Adventure Bike Shootout 2020 | Honda Africa Twin VS Suzuki V-Strom 1050 

If they get a direct Dr.Big redone but with 1000 ...be also a great seller...for my part ive acquire the 2021 1050XT and its all i will ever need

Actually there is one on the way. V-Strom Desert Express.

This aged well! I've got the 1050DE on order.

That's because Suzuki hasn't really produced anything new for at least four years, in this case the V-strom is an 18 year old bike with updated clothes and some electronics , this time styled by an ex employee of Lego. Rides nice though and well priced.

Cliff G lol to the LEGO style. It does look LEGO inspired 😂

Best RIDING adv bike. That v-twin is SMOOTH! I'm on my second V-Strom. To me, everything else feels like a compromise on the street. And although I go do all the stuff that any other ADV does, the real truth is that 99% of my miles are on the daily commute. 😁

I know Im randomly asking but does anybody know a way to get back into an Instagram account?? I somehow forgot my account password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me

@Daxton Raiden instablaster :)

Hi. What do you suggest for pillion use? Comfort as no.1 factor? ..and HP? Does (for example) Yamaha Tracer have enough power for two?

Can you compare r1250gs and suzuki

@Protector K9 Both good,out two I'd choose the strom as half the price. Plus for what I have experienced,lot more reliable.

Thanks for the insight 👍

I too had the 1000 and noticed the snatchy throttle. I have the 1050 now and no snatchiness anymore.

@@ne21 yep, you learn to ride around it by slipping the clutch on mini roundabouts etc but it's still there. I queried it on the first service, dealer said the bike has an old engine, which is true, and in order to get it through emissions regs it runs very lean. They said best fix is to install a booster plug which fools the engine into thinking it's colder than it is, which helps it run rich slightly and smoothing out the throttle at lower speeds.

citizenpmd56 👍

hi, even tho your post is at this point almost a year old- maybe it´s of help for the next person: they talk about the cruise control of the vstrom at around 18:00

Suzuki has better engine..sounds way better and is stronger.

Thanks Rutger hehe 👍

The point 0,5 on a scale of 10 just nail the NASA entry 🤣

And that's the only worthy review coming out of a comparison as this, as you said this bikes are catering for different targets but magazines and their minions cater only for the most expensive ones. One other big point is V Strom is still manufactured in Japan, so not a cheap chinese built, this might be one of the most important aspects if someone wants to keep the bike for many years. Cheers

Thanks for the video and the honest review. I already have a Suzuki Vstrom 1000 and I love it. But I would like to test the AT at least one time. It seems that the Suzuki is better for a long term relationship and the Honda AT is better for a short adventure

Thanks David 👍

Thanks Greycup appreciated 👍

Thanks Dean 👍

I have 5'11'' after trying both at the dealer, XT more comfortable for me

Both have exactly the same seat height 850mm, adjustable to 870mm. The wheel size doesn’t matter. I’ve sat on both, they feel the similar. The Africa twin a touch wider at the tank- I actually own a 1050XT.

You choose a 19” front if your doing more road. 21” if your doing more off road.

Yes agreed Neil 100% 👍

I was surprised to find the Africa Twin cheaper than the Suzuki. I agree the fit and finish is better on the Honda, although I do like the retro styling on the Suzuki.

Thanks Stephen that's great to hear 👍👍

Wow 132k impressive!

I have a '93 Vmax1200 and a 2020 V-Strom 1050XT and a '08 Kawasaki KX140. I feel like we are brothers.

Thanks KJ 👍

Thanks Lucian 👍

very funny

@@Nobbi0815 dare to share your opinion?

@@zedcharlie Well that seals it then, the entire 1250 engine engineering platform is shite because 'you know of 2 GS's......" and how many of these engines are in service and will go into service. Just crazy. I have owned two BMW bikes that were absolutely faultless... I'm not claiming however that issues don't crop up. Perspective people.

Love the 'smash cam' comment. Sorry but the technology your trashing is brilliant... subjectively. Im not a BMW fan in particular BTW. Call it as it is. At least BMW try and make investment into new tech and ideas, like Honda is atm. Suzuki is stone age by comparison, it's churning out old tech with a bit of sparkle on top and not really trying that hard. Doesn't make it a bad bike by any means, especially considering the price. In fact I would definitely consider one - looks good in red imo. The GS is a better more accomplished bike though, in every area that counts... you have to pay for it though.

@@dadmadforgot4050 I like bm.s! Just think they are getting more complicated. 1200 I rode was bloody quick. To be honest I thought the 1100 gs was quick enough. But that was a good upgrade from the old r100gs. I have to admit I.ve never ridden the 1250 though. These days I just try to stay legal. And I Don.t take a pillion so the bike is more than I personally need. 👍

Haha thanks Marc 😂

Couldn't agree more. From an ATAS owner 10k miles in. Faultless

@Mike Warner I think much of the 'reviewer problem' is the amount of buttons (and Hondas manual is dire to be fair), but if you spend a few days with it and learn how it all works, its even better than the systems ive used on the BMW bikes ive owned. Carplay is fantastic if you have a phone in your pocket or mounted with a quadlock for instance (you can even power them from the USB port or 12V adapter on the adventure). The dual screen configuration seems to throw a lot of people. but as I said, the top screen is for a full screen carplay navigation system with the lower one showing you speed and engine settings etc - this is critical to seeing the speed your are doing and engine settings while travelling (the lower panel is LCD not LED and it refreshes slower so this can sometimes be catching up with the LED panel - only noticeable if you study them both closely while riding and both are active). But you can easily flip back out and in of navigation by pushing down on a top button between the main engine screen and navigation maps on the fly (pushing up on a button gives you access to Siri in your helmet too!). Its a very sophisicated system that seems to be getting a lot of flak because reviewers really just dont put any time at all into trying to learn it. - I mean the battery voltage (and loads of other stuff - trips, average miles, consumption - so much detail its a tech lovers wet dream) can be seen on screen 3 of 4 by pushing the mini buttons left or right - I found that out almost immediately. Electronic suspension shows up on page 4 of these screens and you can set it for single rider, single rider and passenger, and single rider and passenger and luggage. Suspension adjusts automatically (which you can hear) which is very cool. Sounds all very complex, but a few hours sussed all this out. I like chopsie and his friends dialogue, but I do think a little bit of time with some of the bikes they test might help people understand what its all about, surely doing a review means you put in some background effort before presenting it to a lot of people. I mean pushing buttons really isnt rocket science. And they both seem like bright chaps - and im almost 50 myself, so its definitely not an age thing. ive got the adventure sport with electronic suspension, the fatter OEM honda seat, DCT etc, love it. Its not my only bike mind you, ive a S1000RR heavily modified and two Fireblades both heavily modified. I have owned a few GS as well in the past. Christ I just wrote a book!

@@theonlyredspecial a good book...lol

Thanks Tim 👍

The vstrom for me.. looks much better 😁

You have to see them in real life tough. In real life the vstrom looks small,low and feels like you've rode that bike before. Africa twin on the other side,seeing it in real life up close,it looks tall,menacing,maybe slightly intimidating and attractive as hell. I test rode both myself and there was significantly more enjoyment from the Africa twin,it's just a different experience. I bought the Africa Twin 2 weeks ago and I gotta say it's the best decision I did so far at my 27 years of age

I once heard the multistrada 1000 as a sportsbike with a different position of riding & I'd say the v strom 1050 is a sports tourer with a different position of riding. I bought the v strom 1050xt & it's a great bike in my opinion, africa twin was good on test ride but v strom is a better road bike.

@@fs5866 Give a little more details. How is it on the open road ??? In closed parts with turns ??? Off-road due to weight is a problem ???Thanks

@@olaeinairoda I haven't taken the Africa twin off road yet because frankly she's still shiny and new but I can tell you it is the better bike on road and on Twisties it's a beauty,you can lean with it quite a lot and you'll feel confident doing so. In my opinion it is a light bike. Now I use this bike in London commuting so I might have developed the skills to tackle traffic but I was faster and more nimble than a guy in a mt-09 the other day filtering and dashing through thick traffic and he was mostly in my rear view mirror and that's

Thanks Richard 👍

Thanks Pete 👍

Thanks Ricardo, yes we are planning some long day trips this year and unfortunately our Spainish tour this year was cancelled for obvious reasons. Hopefully next year can get a good tour done 👍

Great to hear Simon 👍

Thanks Lyn 👍

是9989哭87

Test rode one and I fell in love with it. I found it to be so much fun in the twisties I was genuinely surprised. Great bike.

Yes good idea actually, both simple no frills 'adventure' bikes 👍

👊

Thanks Rage Rider appreciated buddy 👍

With you mate !!

Thanks Sam, unfortunately not tried the SX only the supercharged version so cant say.. But Ninja would offer better motorway comfort I would think but in town stuff probably Vstrom 👍

Same here, chose the TL 1000S in 1998. Great bike, fantastic engine. Wish I still had it but I have no interest in the V Strom.