom is such a lively chassis with its light weight and perky engine. I can corner and brake very well with this bike. It handles very well on the gravel roads that I ride it on.

The only thing that I don't like about the Vstrom is the ground clearance. I used to have a Vstrom 650 xt, but in here there are too many bumps and with 2 up, it was a nightmare cause I like to take care of the bikes. Vstroms are comfortable, bulletproof engines, reliable, easy in the twisty roads. Great bikes. Regards from México.

Just thinking, for fun, the Triumph Street Triple RS has the TFT with connectivity (but not the best layout), Ohlins shock with Showa big piston forks, Brembo M50's up front and is a light/fun bike... Costs £10,500 in the UK, less than the V-strom XT (£11,299 on offer at the moment £9,999 for the base model). I did tour on my 675 Street Triple with some soft bags, it can be done.

Nicely done! Great job, thinking about getting one of these...

Interesting that most other reviewers complained about the engine being boring and lacking in "character", while a calm chilled out reviewer such as Nothing2Prove likes the smooth engine. I'm currently weighing up the 1050XT against the tiger 900 Rally. Thanks for the review.

I just put a Givi top case on my 2014 1000adv. What a bike! I highly recommend it

I have one. Bullet proof reliability, super smooth, comfortable, easy to service, great brakes and handling. Gravel roads and green lanes no problem. Easy to service. Totally underrated bike compared to the hype and marketing of other adventure bikes. If you want to go off roads in any meaningful way then buy a 250 scrambler, becaus an Africa Twin, GSR large KTM are just too heavy to do any real offloading anyway, and this iSuzuki It’s also better on the road 10 most of the other big adventure bikes.

Nice twitch to your presentation, giving us the on the road part in smaller bits and combining it with the "presentation mode". The external camera is here for a while too, and loving it! Liking the bike quite a bit as well!

Nice review well done. Great bike .

Great review Scott! How’d you get those beautiful shots while riding? It’s like you have cameraman tailing you! Two thumbs up!

I love my 2015 1000. Just hit 26k and still going strong.

Great bike. At first I didn't like the dash on this bike but I actually kinda like it, grown on me. The bike has some 80's styling influence and that dash would be what I imagine a 'hi-tech' srceen would resemble from the 80s. Dunno, my take on it.

Another reviewer noticed "Different cam profile both in the intake and exhaust side... A little bit more power on top at the expense of some bottom and torque which it would be good for sport bike but not for an adventure bike ... Have you noticed any of this?

Beautiful day in Germany wow. Schönes Wetter!

Witch one you buy between the V-Strom and the Guzzi V85TT

I own the previous model, interesting to note they’ve reintroduced an oil cooler I already knew the radiator is larger probably to accommodate the additional heat greater engine output (larger throttle bodies). What’s not so good is where the new model develops it’s max torque now at 6k, the old model was at 4K. Some of the changes previous model Strom owners have been asking for Cruise control - now included on the XT but why only 4th gear and above A comfortable seat - that’s a personal thing but you’ve reported it worked for you, others say the opposite so I guess a long test ride is worth doing. The electronics have been upgraded which is welcome but no connectivity is I agree a missed opportunity All in all it’s a mild updated, but it’s not winning too many friends on the U.K. forums at the moment it’s just not radical enough. The competition has arguably caught it up and overtaken this revamp of an ageing design - Triumph’s 900 with all its options & price points, your own BMW 900 and so on. A good review never the less 👍

thanks for a great review

I’m a big ‘Strom fan, I’ve bought and owned three new, ridden over 200 000 trouble free kilometers. However, relative to what’s now available, out of the crate this bike is a dud. Farkle it up and modify its shortcomings and it can be transformed into something decently competitive, but that erases the “value” so important to many ‘Strom buyers - including myself. PS - Maybe it’s time to distinguish between “off-road” and off pavement riding?

The only really disappointing thing about this bike is its looks, the looks of the Ducati Multistrada 1260 is infinitely better and it would be easy for Suzuki to make this one better as well.

I feel that there is a lot of power in your quiet words. thanks.

Great review on a very nice large ADV bike. I have my eye on the Vistrom 650XT. Who makes the sculpted bag that you carry on you back? Model ? Thanks !

Great review as usual. thanks for posting!

Took a quick look at this bike when I was in process of upgrading my ‘17 Africa Twin. Considered several others but my experience has been so good with the Honda, went with 2020 AT AS. Not perfect but very solid indeed. I’m sure I will be seeing more Suzuki’s with the new Vstrom.

One question if you know, can you permanently turn the Hill Hold Assist off? Does the bike remember what settings were previously set when turned off and on via the key?

Great review Scott, Thanks

i just ordered my glass sparkle black XT cant wait :)

I’m debating this bike (with optional side cases) and the Super Tenere es

I have watched a few of your videos and have generally found them interesting and useful. today's was no exception. I have only just realized however, that you have a subtitle/tagline for your youtube channel, which reads "Ride like you have nothing to prove", and this sentiment I endorse wholeheartedly, as the "dick swinging" that goes on in every bike club is just tiresome I have found. Good for you.

You are saying its needs a TFT or a LCD screen? Looks like the 1050XT is a good bike.

Another great review Scott. First time I’ve seen the black XT. I really like it. In Australia the 1050XT and F900XR are virtually the same price. (The fully speced BMW is A$600 more). Based on that, which of the two would you get? Cheers!

Colours make it look stealth bomber

Somewhat surprised that Suzuki stuck with the size here this year for the engine. Should be more by now since most owners will keep it on the road.

Great review once again - now what is your favourite amongst the Honda African Twin, The Kawi Versys 1000 and this Suzuki VStrom 1050 now that you have tested all three and how would you rank them 1, 2, 3 ? Cheers, Ronny

Great Scott 👌 as always

Great bike! But for the same price (~12k €) I would rather buy a 2018/2019 Africa Twin Adv. Sports (just for the sound alone). Tech is kind of the same and it looks much better imo. Wouldnt trade in my 2020 Adv. Sports ES for anything tho and i got it for 15.5k!

Hi, Any reason you have not reviewed the better all arounder Vstrom 650XT ? I think you mentioned the model in a recent review of your own BMW 900

0:29 But the oil filter is sitting out in the open waiting for a rock to smash it!

Gold wheel rims would have looked good on this bike! Which was on the black 2019 1000xt

Nice review!

I love this 1050xt so much 😍🥰😎

They also finally updated the tires. The previous version had tires made back in the mid 2000´s meh

Are we saying its half the price of the Big Gs. It's a great looking bike but it sure is carrying some weight now.

Great review as always! im 170 cm how easy is to ride this bike? thank you.

A good looking bike with some nice design touches at a great price. But that headlight, yes I'm of an age to know why (DR big), but just no, and how much work go's into making an end can look that fugly, aftermarket can anyone? Ok, I could maybe live with or sort , but the deal breaker on a big adventure bike like this would be the screen adjustment, having to stop and get off the bike to move it!

Suzuki don't produce a full colour TFT in any bike , not even the top of the range GSXR1000. They seem to be stuck in the past and are losing ground against there competitors year on year. World wide sales are nose diving and Suzuki need to do something about this before it's too late.

Isn't the headlight the same as Suzuki Katana???

At 1:39, when you said "it's a beautiful day", a butterfly promptly appeared"....

You side camera. What kind of magic is this ? I see the shadow but not the stick itself

What’s a cassette style transmission

That right there is a homely bike.

It seems hard to beat for the price.

Good analysis.Thks.

Where is this model manufactured ? Japan ?

Excellent review as always. Stopped me from buying this bike. Too much pleasant = >Kind of boring.

The adventure bike I'd buy if I wanted an adventure bike.

How is traction control?

Hate the big ugly side exhaust. Deal-breaker for me. Good that the first views you showed were the left side.

Is it true that you have to adjust the screen when the bike has stopped as the lever is on the outside

Do not like the big matte black exhaust on this bike

Thank you! (...and Suzuki)

These big vstrom's are the most comfortable motorcycle I've Ever sat on......

To me this bike felt underpowered when compared to like Africa twin,which is like a 50cc bigger engine,maybe because of long gears and that you have to rev it quite a bit to get that top power

Adventure has nothing to do with the lenght of the suspensions! Offroad capability has to do with the lenght of the suspensions. Adventure is getting in unknown situations :-)

ooouuu! yaaah! that's the berries! :D

It's just ridiculous...in Austria the XT version is at 16200€!😭

HAS IT GOT ANY CHARGING POINTS?

Versys or vstrom? Which one do you prefer?