Suzuki awakens, updates 12yo DL1000

[Garandman]

motorcycle.com blog

Suzuki, who introduced the DR750/DR800 "Dr Big" in 1988 sporting the kind of "Beak" associated with the BMW GS:


Is bringing back the beak in the Suzuki DL1000 "Concept" reputed to be the 2014 model.



The basic concept goes back to what the original DL1000 was supposed to be: "A BMW GS for younger, more sport-oriented riders,"

Standard features will include inverted front forks, 10 spoke wheels (presumably 19" front) ABS, traction control, and radial mount front brakes. No weight given.

If you are wondering why you should care, consider that the DL1000 has always been a good bit quicker than bikes like the benchmark BMW R1200GS - MCN notes an 11,56 quarter mile at 114.4mph (half a second or more faster than the GS) for a bike that you can ride confortably for hours, is stupid reliable, burns Regular, and will likely cost around $11,000.

Just as significant is what it doesn't have. Unlike the newly expanded crop of 1200cc adventure touring Viagra dispensers, it won't have shaft drive, a curb weight in excess of 650 lbs, mpg in the 30's, or a price tag over $15,000.

Maybe, It is being shown as a concept, and when it comes to the AT market Suzuki's Sales Prevention Team is always hard at work.

Also new at Intermot; Honda's new CRF450, BMW's water-cooled R1200GS (gaining 20 lbs and some hp), and a new Yamaha triple for MotoGP.

[nhbubba]

Interesting. They've managed to make it uglier!

[Chippertheripper]

That rendering is kinda hot. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really like it.

[Kenn157]

Interesting. They've managed to make it uglier!

You really think so? I like it... But look at what I'm working with!

[nhbubba]

Old 'strom 1k:


Concept 'strom 1k:


I fully admit that I don't get the 'beak'. But anyway you slice it, I think they could have done better.

As exhibit A I offer the new 'strom 650:

[Kenn157]

Informacoes, dicas e noticIas para...

[Stoneman]

TOTALLY not my cup of tea. But I gotta tell ya - I actually like it. I like it A LOT. WTF???

[SRTie4k]

Uglier than the first imo.

[RandyO]

I bet it still doesn't have more than 150 watts of electrical power for accessories

[markbvt]

Unlike the newly expanded crop of 1200cc adventure touring Viagra dispensers, it won't have ... mpg in the 30's

We'll see about that. I've often heard that the older V-Strom 1000 could get pretty thirsty. I'm definitely curious to see what kind of mileage the redesigned engine will achieve.

Maybe, It is being shown as a concept, and when it comes to the AT market Suzuki's Sales Prevention Team is always hard at work.

Nicely put!

--mark

[dankatz]

The headlight looks like it is shared with the gladius, NOT a good thing. If the sales of the Gladius compared to the SV650 didn't teach Suzuki anything than that it is too bad. I think this can be a very successful bike if they changed the face. The idea/concept is solid. If it is priced around 11k it should do well compared to the other bikes. The Tiger 1050 proved that even a good looking bike like that can have a hard time selling. It is a niche market and the DL650 is a much more swiss knife kind of bike with great comfort, economy and versatility at a good price point.

[Kenn157]

My 1200 Viagra dispenser get close to 50mpg.
Btw the Gladius is back for 2013... In gray/black color scheme.

[DucDave]

I really like the looks....





Can't imagine why!!!

[nhbubba]

Meh. The Ducati is no beauty queen in my book. But at least it doesn't do the cyclops light thing and has the frame and cool rear fender/wheel treatment.

And that sure looks like a 17" front to me on the DL1k.

[dankatz]

Meh. The Ducati is no beauty queen in my book. But at least it doesn't do the cyclops light thing and has the frame and cool rear fender/wheel treatment.

And that sure looks like a 17" front to me on the DL1k.

Look at the disc/wheel ratio on the DL1K - I think it is 19". The Duc's front disc can't be that much bigger than the DL1K's...

[Garandman]

The headlight looks like it is shared with the gladius, NOT a good thing. If the sales of the Gladius compared to the SV650 didn't teach Suzuki anything than that it is too bad. I think this can be a very successful bike if they changed the face. /

that's the kind of stacked headlight that is also on the GSX-R, isn't it? So, you know, it can do wheelies?

My 1200 Viagra dispenser get close to 50mpg. /

You must have a good one. Ashonbikes averaged 33mpg, motorcycle daily said "about 40 in our tests", etc. So that slice of the market now has the new water-cooled R1200GS, the Triumph, and the Super Tenere' with very very similar specs. If you are going two-up touring cross-country and want at least some sporting aspirations, they're tough to beat. No one looking at those is going to want a liter bike, I think the V-Strom will appeal to guys coming off sport bikes.

Then branching out you will have the new KTM 1290 Adventure in the US as a 2014 as well.

I bet it still doesn't have more than 150 watts of electrical power for accessories

Not surprisingly since it was shown as a "concept, they didn't say - I'm still trying to find out what the new DL650 is. I only use a heated vest and grips so it's not been a problem for me. Certainly not an option for two up cold-weather touring.

But there are no shortage of $13,000 and up bikes that supply all the power you could possibly want - sounds like one of those is a better choice for you?
Installing the Eastern Beaver wiring harness to shut off one headlight remedies the problem for a solo rider for $18.95.

[nhbubba]

Isn't the KTM an 1190?

Installing the Eastern Beaver wiring harness to shut off one headlight remedies the problem for a solo rider for $966.45 shipped.

Fixed.

[OreoGaborio]

I really like the looks....





Can't imagine why!!!

Dave, please... the Suzuki doesn't even come close to looking as good as the Duc.

[RandyO]

it would look so much nicer with a 21" front wheel

[Garandman]

I really like the looks....



Can't imagine why!!!

Dave, please... the Suzuki doesn't even come close to looking as good as the Tiger 1050.

FFY....

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (HTC EVO "DROID" )

I like it. If it comes to fruition I may be in the market for a used one in 5 years.

[aldend123]

I 'get' the beek, and I think this new model looks 100x better than the previous DL1000. I always felt like the front-end's proportions were messed up.

Serious question, not for the purpose of any e-penis measuring but just curiosity : It seems like today's sport bikes provide more capability than can be used on the road these days. So once technology "wins" the speed race and crosses in to ludicris speed, only makes sense that companies would be able to produce alternate models that are less race-like which can still approach the limits of the road. Are these kind of bikes faster (all around) than some of the sport bikes from 10 years ago?

I sure do hope they depreciate fast, because I keep saying the next bike's going to be leaning in the sport touring direction, and this seems like it fits the all-arounder bill.

[Rossco]

I like it.

Should give the new Versys 1000 some competition.

[Wanderer]

Either way, it looks less hideous than the new Water-cooled GS!


I hate how busy they've made the front fairings over the years - the Pre-2008 R1200GS, and the R1150 before that looked so much better.

[nhbubba]

...companies would be able to produce alternate models that are less race-like which can still approach the limits of the road. Are these kind of bikes faster (all around) than some of the sport bikes from 10 years ago?

This has been a source of much internal debate (and external!) for me. I've envisioned adding a sport-bike to my stable. Makes sense; pick the right tool for the job, right? The problem is that these bikes all share parts (frames, engines, etc) with other, more sporty models in the same lineup. In the case of the Suzuki DL, parts are shared with the SV lineup. So what you get is a bike with a reasonably sporty heart, detuned for street and mild off-road use. 'Naked' and 'street fighter' models are a different take on the same philosophy.

So the argument is that unless you go for a modern super sport, the performance difference isn't that severe.

In exchange you get a much more comfortable, upright motorcycle with much deeper aftermarket support for touring bits.

Now, is a sport bike from 10 years ago 'modern'? I dunno. I have concluded that a sport bike from 15 years ago is not. And since my budget was for a 15 y/o sport-bike, I have decided that my nearly new DL as an only bike will do.

I sure do hope they depreciate fast...

It's a Suzuki, that is practically a given.

My observation when shopping was that these adventure things are pretty hot these days. So they seemed to have depreciated, but not as much as the more sport oriented models like the SVs. Also I think they are owned by an older, more mature type and so are better kept and generally in better condition. Finding a beat SV for cheap is not that hard. Finding a beat DL for cheap is harder.

And typically 'beat' in sport-bike terms means dropped at ~5k by some kid trying to stunt. Meanwhile 'beat' in adventure tourer terms means ridden through hell and back for > 50k.

Ultimately when I found my barely used 2011 (in the summer of 2011) I jumped on it, despite being over my budget. I was so tired of being 2 hours late to respond to a CL ad or showing up to find they had photographed the good side of the bike and the bad side was rusted and mangled to oblivion.