By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
Suzuki V-Strom 1050 (MY2020) vs V-Strom 1050 XT (MY2020)
Suzuki V-Strom 1050 MY2020 vs V-Strom 1050 XT: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
At walking pace on full lock, the Suzuki V-Strom 1050 MY2020 swings around tight and doesn't fight your arms. On the Suzuki V-Strom 1050 XT, the crash bars and center stand add weight you'll feel at that crawl. It wants more muscle on the bars.
So which one do you buy?
Which one's the smarter buy
Nothing in it on value
At these used prices, neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
V-Strom 1050 MY2020
Comfort and range come ahead of gadgets on the V-Strom 1050, and its proven 90-degree twin pulls hard on ride-by-wire. At corner entry, the fork tips 520 lb (236 kg) of fueled bike onto its 110/80-19 front tire. The twin's roots run back to the TL1000. Year after year, it's still running.
V-Strom 1050 XT
The XT's twin pulls smooth and torque-rich from low revs, and it's the reason this bike keeps finding open road. After a few weeks with the bike, a pattern appears: you set out to run an errand and end up taking the long way home. A bump meets 6.3 in (160 mm) of travel at each end, with a chassis that doesn't hide its pavement bias. It won't fuss in traffic. One road over, it's already carving the canyon.
Nils rode the V-Strom 1050 XT in 2020 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The V-Strom 1050 MY2020 has the lower wet weight: 520 lb (236 kg) vs 545 lb (247 kg).
- Cornering ABS: standard on the V-Strom 1050 XT, not offered on the V-Strom 1050 MY2020.
- Cruise Control: standard on the V-Strom 1050 XT, not offered on the V-Strom 1050 MY2020.
Which one for the way you ride
Real off-road capability
Neither is a natural fit
Real dirt isn't what either one is for. If the trail matters, bring a different bike.
Count commuting, twisty roads, long days, and running costs as a draw. The deal on the table and the condition of the bike matter more here.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
V-Strom 1050 MY2020
What owners say
Strengths
- Exceptional value for money
- Proven long-term reliability
V-Strom 1050 XT
Strengths
- V-Twin Carries the Show
- IMU That Earns Its Keep
- Refined Over Long Miles
- Throttle Tuned for Reality
- Built to Be Trusted
Trade-offs
- XT Extras Add Weight
- Sharpest Map Runs Twitchy
- Cruise Drops on Bumps
- Spoke Finish Fades Early
- Limited true off-road envelope
Known problems to check before you buy
V-Strom 1050 MY2020
- 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 1050 XT
- SDMS Mode A throttle response nervous / abrupt at low speeds The sharpest of the three SDMS throttle maps (Mode A) is described by multiple professional reviewers and owners as twitchy and irritating in town traffic, parking-lot maneuvers, and very low-speed riding. Mode B (medium) eliminates the issue and is the workaround used by most owners. Not a fault per se, but a consistent calibration criticism for the launch generation's drive-by-wire setup. No ECU update campaign documented.
- Cruise control drops out / cancels itself on bumps and minor inputs Cruise control disengages without rider intent — most often triggered by road bumps causing weight shift, slight forward throttle relaxation, or rough surface inputs. Owners describe needing to re-engage cruise multiple times per long ride. Some forum users argue the behavior is by-design (cruise cancels with any throttle/brake input including minor reflex inputs over bumps); others treat it as a calibration issue. No software update campaign documented.
- Rear (and to a lesser extent front) spokes dull, pit, or discolor early in ownership XT-exclusive issue — applies only to the XT's tubeless wire-spoke wheels, not to the cast-wheeled base 1050. Rear spoke finish (advertised as durable but observably plated) loses shine after as little as 50–500 miles of ownership. Cleaning provides only short-term relief; pitting and rust progress within a season. Front wheel less affected. Warranty handling has been geographically inconsistent (some UK/North America approvals; reports of denials in Australia).
What they cost used
These prices compare a 6-year-old V-Strom 1050 MY2020 with a 6-year-old V-Strom 1050 XT.
- V-Strom 1050 MY2020
- $9,000
- V-Strom 1050 XT
- $9,000
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
- Front travel
- 6.3 in (160 mm)
- Rear travel
- 6.3 in (160 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| V-Strom 1050 MY2020 | V-Strom 1050 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.7 in (855 mm) | 33.5 in (850 mm) |
| Wet weight | 520 lb (236 kg) | 545 lb (247 kg) |
| V-Strom 1050 MY2020 | V-Strom 1050 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 47 mpg (US) / 5 L/100 km | 48 mpg (US) / 4.9 L/100 km |
| V-Strom 1050 MY2020 | V-Strom 1050 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 6.5 in (165 mm) | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| V-Strom 1050 MY2020 | V-Strom 1050 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Cornering ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| Navigation | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
