Suzuki DL 1050 XL
Discussion
I quite fancy one , for no good reason, more like lots of small reasons.
Appreciate it's only 100 bhp, I just like the idea of the bike .
Especially the price , there are quite a few one year old, sub 5000 miles less than 7.5k.
Why ?
Have some owners got them , not got on with them and traded them in.
Are they actually a bit horrible?
Appreciate it's only 100 bhp, I just like the idea of the bike .
Especially the price , there are quite a few one year old, sub 5000 miles less than 7.5k.
Why ?
Have some owners got them , not got on with them and traded them in.
Are they actually a bit horrible?
I don’t think they had great reviews when compared to other adventure bikes. The looks are a bit marmite.
People seem to love the GS and there are tons of them available.
I bought a Multistrada V2S as my bike for this stuff, I did look at the Suzuki but didn’t like the looks myself, I don’t like the look of the GS either although I quite like the 1300.
People seem to love the GS and there are tons of them available.
I bought a Multistrada V2S as my bike for this stuff, I did look at the Suzuki but didn’t like the looks myself, I don’t like the look of the GS either although I quite like the 1300.
I had one. Well DL1000 which is the same engine etc.
You could jump on it and ride it to Africa without thinking about what if etc or checking anything first.
But its very neutral in everything it does.
I couldn't buy a 1200GS purely as I don't want to be seen as a rotund rider with empty panniers with 100 lights on the front of the bike..
You could jump on it and ride it to Africa without thinking about what if etc or checking anything first.
But its very neutral in everything it does.
I couldn't buy a 1200GS purely as I don't want to be seen as a rotund rider with empty panniers with 100 lights on the front of the bike..
I know a few that own them and they absolutely love them. I'm leaning towards a similarly priced 1290 but the 1050 strom looks incredible in the orange or yellow paint scheme and they're utterly bulletproof. Almost impossible to find any horror stories on them. A couple are currently on the home stretch on theirs going two up around the world. Don't think they've had any issues at all with it. Every rider aid you could realistically want and enough power.
Mine is the DL1000, so same engine but previous design.
V-Strom's don't have all the bells & whistles you get on more expensive ADV bikes, neither do they have the top end power or the off road prowess all of which are very, very important to some people.
What you do get is a very grunty engine and reliability.
If you're looking at the spoked wheel version be aware that Suzuki have used the same design as the XT1200 so the spokes tarnish, but they don't break. Good wheels off road but infuriating for those that polish.
V-Strom's don't have all the bells & whistles you get on more expensive ADV bikes, neither do they have the top end power or the off road prowess all of which are very, very important to some people.
What you do get is a very grunty engine and reliability.
If you're looking at the spoked wheel version be aware that Suzuki have used the same design as the XT1200 so the spokes tarnish, but they don't break. Good wheels off road but infuriating for those that polish.
I had the 1000 and really liked it, took it down to Tuscany in a group of others on Tigers, Guzzi TT, KTM 1390, 1250RT and another 1050 Strom, plenty quick and civilised, plenty handly enough for everything I threw at it, cheapest bike on the trip by far and no, not horrible in the slightest.
Not as accomplished or as exciting as the KTM obviously but then it was less than half the price...
Not as accomplished or as exciting as the KTM obviously but then it was less than half the price...
Edited by JaseB on Thursday 14th March 16:14
JaseB said:
I had the 1000 and really liked it, took it down to Tuscany in a group of others on Tigers, Guzzi TT, KTM 1390, 1250RT and another 1050 Strom, plenty quick and civilised, plenty handly enough for everything I threw at it, cheapest bike on the trip by far and no, not horrible in the slightest.
Not as accomplished or as exciting as the KTM obviously but then it was less than half the price...
But for 7.5k you could get a very nice 1190 and have change or a decent 1290 and Stroms simply don't compare to them by any measureNot as accomplished or as exciting as the KTM obviously but then it was less than half the price...
Equally if you just want dull reliable transport, they do the job - as do millions of other bikes
OP here .
On Monday and Tuesday, I test rode an almost new Suzuki, less than 1000 miles and £8.7k. Then a 950 Multistrada on a 19 plate , S model 6000 miles £10.5k and then an 1190 with 20k miles , 2016 ,price £6.5k.
I have bought one of the three . What do you think I bought?
On Monday and Tuesday, I test rode an almost new Suzuki, less than 1000 miles and £8.7k. Then a 950 Multistrada on a 19 plate , S model 6000 miles £10.5k and then an 1190 with 20k miles , 2016 ,price £6.5k.
I have bought one of the three . What do you think I bought?
Edited by cliffords on Wednesday 20th March 10:08
First up I am retired and have had bikes for 40 years so lots of them, I don't commute, I don't go two up and I just mess around with a few old palls , and do quite a bit of solo riding with no place to go . Its just a fun toy for me .
The Suzuki is a lot for the money , its a big bike , quite a bit of technology and smooth and immediately easy to ride . It has low down power, its not racer, its a competent mile muncher. It would be good for touring and two up. A good commuter , not so much in London type traffic.
It does not excite , its a two wheel mode of transport , done quite well at a low price . Ideal as a commuter. It was instantly apparent how it rode and what it was within 5 miles. I am not negative about it but its not what I want .
The 950s is utterly lovely, I had a 1200 for two years in 2017. It revs more freely than the 1200, is a bit lighter. Its beautifully made and has lots of technology . Its quite rapid for its size and 114bhp. Its very comfortable and plush . Its quite a lot of money . Had I not had a 1200 for a few years I think this is a really great bike. My problem is the mental comparison I made each time I opened the throttle . 114bhp or 150 plus bhp.
If I have not owned a 1200 . I would have bought it . Albeit warranty and servicing seems a big add on . I think if you buy the 950 , you may always wonder what the 1200 feels like .
The KTM is quite unsuitable in many ways , older then the other two and stories of poor quality and failures. It has a very good riding position for me at 6'3''. Its got fairly good tech, ABS, modes, TC and IMU in the later model. I also found one with active suspension.
Its easy to ride and smoother then I expected . The road holding and cornering are really very good, equal to the Ducati. The engine is an absolute scream , its so much fun and engaging . I was literally laughing in my helmet and smiling .
So I found a KTM at another dealer with all the technology and importantly a warranty , not insurance backed , but a KTM extension.
That's what I bought .
I bought with my heart and maybe not my head , but fortunately that's what I can do right now being old and retired.
The Suzuki is a lot for the money , its a big bike , quite a bit of technology and smooth and immediately easy to ride . It has low down power, its not racer, its a competent mile muncher. It would be good for touring and two up. A good commuter , not so much in London type traffic.
It does not excite , its a two wheel mode of transport , done quite well at a low price . Ideal as a commuter. It was instantly apparent how it rode and what it was within 5 miles. I am not negative about it but its not what I want .
The 950s is utterly lovely, I had a 1200 for two years in 2017. It revs more freely than the 1200, is a bit lighter. Its beautifully made and has lots of technology . Its quite rapid for its size and 114bhp. Its very comfortable and plush . Its quite a lot of money . Had I not had a 1200 for a few years I think this is a really great bike. My problem is the mental comparison I made each time I opened the throttle . 114bhp or 150 plus bhp.
If I have not owned a 1200 . I would have bought it . Albeit warranty and servicing seems a big add on . I think if you buy the 950 , you may always wonder what the 1200 feels like .
The KTM is quite unsuitable in many ways , older then the other two and stories of poor quality and failures. It has a very good riding position for me at 6'3''. Its got fairly good tech, ABS, modes, TC and IMU in the later model. I also found one with active suspension.
Its easy to ride and smoother then I expected . The road holding and cornering are really very good, equal to the Ducati. The engine is an absolute scream , its so much fun and engaging . I was literally laughing in my helmet and smiling .
So I found a KTM at another dealer with all the technology and importantly a warranty , not insurance backed , but a KTM extension.
That's what I bought .
I bought with my heart and maybe not my head , but fortunately that's what I can do right now being old and retired.
Edited by cliffords on Wednesday 20th March 19:36
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