The return of the Suzuki DR Big set for 2020?

Bruno Gomes

February 5, 2019

DR Big 1000 | Photo credits: Adventure Rider

With the DL1000 V-Strom being the biggest trail on the Suzuki lineup, although the V-Strom is much more suitable for asphalt roads than off-road trails, the Japanese brand has their sights set on making the rumored return of the DR Big a reality by 2020.

The DR Big 1000 would be much more adventure capable, with dedicated suspensions, wheels and other components that would make it off-road capable compared to the current V-Strom 1000. According to Spanish website Trail Riders Mag, who quotes Suzuki sources, the DR Big 1000 project is already on the development stage, and the bike should hit the dealerships by 2020.

The engine, and not like the original Suzuki DR Big released in 1988 with a single-cylinder 727 cc engine, will be the same twin-cylinder unit Suzuki now installs on the V-Strom 1000. This will allow the DR Big 1000 to develop good a good level of power and torque, while Suzuki wouldn’t need to develop a brand-new engine for this model.

The power would be of around 100 hp, making the new DR Big 1000 the perfect rival for adventure motorcycles like the BMW F 850 GS, the Honda Africa Twin, Triumph Tiger 800 or even the KTM 1090 Adventure.

If the engine is to be the same as the V-Strom, Suzuki might change things a bit when it comes to chassis components. The V-Strom frame is a twin-spar structure, perfect for on-road maneuverability and great riding pleasure, but making the bike a bit heavy for off-road. The V-Strom weighs no less than 320 kg ready to ride, and Suzuki can try to overcome this by developing a specific frame for the DR Big 1000.

Long travel suspensions, spoked wheels covered in dirt-ready tyres, a specific electronics package with off-road modes, including traction control and ABS, will also help make the DR Big 1000 a great bike to set off on an adventure around the world.

As for the design, and this being a DR Big, Suzuki would make a radical change to the design we’re used to see on their trail bikes V-Strom. The DR Big was known for the iconic “Duck beak” at the front, so we’re expecting the new generation of this bike to bring back the same iconic front design.

For those of you that don’t know the DR Big, or don’t remember exactly what is this bike, the DR Big was launched by Suzuki in 1988, with a single-cylinder 727 cc engine, capable of 52 hp and cooling was done by air. The good thing about this model was its weight: 179 kg ready to ride. Two years later in 1990, Suzuki increased the displacement up to 779 cc and power also grew to 54 hp. But that also meant an increase in weight to 194 kg. Another important characteristic was its gigantic fuel tank. It started with 30 liters, then Suzuki reduced its size to 23 liters, making the DR Big a great bike for those long rides where there’s no place to fill up the tank.

But the Suzuki DR Big was also a great performer in off-road racing. Belgium rider Gaston Rahier entered the Dakar Rally in 1988 with the DR Big prototype racing under Marlboro sponsorship, and on the Rally of the Pharaohs (Egypt), he raced that same bike to victory.

If rumours are true, we should see the production version of the new Suzuki DR Big 1000 at the EICMA Milan motorcycle show in November.