By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
Suzuki V-Strom 1050 (MY2020) vs V-Strom 1000 (DD)
Suzuki V-Strom 1050 vs V-Strom 1000: which one you'd rather spend the big miles on.
Ride the Suzuki V-Strom 1050 home and you've paid well under what similarly kitted adventure rivals cost. The Suzuki V-Strom 1000's levers and switches feel a step behind the moment your hands settle on them. In a bend, though, it's hungry to be pushed.
So which one do you buy?
The V-Strom 1050 has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
A touch ahead: V-Strom 1050
Deep into a long ride, the V-Strom 1050 asks slightly less of your back and shoulders. That comes from better wind protection and a smoother engine. A small margin, and seat fit can overrule it.
What makes each one tick
V-Strom 1050
Comfort and range come first on the V-Strom 1050, and its V-twin pulls hard. It isn't chasing electronics. The fork and shock each have 6.3 in (160 mm) of travel to soak up a bump on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This twin's kept its durability record clean.
V-Strom 1000
Long highway stretches test the V-Strom 1000's adjustable windscreen. The screen adjusts quickly, but something always finds a way through at speed. The V-Strom earns its Sport Enduro Tourer label in the corners. Its V-twin answers the throttle cleanly, and the bars barely buzz. There's nothing left to reach for. It's just as clean picking through city traffic.
Nils rode the V-Strom 1000 in 2014, and in Austria in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The V-Strom 1000 has the lower wet weight: 503 lb (228 kg) vs 520 lb (236 kg).
- The V-Strom 1050 makes more peak power: 107 hp (79 kW) vs 100 hp (74 kW).
- Ride Modes: standard on the V-Strom 1050, not offered on the V-Strom 1000.
Which one for the way you ride
Real off-road capability
Wrong job for both
Once the pavement ends, both fall short. A light dual-sport will do far more out there.
These two run dead level on commuting, twisty roads, and running costs. Sit on both in the showroom and trust what your body says.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
V-Strom 1050
What owners say
Strengths
- Exceptional value for money
- Proven long-term reliability
V-Strom 1000
Strengths
- Power That Fits The Bike
- V-Twin Punches Above Its Tier
- Genuinely Sporty In Corners
- Easy Step Into Adventure
- Agile handling with sophisticated suspension
Trade-offs
- Power Feels Modest By Comparison
- Wind Gets Through At Speed
- Switchgear Shows The Price
- Chain Wants Regular Care
- Hard, uncomfortable seat
Known problems to check before you buy
V-Strom 1050
- Excessive high beam headlight output (recall) Recall 25V505000 The headlamp assembly does not meet FMVSS 108 — upper-beam output exceeds the legal maximum and can impair the vision of the rider and of oncoming traffic. Suzuki recalled certain 2020-2022 V-Strom 1050 machines (NHTSA 25V505, Suzuki campaign 3A06/3A07) and replaces the headlamp assembly free of charge; owner letters went out on November 7, 2025. On a used bike, confirm the work was done.
V-Strom 1000
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Displacement
- 1037 cc
- Engine
- 90° V-twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel capacity
- 5.3 US gal (20 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 110/80-19
- Rear tire
- 150/70-17
- Ground clearance
- 6.5 in (165 mm)
- Front travel
- 6.3 in (160 mm)
- Rear travel
- 6.3 in (160 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| V-Strom 1050 | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.7 in (855 mm) | 33.5 in (850 mm) |
| Wet weight | 520 lb (236 kg) | 503 lb (228 kg) |
| V-Strom 1050 | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 107 hp (79 kW) | 100 hp (74 kW) |
| Peak power at | 8,500 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| Torque | 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) | 76 lb-ft (103 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 6,000 rpm | 4,000 rpm |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| V-Strom 1050 | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
| LED Headlight | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
