Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE (2023+) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals

This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE, Suzuki’s entrant into the big-bore adventure motorcycle market.

The Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE is an update to the V-Strom 1050XT. The DE shares the same 1037-cc liquid-cooled V-twin as the regular big V-Strom, but has a 21-inch front wheel, wire-spoked wheels front and rear, and switchable ABS and TC for travel in the dirt, plus some other improvements. All up, it’s much more geared for off-road travel than even the XT model.

The final drive of the V-Strom 1050DE is still via a six-speed box and chain.

The Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE was released shortly before the new Suzuki V-Strom 800DE, which despite the V name doesn’t even have a V-twin engine anymore (much like the Suzuki V-Strom 250), but which is now the “middleweight” of the line.

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Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE service intervals

Overall, the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE has 3750 mile / 6000 km or annual service intervals. At every service, change the oil, inspect the spark plugs, and do a host of checks.

The V-Strom 1050DE’s major valve service interval is every 15000 miles or 24000 km. When checking / adjusting the valve clearances, also change the spark plugs.

Make sure you change both the brake and clutch fluid every two years — the V-Strom 1050DE has a hydraulic clutch.

You can change the coolant of the V-Strom 1050 every 4 years or 48000 km (30000 miles), if you use Suzuki long-life coolant (or an alternative OAT coolant).

What you need to service your V-Strom 1050DE

When servicing your Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE, apart from everyday motorcycle maintenance tools, you will need some consumables specific to your motorcycle.

PartSpec for V-Strom 1050DE
OilSuzuki recommends 10W-40 engine oil that meets API SJ, SL, SM or SN standards, or JASO MA (MA1 or MA2). One good option is Motul 7100 10W-40.
Oil filterThe Suzuki part number for the oil filter is 16510-07J00. But you can use a high-quality drop-in replacement like the Hiflofiltro HF138RC.
Spark plugWhen it’s time to replace them, the factory spec for a spark plug is the NGK LMAR8BI-9.
CoolantSuzuki recommends “Super long life coolant (blue)” (9900-99032-20X). It’s hard to find, so you can use a substitute.
Brake and clutch fluidUse a DOT 4 brake/clutch fluid, e.g. Castrol DOT 4.
Chain maintenanceMotul chain paste is well-regarded, highly portable, and cheap!
Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE maintenance parts

Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE Maintenance Schedule

Below is the maintenance schedule for the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE.

Maintaining your V-Strom 1050DE is unique compared to most adventure motorcycles, as it has a liquid-cooled V-twin at its base, and a chain final drive — unlike the shaft of many other adventure bikes.

We’ve taken the content that’s in the basic maintenance schedule and re-arranged it for clarity, separating it out into a break-in service checklist, a recurring service schedule of major items, and an annual inspection checklist.

Break-in service

At break-in for the V-Strom 1050DE at 600 miles / 1000 km or 2 months, you need to do very little:

  • Change the oil and filter
  • Check the drive chain condition, lubrication, and slack (as it will have bedded in)
  • Check the brakes
  • Make sure the steering is still smooth
  • Check the torque of all chassis bolts and nuts, plus exhaust pipe bolts and muffler bolts.
  • Tighten the spokes

It’s also advisable to look over your motorcycle for any leaks or pinched hoses.

Service Schedule

Below is the service schedule of regular major maintenance.

NOTES:

  • Interval: This interval should be judged by odometer reading or number of months, whichever comes first.
  • If you use the motorcycle under severe conditions, you may have to service it more frequently (especially the oil, air filter, and the chain)
mi x 10003.757.511.2515
km x 10006121824
Annual service checklist — Perform (see below)Year
Engine oil — Replace (Motul 7100 10W-40 or similar)Year
Engine oil filter — Replace (HF138RC)3 years
Air filter — Inspect
Air filter — Replace (part 13780-31J00-000)
Valve clearance — Inspect / Adjust
Spark plugs — Inspect
Spark plugs — Replace (NGK LMAR8BI-9)
Engine coolant — Replace (Suzuki Super Long Life Coolant (blue) or equivalent, e.g. Motorex M3.0 Coolant.)4 years / 48000 km (30000 mi)
Clutch fluid — Replace (Castrol DOT 4)2 years
Brake fluid — Replace (Castrol DOT 4)2 years
Clutch hoses — Replace4 years
Brake hoses — Replace4 years
Fuel hoses — Replace4 years
Front fork — inspect for damage, leaks
Rear suspension — inspect for damage, leaks
Steering — Check for smooth operation
Exhaust pipe bolts and muffler bolts — Tighten
PAIR (air supply system) — Inspect
Evaporative emission control system (CA model only)
Maintenance Schedule for the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE

Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE Annual Service Checklist

Below is the annual service checklist for the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE. Do it according to the schedule above.

Some of these items are meant to be done more frequently and are mentioned at the top.

Suzuki V-Strom 1050 Annual Service Checklist
General lubrication — Perform
Every 600 mi / 1000 km
Fuel hoses — Check condition
Idle speed — Check. It should be 1200-1400 rpm when the engine is warm.
Radiator hoses — Check condition
Clutch hoses — Check condition
Clutch fluid — Check level
Brakes — Inspect correct function
Brake hoses — Inspect condition and routing
Brake fluid — Check level (between lines). Note that brake fluid drops with brake pad wear.
Tires — Inspect condition and tread depth
Spoked wheels (standard on DE) — Inspect condition, tighten spokes
Chassis bolts and nuts — Tighten
Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE Annual Service Checklist

Maintaining your Chain on your Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE

As the V-Strom 1050 is an adventure touring motorcycle you’re likely to use in all kinds of conditions, make sure to keep the chain lubricated and clean.

Either use a good-quality (and affordable) chain lube like Motul Chain Paste, which you can take on longer treks, as it’s compact, high-quality, and cheap.

Suzuki recommends that you maintain your chain regularly according to the following schedule.

Chain maintenance itemEvery
Check chain
* Correct tension / slack on side stand (see below for notes)
* Adequate lubrication
* No excessive wear / damage (see below)
Ride (pre-ride check)
Clean and lubricate chain1000 km / 600 miles
Suzuki V-Strom 1050 chain maintenance

Damage includes loose pins, damaged rollers, dry or rusted links, kinked or binding links, excessive wear, and improper adjustment.

To check the slack, measure the greatest deflection of the bottom chain in the middle. It should be between 40-50 mm or 1.6-1.9 inches at the loosest point on the DE, different from the XT. Move the motorcycle around until you get to that loose point.

To tighten the chain, you need large wrenches and a small torque wrench and large torque wrench.

Suzuki V-strom 1050DE chain adjustment
Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE chain adjustment

With the motorcycle on its side stand:

  1. Loosen the axle nut
  2. Loosen the lock nuts on each side
  3. Adjust the adjuster nuts by the same amount, using the marks as a reference.
  4. Keep checking the chain slack, watching to see it come within spec.
  5. When it’s correct, tighten the axle nut (100 Nm / 73 lb-ft), then tighten the lock nuts.

Tyre size and tyre pressure for the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE

The V-Strom 1050DE has spoked rims and runs Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour tires by default. Note that the front is tube type, and the rear is tubeless.

WheelTyre sizeTyre pressure
Front90/90-21 M/C 54H
(Tube type)
250 kPa (2.5 bar, 36 psi)
Rear110/80R19 M/C 59V
(Tubeless
280 kPa (2.8 bar, 41 psi)
Tyre size and recommended pressure for the V-Strom 1050DE

About the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE

Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE RHS 3-4 static
Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE

The Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE is a big deal!

For years, the Suzuki V-Strom 1050 — the 1050XT, the 1050, and previously the 1000 — have been adventure-esque compromises that have been mostly oriented towards road-going travel. The V-Strom 1050XT came the closest, but still lacked a few things that the 1050DE has that means this bike is clearly destined for heading off the beaten path.

The core of the V-Strom 1050DE is the same 1037 cc liquid-cooled V-twin that has powered the V-Strom 1000 and 1050 since 2013.

Even though the middleweight Suzuki V-Strom 650 has been the favourite of many adventurers for a long time, the V-Strom 1050 has gradually added bits to make it a real contender. It’s the only model with cruise control, an IMU, and now it’s the first model in the V-Strom range to have a 21-inch spoked front rim. (Though the nearly simultaneously released parallel twin-powered V-Strom 800DE also has the same.)

The V-Strom 1050DE’s front tire is tube type, and the rear is tubeless. Why they made this choice, I don’t know!

Another feature Suzuki added to the V-Strom 1050DE is switchable ABS. You get this through “Gravel” mode. Note this only switches off rear ABS. But most riders wouldn’t want to skid the front wheel anyway, just the rear.

Aside from that, the V-Strom 1050DE is the same big-bore adventurer you already know. It has good suspension travel with a fully adjustable KYB fork, and a rear shock with some adjustability. The brake calipers are four-piston radially mounted units on 310mm discs.

The engine doesn’t make a ton of power, as that’s not its goal, but it makes torque everywhere you need it, all the time. Suzuki rates peak power at 79 kW (107 hp) at 8500 rpm, with peak torque of 100 Nm (74 lb-ft) at 6000 rpm.

But still, the manual for the V-Strom 1050DE says you need to run it on premium — pump octane (AKI) of 90, or 95 RON. This will make those long-distance trips a little more expensive.

Alternatives to the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE — Big Bore Adventure Motorcycles

The Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE is in a competitive playing field of big-bore adventure motorcycles. Here are the other (latest) big-bore adventure motorcycles with which it competes.

Reference — Manual for the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE

The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE from 2023. See screenshots below as reference.

Suzuki makes some of their manuals online, but not all of them, at this site.

An archive copy of the owner’s manual is below as a downloadable PDF.

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