Motorcycle Live: one week to go

​In one week’s time the doors will open to Motorcycle Live 2019. Here’s why you should visit the blue stand.

Motorcycle Live is the show to get to. Every November Suzuki displays its model range for the forthcoming year, alongside additional feature stands and bike builds, race bike displays, all while riders and celebrities pop in to sign autographs and meet fans.

​This year Suzuki’s new metal display will be headlined by the V-Strom 1050XT. Unveiled to assembled media at Eicma, which takes place in Milan, Italy, the new adventure machine gets a comprehensive suite of electronics, including cruise control, IMU-governed lean angle sensitive ABS and linked brakes – which also work to provide hill hold assist, slope-dependent control, and load-dependent control – three traction control modes, three engine modes.

Underneath it’s DR-Z-inspired styling is a 1037cc V-Twin engine that produces 7% more power, while practicality comes from a hand guards, adjustable windscreen and seat, engine bars, centre stand, and spoked wheels.

A new V-Strom 1050 shares many of the features of the flagship V-Strom 1050XT but with some differences to enable a lower price. Sharing the same engine and chassis platform, it replaces spoked wheels with cast aluminium items while losing the standard-fit engine bars, centre stand, hand guards, and lower cowling. It keeps the same three-mode traction control system and three selectable engine power modes, but does without cruise control and Suzuki’s Motion Track Brake System.

After making its UK debut at the 2018 show, Suzuki’s Katana will return for another year, and will be displayed the rest of Suzuki’s 2020 model range, which will be displayed in a number of new colour options, available for next season.

Away from the latest production machines, Suzuki will have plenty of other interesting and exciting kit to ogle at, including several of Barry Sheene’s race bikes, two of which – an XR45 and XR23A – will be refurbished and fired into life during the final weekend of this year’s event.

There will also be a display of Sheene’s leathers, helmets, and other memorabilia.

The classic theme continues, with Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme displaying a number of iconic road-going machinery from the ’70s and ’80s, while Team Classic Suzuki’s racing Katana, Bandit, RG500, and XR69s on display.

A fan of more modern racing goodness? Richard Cooper’s National Superstock 1000 Championship-winning GSX-R1000 will be displayed alongside Álex Rins’ MotoGP GSX-RR. Cooper will also be stopping by the show stand to sign autographs.

Gregg Black – winner of this year’s Bol d’Or with the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team – will also be in attendance to talk about racing for 24-hours and to meet fans.

Suzuki can be found in Hall four, stand 4D20.

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