A MORE CAPABLE V-STROM
Suzuki has revealed a new V-Strom 1050DE , which they say adds more off-road capability to the firm ’ s adventure bike range . The DE , which replaces the XT as Suzuki ’ s flagship adventure bike , gets a series of performance enhancements shared with an updated V-Strom 1050 , plus additional features , modifications , and enhancements designed to improve its performance when the highway ends .
The V-Strom 1050DE is designed for wherever your journey takes you – on any terrain , to any horizon , on any adventure – and builds on a proven , robust , and reliable platform that has made the V-Strom a cult motorcycle and the choice for many adventurers .
For 2023 both the new V-Strom 1050DE and the V-Strom 1050 feature a new , full-colour TFT dash and a bi-directional quickshifter , plus a suite of complex electronic features that includes :
• Six-axis IMU
• Lean angle-sensitive ABS with two sensitivity modes
• Slope-dependent control
• Load-dependent control
• Hill hold
• Linked brakes
• Cruise control
• Three power modes
• Three traction control settings
The V-Strom 1050DE also boasts a number of additional features , including :
• 21-inch front wheel with Dunlop TRAILMAX MIXTOUR tyres front and rear
• Increased suspension travel and ground clearance plus revised chassis geometry and ergonomics
• Wider ‘ bars and steel footpegs
• Two ABS modes plus the ability to disengage rear
ABS
• Additional off-road ‘ G mode ’ traction control setting
Much like the previous generation , the new V-Strom 1050DE and V-Strom 1050 channel the design ethos of Suzuki ’ s iconic DR-Z800 off-road racer . While both models embody the DR-Z with a similar silhouette , beak , and obvious design cues , the DE goes further in its homage with a traditional yellow and white livery , complete with gold rims , plus a blue and white colour scheme finished with blue rims . Both are available alongside an all-black version .
The V-Strom 1050 will come in black and gold with gold wheels , blue and black , a grey with red rims , and a red and black version with the same red wheels .
With the V-Strom 1050DE ’ s more off-road focus , the most noticeable change is the switch from a 19-inch to a 21-inch front wheel . Providing more control and manoeuvrability on rougher terrain . The DE ’ s spoked wheels are also shod with Dunlop TRAILMAX MIXTOUR tyres , with a semi-block tread pattern . The V-Strom 1050 continues to roll on 19 and 17-inch cast aluminium wheels with Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A41 tyres .
The DE ’ s larger front wheel , allied to longer travel suspension – fully-adjustable front forks and rear shock from KYB – increases rake and trail , and also improves ground clearance , boosting it to 190mm , while contributing to improved ergonomics when riding on looser , rougher surfaces . Its wheelbase is also 40mm longer than the V-Strom 1050 , thanks to a new aluminium swingarm that retains the same level of vertical and lateral rigidity but improves torsional rigidity by 10 %, while tapered aluminium handlebars are 40mm wider for an improved stance off-road .
The twin-spar aluminium frame is updated for 2023 , on both the V-Strom 1050DE and the V-Strom 1050 , with aluminium castings along with extruded aluminium
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