Suzuki is rumored to be working on the DR Big revival. Only this time, the DR will be based on the V-Strom 1000 engine and chassis. Good-bye, big thumper! The news comes from the Spanish trailridersmag.com, and quotes a direct source from Suzuki.

Credit:Oberdan Bezzi

If the rumors are true, we’ll have a 100 horsepower bike with a 21 inches front - an adventure motorcycle with a more off-road oriented approach than the V-Strom 1000, which is focused mainly on street use. Spoked wheels, 20 liters fuel tank, a higher ground clearance than the V-Strom and a high exhaust. The suspension travel should be longer, and the ABS should be switchable for off-road.

It’s also the wet weight that matters in the adventure segment, and probably the new DR Big will feature the same weight as the V-Strom 1000 - 230 kg wet. The Spanish magazine is stating that Suzuki will use the same twin-spar type frame, but we don’t know if it’s aluminium.

When it comes to electronics, we’re expecting some dedicated riding modes - considering the competition and the fact that the V-Strom 1000 already comes with an IMU and two-level traction-control.

If the rumors are true, we’ll have an attractive motorcycle in the upper-middle-class adventure segment, to fight models such as the Africa Twin, BMW’s F850GS and the KTM 1090 Adventure.

Credit:parisdakar

Suzuki DR 800 S Big was released in 1988 and featured a 52 horsepower 727 cc single-cylinder engine. Then, in 1990, Suzuki upgraded it to 779 cc and 54 horsepower. It was a giant bike, with an enormous fuel tank at the beginning - 30 liters [7.7 gallons]. Then, it was reduced to 23 l [6.6 gallons]. The seat was also very high - 876 mm, it had a soft suspension and a weak front brake. It wasn’t the best bike of its times, but it had a significant influence in the adventure motorcycling design - the useless beak - the front mudguard that does nothing but signals you that you're looking at an adventure bike. Many companies are using it - BMW, on all of its adventure bikes, Triumph, Ducati Multistrada.

We hope the rumors are true since Suzuki doesn't seem to be in its greatest moments. Suzuki needs a new adventure bike - and an Africa Twin competitor would be a big thing.

Credit:riders.drivemag.com

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