Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT

When there is an acknowledged market leader in a given category of motorcycle, it does tend to blinker people to alternatives that are, in all likelihood, just as good. Often the market leader is there simply because of a better marketing campaign or fortuitous exposure in some form of media. I’m not saying that they’re no good and don’t deserve to be at the top of the pile, but let’s get things in perspective.

- Harry Fisher

In the right hands, pretty much any bike can be made to do, very well, anything it was designed to do. The limiting factor is the rider, not the bike. The need to have the latest technology at your fingertips, not to mention the highest power output and the TFT dash with the most colours, has no bearing on the ability of a bike but they have elevated some bikes to a level they don’t necessarily deserve. No, that’s wrong; they do deserve to be up there but they’re not necessarily the best for everyone, even though we are told they must be.

Suzuki’s V-Strom has been playing second fiddle to BMW and KTM for too long. It was always a very good bike and Suzuki engineering has always been bulletproof but the model just didn’t shout loud enough about itself. Those in the know understood but the adventure population has been blinded by those damned Europeans.

Now - and not before time, I hear some of you shout - the V-Strom has received the update it always deserved, along with a name change to DL1050XT. Naturally, this update centres mainly around the electronics as no bike can be seen to be without a full suite of rider aids these days. Personally, I can look at this two ways; either the aids are helping more people enjoy adventure riding which is a noble enterprise or that the bikes themselves are getting too big and we need all the help we can get to keep them under a semblance of control.

It doesn’t really matter. Being one of those who need all the help they can get, I’ll take the electronics any day!