Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE specs: can you green lane it?
The Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE weighs 252kg wet, has a seat height of 880mm and 190mm of ground clearance, and makes 106hp. Expect about 44 mpg, for a range of around 145 miles from its 20-litre tank.
4/10
Holloway Green Lane Score
A reliable, refined and comfortable V-twin with a 21 inch front wheel that is better off-road than the standard V-Strom, but it is still a wide, heavy road bike at heart. Rider ability, terrain, weather and tyre choice still move the real answer more than the bike alone does.
£13,855New, OTR
252kgWet weight
880mmSeat height
~145 miReal-world range
Holloway ratings
Four separate scores, not one blended number, so you can see what's actually driving it.
Beginner friendliness
2/5
Road usability
4/5
Technical off-road capability
2/5
Green-lane suitability
2/5
Full specs
Price (new, OTR)£13,855 (2023 on-the-road price)
Engine1037cc
Power106hp
Torque100Nm
Weight (wet)252kg
Seat height880mm
Fuel tank20L
Real-world range~145 mi
Economy~44 mpg
Wheels (f/r)21" / 17"
Ground clearance190mm
Suspension travel (f/r)170mm / 169mm
ABSYes
Traction controlYes
Ride modesYes
Service intervalCheck the handbook
Licence requiredA
Stock tyre sizes (f/r)90/90-21 / 150/70-17
Stock tyresDunlop Trailmax Mixtour
Where the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE sits
Wet weight against ground clearance for every bike in the finder that publishes both. Light and tall, top left, is where the easiest green lane bikes sit. Tap a dot to open that bike.
Figures are manufacturer claims. Clearance is measured differently by different makers, so treat small gaps as a draw.
Will your feet reach?
The Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE has a 880mm seat. Enter your inside leg for a rough idea of how much foot you'll get down when stopped.
A rough guide only. A wide seat needs more leg than a narrow one, the suspension settles 20 to 40mm under you, and boots add a little. Many bikes offer a low seat or lowering link. Sit on one before you buy.
Range against similar bikes
Real-world range from tank size and typical economy, against the bikes closest to it in weight and type. Out on the lanes, fuel stops are often further apart than on a road ride.
Range only. Hard off-road riding and headwinds use more fuel, so plan fuel stops with margin.
Tyres that fit the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE
It runs a 90/90-21 front and a 150/70-17 rear, on Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour from the factory. 44 tyres in our Tyre Finder are made in at least one of those sizes, ranked by green lane score.
Sizes are for the standard UK model and can change between model years. Check the size on your own tyre sidewall, and ask your dealer before fitting a different size. Our size lists come from maker and retailer listings and can miss sizes, so a tyre shown for one end may still be made in your other size. Check the maker's size chart.
The 1050DE adds a 21 inch spoked front wheel, 10 mm more front travel and 9 mm more rear travel, a bash plate and off-road pegs to the standard V-Strom 1050. Bennetts found it felt more secure standing and pushing the front through mud, stones and gravel than the previous bike, but still less manageable than the Tiger 900, DesertX or Africa Twin, mainly because of its width. At 252 kg and with only 190 mm of ground clearance, it suits gravel and stony byways better than deep mud.
Pros for green laning
Smooth, torquey V-twin (106hp, 100Nm) with a refined road manner for the miles between lanes.
21 inch front wheel, bash plate and off-road pegs plus gravel mode and off-road ABS.
Good electronics and clocks, and a reputation for being sensible and reliable.
Comfortable, with a 20 litre tank and a fixed 880 mm seat that suits taller riders.
Cons and limitations
252 kg kerb weight is hard to handle in mud and clay ruts.
Wide for narrow lanes and tight gates.
Standard Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour tyres felt poor off-road to Bennetts' tester, and the tubed front and tubeless rear mix is odd.
Only 170 mm and 169 mm of suspension travel, and 190 mm ground clearance.
Before taking it seriously off-road: Hand and engine protection, plus off-road tyres for wet lanes, and a stronger bash plate if you ride rocky tracks. The seat is fixed at 880 mm, so shorter riders may want to test it first.
Remember: a rank here assumes reasonable stock tyres and a competent rider in decent conditions. The right tyres, or the wrong weather, can move a lane from easy to genuinely hard regardless of what bike you're on. Check a lane's own difficulty and hazards on the map before you go, don't rely on a bike score alone.
Find where to actually ride it
Browse legal green lanes and byways across England and Wales, filtered by difficulty, on Holloway's map.
