A 19mm (or 3/4in) hex tool is required to loosen the front axle on the V-Strom 1000. The 650 uses a 12mm hex key. This first photo shows a piece of 19mm hex stock inserted into the front axle. Its length of a couple inches provides plenty of room for a wrench to slide on the protruding end. The axle bolt can seat itself very tightly, and this solid tool will not twist under extreme torque.

Another clever idea (that I can not take credit for) is to use a spark plug socket (5/8in) backwards on a ratchet wrench extension.

I am not crazy about turning so much torque onto a ratchet wrench, but these are tools that are already in most toolboxes. A new technique using tools that are already laying around is better than buying a specific front axle tool. Even if you twist the socket extension, replacing it will be less expensive than most axle tools.