By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
Suzuki V-Strom 1050 (MY2020) vs V-Strom 1050 (MY2023)
Pile on the miles, season after season, and the 2020 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 doesn't break down. Out of a tight bend, the 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 1050's rear squats slightly as the tire hooks up. It holds the line you've picked.
So which one do you buy?
The 2023 V-Strom 1050 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Edges it: 2023 V-Strom 1050
For the ride to work, the 2023 V-Strom 1050 noses ahead. Don't let that alone make the call.
What makes each one tick
2020 V-Strom 1050
The 2020 V-Strom 1050's V-twin hasn't shown a chronic mechanical failure in its long record. That engine runs through ride-by-wire and pulls hard. It isn't chasing the latest electronics; the seat and the 5.3 US gal (20 L) tank come first.
2023 V-Strom 1050
On a supermoto circuit, the 2023 V-Strom 1050's steady chassis out-laps some purpose-built naked bikes. The brakes shed speed confidently and the cornering ABS never introduced unwanted intervention during track laps. On a flowing circuit the lean angle limit came up in almost every corner. The wide bar gives real leverage, and it's still there at walking pace when the bike needs balancing. Too much entry speed makes the front push wide. At a sensible pace, it's gone. The Bridgestone A41s grip through lap after hot lap.
Nils rode the 2023 V-Strom 1050 in Austria in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2020 V-Strom 1050 has the lower wet weight: 520 lb (236 kg) vs 534 lb (242 kg).
- Cornering ABS: standard on the 2023 V-Strom 1050, not offered on the 2020 V-Strom 1050.
- Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension: standard on the 2020 V-Strom 1050, not offered on the 2023 V-Strom 1050.
Which one for the way you ride
Real off-road capability
Both miss here
Both of these belong on pavement, with gravel as the limit. Real trails call for a different bike.
On twisty roads, long days, and running costs, these two are a wash. That's where your budget and your inseam get the final say.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2020 V-Strom 1050
What owners say
Strengths
- Exceptional value for money
- Proven long-term reliability
2023 V-Strom 1050
Strengths
- Flawless, Year-After-Year Reliability
- Smooth, Trustworthy Drive
- Holds Its Line Accurately
- Wide Bars, Real Command
- Quicker Than It Looks
Trade-offs
- Front Pushes When Rushed
- Lean Angle Runs Out
- No Suspension Adjustment
- Tall and Heavy at a Stop
- Hefty curb weight
Known problems to check before you buy
2020 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.
2023 V-Strom 1050
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
- Power
- 107 hp (79 kW)
- Peak power at
- 8,500 rpm
- Torque
- 74 lb-ft (100 Nm)
- Peak torque at
- 6,000 rpm
- 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
| 2020 V-Strom 1050 | 2023 V-Strom 1050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.7 in (855 mm) | 33.7 in (856 mm) |
| Wet weight | 520 lb (236 kg) | 534 lb (242 kg) |
| 2020 V-Strom 1050 | 2023 V-Strom 1050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 47 mpg (US) / 5 L/100 km | 50 mpg (US) / 4.7 L/100 km |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2020 V-Strom 1050 | 2023 V-Strom 1050 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cornering ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard |
| Navigation | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
