SA Launch: The new Suzuki DL1050
Pics by Black Rock and Chris Kuun.
Launch story by Kyle Lawrenson
“Hey chaps, the new bikes are here and they are all ready to be ridden. How would you like to join us for a little ride in the Valley of a thousand hills”?
That was the call from Chris Kuun, Suzuki SA. An ADV ride in the land that The Lord made for riding motorcycles. What a question!
Off we went to the airport for the early flight from GP to King Shaka airport just outside Ballito.
We were collected and delivered to the Chocolate Garden in the cane fields just down from the airport where the new bikes were waiting. Three of the new DL 1050’s, a DL 650 and – Surprise – the new V-Strom 250SX.
More on V-Strom 250 SX soon.
We met the Suzuki SA team and had a quick get together and briefing, where we were told all about the new bike.
Some detail:
It’s been roughly three years since Suzuki updated their big V-Strom. Back then, the substantial change was to make it look more like the classic Dr Big.
For 2023, the bike has undergone a serious revamp which will definitely appeal more to the hardcore ADV rider out there. The styling hasn’t been altered much but the previous XT model is replaced by a more off-road-focused 1050DE model, and it’s a fair comment to say that Suzuki has caught up with the other manufacturers.
Visual changes for the 1050DE include a shorter, smoked screen (Non adjustable) which makes it easier to look over the top while riding off-road and a revised front mudguard to suit the larger 21 inch front wheel. The new bike gets a 50mm longer swing arm, wider handlebars and wider foot-pegs.
It gets a new full-colour TFT display that looks more, modern than the old setup and gives the rider a really user friendly layout. It’s bright and clear and really simple to navigate through the settings.
The settings includes three traction control settings plus a new DE Gravel setting which retards the ignition. You have full access to the electronics suite that includes a six-axis IMU, lean sensitive ABS with linked brakes and load and slope-dependent control, hill-hold.
There are three power modes as well as two stages of ABS for road use plus an off-road setting which continues to work on the front wheel but can be disabled on the rear which means that you can slide the rear wheel if you want to. The latest V-Strom also gets a revised Bosch ABS unit that’s lighter and more compact than before.
Also new for 2023 is the quick-shifter, up and down and included as standard on the bike, and we’ll say it again… Suzuki makes some of the finest, smoothest quick-shifters on the market. The bike also boasts LED lighting all round.
Frame wise, Suzuki has used an aluminium twin spar design.
It’s more expensive to produce than a steel trellis unit, but Suzuki claims that it’s lighter and offers the correct amount of flex. It has been changed a bit from the previous model, to make it better suited to off-road use.
In terms of practicality, you can get genuine Suzuki panniers and a top box so you can carry essentials and gear for that adv holiday.
Suspension, by KYB is fully adjustable up front with a pre-load adjustable rear shock. Brakes are by Tokico with twin 310mm discs up front and a single 260mm disc at the rear. The brakes are linked and also come with SIRS (Suzuki Intelligent Ride System).
This is smart electronics that calculate how much weight is on the bike, from a solo rider to a friend on the back and then all your luggage and gives additional braking assistance to optimize braking performance.
Engine and gearbox:
The bike gets a revised gearbox, with higher ratios for first and sixth gear along with a lower final drive.
The nett result is a closer-ratio box from first to fifth, while the longer sixth offsets the lower final drive to retain the bikes cruising ability.
Whilst other manufacturers are playing around with parallel twins, Suzuki has stuck with what makes a V-Strom a V-Strom.
Thats a tried and tested Vee twin engine.
For the latest model, that engine has been tweaked, with, they tell us, sodium-filled exhaust valves, a first for Suzuki. Apparently this improves durability and helps to control combustion chamber temperatures better.
But its a solid performer, a twin-spark, 1037cc V-twin, with plenty of real world bang thanks to the 107hp and 74lb-ft (+/- 100Nm) power and torque figures.
The ride:
Our route took us along tar and gravel, from the Chocolate Garden, we went straight into Verulam just on the lip of the valley. Suzuki was looking for real world touring and they found it. Chickens, kids, goats, flooded and potholed roads, we negotiated it all. A proper SA experience with the sight and smells that you can only get here.
The kids crowded along the sides of the road and clapped and cheered as we wandered through. From there it was badly potholed roads to a stop at the scenic Mzinyathi waterfall near Inanda Dam, in the Iqado Phola mission. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. We continued to the Inanda Dam wall, also really beautiful and well worth a visit. Suzuki took us further inland along a twisting, winding section of gravel where we could play with the selections, scroll through the electronics and really get to know the bike.
We found a tight, twisty tar pass above the dam where we could open up a bit and play super bike school.
The potholes made for some interesting dodging and were a great test for the bikes handling, suspension and brakes. Blipping through that quickshifter is an absolute pleasure and the big grins when we rolled into Stokers Arms in Kloof for lunch told the story.
The route was well thought out. Perfect African conditions.
From lunch, it was back along the pass to the dam. The Mepho Road skirts along the opposite side of the dam. Sand, cattle, goats, runoff from the rains and a little bit of tar. Just perfect for a bike like this. In the Matata Valley, we stopped off at a viewpoint at the top of the mountain that gives some great views of the dam and surrounds. Man, we live in a beautiful country!
Alas -as the saying goes, all good things come to an end and the final leg took us back down the mountains to the start point. The odometer showed just more than 150 great KM’s for the day. Nice one Suzuki!
Conclusion:
Suzuki has listened, caught up and added another great choice to our market. Just look at it! Pretty too!
The new bike definitely has more off-road cred than the previous model, which is great. She feels more aggressive and nimble and is a pleasure to ride on the road.
And being a Suzuki, you just know that it’s as reliable as an anvil.
Bikes in this class include the likes of Honda’s Africa Twin, the Husqvarna Norden and the Tiger 900, so there is some fierce competition.
She’s competitively priced at R259 000.
We’ll take it out again soon and get some more opinions, but we really had a lot of fun.
It’s a great choice.
www.suzukimotorcycle.co.za for your nearest dealer.
Engine size | 1037cc |
Engine type | Liquid-cooled, 90-degree V-twin |
Frame type | Twin-spar aluminium |
Fuel capacity | 20 litres |
Seat height | 880mm |
Bike weight | 252kg |
Front suspension | KYB 43mm forks, fully adjustable |
Rear suspension | KYB shock, pre-load adjustable |
Front brake | 2 x 310mm discs with four-piston radial Tokiko calipers |
Rear brake | 260mm disc with twin-piston Tokiko caliper |
Front tyre size | 90/90 x 21 |
Rear tyre size | 150/70 x 17 |
