Test fleet: Suzuki V-Strom 1050 XT

As we enter another new year, I’m prompted to reflect on the time I’ve spent with my V-Strom 1050 XT long-termer so far. After topping 3000 miles in the eight months we’ve been together, I have to rate my experiences to date as generally very positive. It’s what I expected really. Even though at its press launch my feelings weren’t that optimistic, I confidently predicted I’d be a lot more complimentary about it over a longer term. After all, there’s a big difference between assessing a ride in sunny Spain after a single day, and passing judgement after several months of use in the UK – in all weathers, and on very different sorts of journeys.

And that’s precisely