The next DL should be an un apologetic adventure bike.

My suggestion is that the frame be designed as a bolt together exterior cage.

Rather than a spine or small bow under the tank run the frame in a loop around and under the engine in a way that there is built in crash bars and crash plate. Bolted at the ends so that if they have been damaged slightly they can just be replaced. They would also act as leg protectors and crumple zones. Similarly rear bag mounts outside the bags. The bike should be able to roll over at under 5 miles and hour on dirt and only the paint damaged. An exterior frame would also make it much easier to pick up back on her wheels.

Other panels and instruments and lights etc bolt on small LESS expensive pieces.

Super wide ratio gears or better, dual range for no clutch operation at 3 MPH.

If the PRACTICAL sort that buys adventure bikes knew they had a drop proof bike they would be buyers

Now please ignore and ask the twenty something stylist punk

Don't forget the Department of Litigiphobic Value Engineering.

I suspect the manufacturing cost of the bike you want would be enormous. The greater the parts count and complexity, the greater the cost. Not to mention that the percentage of ADV motorcycle riders that actually go off pavement is fairly low.

At least we dress the part.

The current frame is a work of art. Stiff as hell with the engine a stressed member.

I would put modern upside down forks on the front and a recluse slipper clutch in it. Next a dual range tranny or ultra low first gear. More ground clearance would come from longer suspension travel.

Styling is a non issue to me.

The more I ride mine and compare it to other bikes...the better and more modern it seems.

I currently am a happy owner of a 08 wee. My other bike is a 1050 triumph tiger. aka wee plus. The recent facelift of the 650 is only just that, but a successful one . We all know the target bike is the BMW GS1200. The new competitors by Triumph and Yamaha are missing the mark by coming in at a much heavier weight. I think the reason for the GS to be at the 1200cc size is because its outdated air cooled engine requires this large capacity to make up for the compromises it suffers from. The competitors, "needing "to be in the same category ,have detuned their engines to the point of being pretty boring to ride. so here is a daring proposition to suzuki;

The Super Strom 900

Using the existing dl 1000 chassis and motor as a platform, the new bike would encorporate;
Chassis;
A modern and rigid upside down fork with radial brakes and ABS.
A 17 or maybe 18" front wheel. Unless Im wrong, the primary reason for a large front wheel is greater gyroscopic effect at very low speeds. We would concede the off road prowess to the 650 in this respect.
Same bodywork as the 2012 wee to cut costs, with specific graphics
A wide 180/17 rear tire and suitable widened rim to match the muscular front tire both wheels to be a unique design.
Chassis stiffening as required, probably just some trick looking swingarm bracing, cheap and a perceived value adder.
Powertrain;
The dl1000 motor would be reduced to around 900cc, preferably by destroking it as much as is possible. I think a v-twin is the ideal type of engine for this bike. A boxer would be my last choice,BTW. By destroking, the motor would enjoy less flywheel size, which would result in less gyroscopic effect of he crankshaft, the primary reason the 650 feels much lighter than the v. It should also be smoother, and less abrupt on throttle tip in. The camshaft timing and general tune would be of a much sportier nature given its smaller engine size, making it more more entertaining to ride ....like a super 650.

Chain drive would carry on.

The target market would be the educated enthusiast, and the legion of 650 owners with the money to trade in their present bike. I have heard many stories of vstrom owners who have traded in their mounts on a new GS, and then regretfully realised they traded in a better bike than they bought. I sort of did the same thing by going with a rt1200 and just shook my head every time I looked at the thing parked next to my strom.

The idea is to capitalize on model association with the 650.

While the motorcylcle industry is suffering from its worst sales drought ever, the smaller specialty makes like BMW,Triumph,Ducati,KTM etc are enjoying excellent years,as the median age of the riders continue to rise.

The Super Strom would be an appeal to this demographic as something special and really well sorted, and would undercut the competion in weight, provide a much sportier experience, and lastly, cost less than the other bikes by thousands of dollars, while still being profitable for its manufacturer and dealers. I would feel smart owning one, not withstanding the fact that this bike is a parts bin special. We all know of the many innovative japanese bikes that were absolute sale flops, while LTDs and Viragos sold like crazy, in black paint only. Caused me to leave the industry in the early eighties.
It would require a departure from the volume based mentality of production, and set Suzuki on a path of being a company that is focused on riders real world needs, and would develop its own group of loyal owners, as Harley Davidson has so masterfully demonstrated. It could be Suzukis signature bike... its owners regarded as insightful , and built on the cheap. And wake up the other companies, with the hope of much better bikes in its shadow.
The motorcycle market is a shrinking one with more descerning buyers that have the cash to purchase. Here is a easy way for Suzuki to be a player.
Just my opinion......

Some sort of crash bars as standard would be good but everything needs to be kept light. How about some of the new light-weight, super strong materials you see in other applications for the plastic bits. A plastic tank of at least the current 22L. Bash pad and bar protectors. Standard heated grips.

21" front wheel (maybe go to spoked tubeless wheel/tyres too), maybe USD forks, better front brakes. Possibly a narrower seat so that the bike doesn't feel as tall.

Do something magic with the exhaust system so it doesn't mean the bike is 11 feet wide when the alloy panniers are clipped on (purpose designed for the bike not bolt on after thoughts) but still is up out of the way.

Engine just needs a bit of an upgrade to make smoother and possibly more economical. Needs to make at least as much power and have torque from idle. Chain final drive but how about a factory oiler?

Electrics: LCD with TPS (love it on my Connie) and why not a GPS? Switchable (on the fly) ABS and maybe traction control for the clay...

Styling: Raw adv bike porn. Aggressive, purposeful...

Weight: 180kg (now there's a challenge).

Special tyres that grip like hell on any surface and never wear out - OK, might be pushing it a bit there...

If Suzuki can offer phenominal brakes and USD forks on the M109R then the Vee should most definately be receiving the same or better.
A redesigned TB. A centerstand and redesigned clutch basket.