2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 Concept

Suzuki is currently testing prototype versions of the 2014 V-Strom 1000 first teased during the Intermot Expo in Germany last year. The company also has a dedicated V-Strom 1000 website centered around the concept, its inception, design challenges, and what Suzuki hopes to achieve with the new model.

Judging by the photos, the new Strom will retain the same 996cc V-Twin engine first seen on the original Strom 1000 11 years ago. However, clearly the supporting cast around it is significantly changed. The most obvious difference between this and past Stroms comes in the bodywork, as the latest 1000 does away with the blunt nose and replaces it with a beak — similar to the one seen on Ducati’s Multistrada.

Gone too are the bland three-spoke wheels, replaced with a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear that are more stylish while also accommodating to modern adventure-touring rubber. The photos show an inverted fork replacing the traditional unit seen on the old model, so it’s a safe bet the rear suspension sees a modern upgrade as well.

Clearly visible are the four-piston Tokico radial-mount calipers, and if you look closely you’ll also see an ABS ring. Whether this ring is also being used as a wheel-speed sensor for a traction control system is not yet known, but it’s not entirely out of the question considering how many new models are equipped with such technology.

Staying at the front of the bike we see a new stacked headlight unit, while above it is an adjustable windscreen. The throttle is still a cable-actuated unit and not ride-by-wire, which would have been better suited to any kind of traction control system.

Moving to the rear of the new Strom 1000 and we find the subframe looks substantial, with mounts for saddlebags and top case clearly visible. This isn’t surprising, considering Tomohisa Ichimaru, Product Planner for the V-Strom 1000 project, is an avid long-distance rider, and the market research his team conducted in Europe suggest touring is a feature many people plan on doing with their Strom.

Look closely and a chain final drive is noticeable, though details beyond that are slim. Based on the near completeness of this prototype above, we’re almost positive Suzuki will unveil the production version of the new V-Strom later this year, perhaps at the inaugural AIM motorcycle show in Orlando. Whenever it arrives, it will likely draw huge interest, as the big-displacement adventure-touring market is going through a renaissance of sorts lately with the likes of BMW, Ducati, Triumph, Yamaha and even Moto-Guzzi all fielding contenders.

By Troy Siahaan