With the adventure market really booming in recent years, there really is no excuse for a manufacturer to not be producing a quality adventure bike. KTM, BMW, Triumph and in more recent years, Honda have really been at the fore in the ADV market. But with leaked spy photos from somewhere in Japan (maybe) it looks like Suzuki might be bringing back one of the pioneers of adventure riding machines - The DR BIG.

Originally released in 1987, the DR BIG was a 750 single, that was later increased to a 800cc adventure model from Suzuki. It also has a claim to the now traditional ‘beak style’ front end that can be found on a lot of adventure bikes today.

Word on the street is that the new DR BIG will be based around the V-Strom platform, but with a much more dual sport orientated setup (the current V-Strom is definitely more road than off). Using the V-Strom engine and a 21/18 wheel set up should up the bikes off-road ability.

But keeping the weight as low as possible will be key to making sure the DR BIG will be competitive against the likes of the 1090 and Africa Twin and not live up to its namesake.

With an expected release date at the end of 2019, we might see the new DR BIG in the showroom floors some time in early 2020 - but really, who knows for sure. Lets wait and see shall we.

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