Suzuki's DL1000 V-Strom is the latest entrant into the increasingly competitive big trailie market, and as such goes head to head with established market leaders like BMWs R1150GS and Triumphs Tiger as well as young pretenders including the Honda Varadero and Aprilia Caponord. Suzuki have got one up on the lot of them by picking the wierdest bike name yet to come from a Japanese marketing department. "V-Strom" looks suspiciously like a typing error to me, and conjours images of a desperate last minute model name change when the mis-spelled fairing graphics were delivered to the factory. However...

Running a slightly detuned version of Suzuki's monster TL1000 lump, this 996cc water cooled 90 degree vee twin uses four valve heads and fuel injection to pump out a claimed 96 BHP. On paper this sounds rather like a Ducati 996, so it's no real surprise to find that the bike has a rather Ducati-esqe power delivery on the road, albeit in a rather sanitised Japanese style. Smoother than a Duke at low RPM, there's still a certain roughness from the motor until the tacho needle climbs above 4000 and the surge of those 96 horses propels the bike forward in no uncertain manner. And there's power and torque a plenty here folks, this is a trail bike that's well capable of giving many a sports bike a good run for its money while still behaving like a pussycat in traffic.

The frame and cycle parts are well up to the job of keeping everything under control, a massive alloy twin beam frame solidly locating the swing arm and conventional right-way-up forks. The tyres say "Trail Wing" on them in a nod to the bike's off road pretensions, but are unlikely to see anything other than tarmac. Floating Nissin calipers, two twin pots at the front and a single one at the rear, provide the stoppers and the suspension is adjustable at both ends for damping and spring preload.

Suzuki have had no qualms about going for the jugular in the syling department and the bikes aggressive stance is highlighted by the predatory looking headlamps and beefy twin silencers that look capable of launching mortars at following traffic. Some nice styling touches help finish the bike off, the pattern of bolts around the filler cap echoed around the speedo and tach and repeated around the silencer end caps. That mammoth carrier with integral bungee hooks is big enough to haul medium sized kitchen appliances around Europe at warp speed if required, and is cleverly styled to blend into the lines of the seat so it doesn't look too intrusive.

On the road the bike feels surprisingly manageable and can be hurled around like something half its weight and capacity. It's reassuring, forgiving and comfortable and the high riding position lets you exchange nods with lorry drivers whilst looking disdainfully down at the swarms of Mondeos beneath you. The vertically challenged may need to enlist the services of a small step ladder to climb aboard, but once you're up there you won't want to get off. A good practical all rounder, and great fun.

Marks out of ten:

Performance:
Eight. It won't quite eat Fireblades for breakfast but it has more than enough power for most of us in the real world. Power delivery is strong and a smooth torque curve makes the bike easy to handle in traffic. The chassis and brakes are well up to the job and the bike feels safe and forgiving to ride.

Comfort:
Nine. The big tall riding position may not suit everyone but it's almost as comfortable as my favourite armchair, with great vision all around. That fairing is surprisingly effective at speed, leaving only the riders head and shoulders at the full mercy of the elements.

Build Quality:
Six. Some of the fasteners and the disc centres may begin to rust fairly quickly if neglected, and some of the plastics are a bit, well, plasticky. But paint finish is good and those stainless exhausts should last almost into the next millenium.

Value For Money:
Seven. At £7350 the V-Strom is competitively priced, managing to undercut bikes like the BMW GS and Triumph's Tiger, and coming in at £450 less than a Varadero. And don't forget the Yamaha TDM900 at only £6799. The V-Strom gives you a lot of bike for your money but be prepared for some depreciation.

Street Cred:
Seven. It's a big, mean and tough looking bike that looks like it could crush the opposition with a glance. Only the mis-spelled fairing graphics mar the image slightly. If Suzuki re-badged it as a V-Storm I'd have to give it eight points.

Dr.Rod.