Suzuki V-Strom 1050 DE Adventure Tour Test

It's great when a motorcycle comes with heated grips, especially when you're heading out on a tour in late February in our regions. It's even better if you figure out how to activate them before setting off. In the rain, with temperatures barely reaching five degrees Celsius, I couldn't find the elusive little button on the left handlebar—and since I didn't want to stop unnecessarily, my fingers were barely noticeable by the first stop after about two hours in Neumarkt in Styria. After a warming tea at the gas station, it immediately caught my eye, which made a significant comfort difference for the rest of the journey. The route took me through Carinthia to Italy, initially on national roads, and then on the highway to cover miles where the scenery isn't particularly exciting. When you want to get from Wr. Neustadt to Barcelona in four days, you have to make compromises. Either you stick to rather unspectacular state and national roads or pick out a few scenic highlights and accept a few (hundred) highway kilometers.

The clear highlight of the journey was the Verdon Gorge in France. Situated near Nice in the hinterlands of the Côte d’Azur, the Gorge du Verdon stretches 21 kilometers and ranks alongside the Tara Canyon in Montenegro and the Vikos Gorge in Greece as one of Europe's most spectacular canyons. It's a true paradise for motorcyclists, with a network of winding roads perfect for exploring the gorge. The best times to visit are spring and autumn, as summer tends to bring in many tourists, with RVs and other vehicles significantly diminishing the riding experience. On March 1, 2025, I virtually had all the roads between Castellane and the Lac de Sainte-Croix reservoir to myself, which led me to get a bit sidetracked and only continued towards Spain in the late afternoon on the third day of the ride.

In addition to the heated grips, the bike was equipped with an aluminum pannier set as an extra—center stand, crash bars, engine guard, cruise control, and quickshifter come standard, making the Suzuki V-Strom 1050 DE a near-perfect touring or long-distance motorcycle. It left little to be desired on the varied routes of the tour (highways, good roads, rough roads, tight bends, sweeping curves, and both fine and rough gravel paths). The crown jewel of the big V-Strom, even in Euro5-Plus times, remains its engine. The reliable 1,037cc V-Twin with its 107 horsepower and 100 Newton meters is ever-present, putting a grin under your helmet. The gearbox operates with Suzuki's signature precision, whether shifting with the clutch or using the quickshifter. We already have several reviews of this bike online, so this will focus on practical impressions from the tour. The Suzuki averaged 6.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, which, combined with the 20-liter tank, realistically allows for ranges of 300 to 350 kilometers.

The seat is comfortable enough for long stints without causing any soreness, but the wind protection is modest compared to the standard 1050 with its larger windshield. At 1.75 meters tall, I found it sufficient on the highway, but taller riders might face issues here—though you can swap in the larger screen from the other model (and vice versa). However, height might be a consideration for the DE for another reason: the seat height is a lofty 880 millimeters, and the comfortable yet wide seat results in a substantial step-over height, allowing me to only touch with my toes. So, if you need a firm footing with both feet, you'll want to be at least 1.80 meters tall. The 21-inch front wheel rolls more smoothly over rougher paths, enhancing the bike's versatility, but it doesn't make it an ultimate off-road machine. The suspension travel is decent at 170 millimeters front and 169 millimeters rear, but still limited, and the bike is quite a solid chunk. Fully fueled without cases (but with pannier racks), the test bike weighed in at 259.5 kg on the 1000PS scales, reaching a hefty 270 kg with cases. And that’s without my underwear packed...

A definite highlight is the traction control's Gravel Mode, which allows a bit of slip at the rear wheel without the bike breaking loose even under a spirited riding style—the Suzuki engineers have done a stellar job here! The rest of the electronics are familiar from other models and can be individually adjusted on the Suzuki, including Power Mode (throttle response and power delivery), ABS (which can be deactivated at the rear on the DE), and the traction control itself.

The bike handled the mix of small, winding roads and unpaved paths exceptionally well, where I spent an additional two days exploring in Spain. This brings us to the conclusion of my Spain trip with the V-Strom 1050 DE. The Suzuki covers a wide range of uses, ready for trips that venture into rougher terrain beyond just dirt roads. With some experience in handling its weight and seat height, you can tackle more challenging routes like the Adventure Country Tracks (ACT) and comfortably reach the exciting sections. However, those regularly seeking serious off-road challenges might prefer a different model, like the V-Strom 800 DE to stay within the brand. But for those who want reliable engine performance combined with the assurance that you won’t need to turn back when the road beneath you disappears, it's an excellent choice. Plus, it offers enough power, comfort, and space for traveling with a passenger.