Revealed: Suzuki’s giant trailie

We’ve been talking about it since 1999, now Suzuki has finally given it a name and a finished form, and here it is: the XF1000L.

Our artist’s impression is just as you’ll see the bike when it is debuted at the major bike shows this Autumn. It is expected to be shown first at Paris.

It uses a TL1000S V-twin engine, detuned a little to take the rush from the top end and give it a thicker wodge of grunt in the mid-range.

It is likely to be the most powerful in its class, with mountains of torque to match.

Suzuki has long denied the bike exists, despite speculation that it would appear at previous international motorcycle shows.

The firm still refuses to officially acknowledge the machine’s existence, but a Suzuki UK insider has admitted that it’s on its way.

” I know a lot of distributors are talking about it and looking forward to seeing it, ” he said.

He acknowledged the bike is built for the German market, where far more big trailies are sold than in the UK. It will also go on sale in the UK.

Another source close to Suzuki in Germany said the XF will make more power than the Cagiva Navigator (which also uses the TL engine) between 108 and 112bhp, compared to the Navigator’s 96bhp.

The bike is expected to weigh around 205kg (451lb). The Navigator is 210kg (462lb).

Our UK source said: ” Suzuki won’t go into the market backwards – the firm wouldn’t make something which isn’t lighter and more powerful than the competition. ”

The XF will have a top speed of around 130mph.

Our German source said: ” It will be more about fun than enduro, ” he said. ” It will have a 17-inch alloy front wheel and an 18-inch rear. Suspension will be set up for use on the road and the seat height will be somewhere between the Varadero’s and Navigator’s. ”

The Varadero’s seat height is 33 inches and the Navigator’s is 31.5.

The bike also has an alloy trellis frame and high level exhausts.

In Germany, where the price has been set, the XF will cost £6300. It is likely to cost more in the UK.