Then and Now Suzuki V-Strom 650

When Suzuki launched the mid-capacity V-Strom 650 (DL650) in 2004 the bike became an immediate sales success. The V-Strom essentially combined the chassis of a roadbike with the appearance of an adventure bike, and it proved to be just what the market wanted.

Over the years the V-Strom has seen several upgrades and it’s now into its third generation. The latest Suzuki V-Strom is available in two models: the V-Strom 650 ABS and the V-Strom 650XT, which is equipped with wire spoke wheels, handguards and an under-engine cowl. Both models are also available in power-restricted, Learner Approved configuration.

 Then – 2004

The Suzuki engineers raided the parts bin when they set about developing the V-Strom DL650. The mid-capacity adventure bike’s 645cc 90° V-twin was a retuned SV650 engine while the aluminium frame was borrowed from the 1000cc V-Strom.

Despite this mishmash of parts, the V-Strom 650 went on to become a worldwide sales success, which could be partly attributed to the bike’s keen pricing, which saw it scrape beneath the $10k barrier when it hit the Aussie market in 2004 at $9999.

While the V-Strom 650 certainly had the styling of an adventure bike, it ran the hardware of a roadbike, including its twin-spar aluminium frame and 17-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels, shod with 110/80R19 and 150/70R17 tyres respectively.

Up the pointy end the V-Strom ran a Showa telescopic fork with adjustable preload, while the rear featured a Showa monoshock with adjustable preload and rebound. The suspension was basic but the V-Strom offered a lightweight feel, predictable handling and good ride quality. These attributes, combined with the bike’s upright seating position, comfy seat and protective windscreen, provided excellent long-distance touring comfort.

The V-Strom’s 645cc V-twin made claimed peak outputs of 49kW at 8800rpm and 63Nm at 7600rpm. It offered good response from idle and a healthy (for 645cc) midrange, and would rev freely to the 10,000rpm redline, at which point a rev-limiter would halt proceedings. With slightly lower gearing than the SV650, the V-Strom offered good acceleration, yet still wasn’t buzzy at highway speeds. A two-into-one exhaust kept noise to a minimum but the engine still produced a sweet V-twin tone that could be set free with the fitment of an aftermarket exhaust.

The V-Strom was well suited to two-up touring thanks to a decent pillion pew and good grab handles, or you could load it up with luggage thanks to the handy rack. What the V-Strom was not so great at was off-road riding; it only offered 165mm of ground clearance, and the header pipe, oil filter and oil cooler were vulnerable. But the V-Strom was never designed to be a genuine off-roader.

In 2008 Suzuki Australia offered the V-Strom with ABS brakes. Then, in 2011, the second-generation V-Strom was launched. It was 6kg lighter than the original, and it scored an updated fuel injection system along with engine upgrades that resulted in reduced mechanical losses for improved fuel economy. The gearbox was revised with tighter first to fifth ratios for improved acceleration, while a tall top gear was retained for comfortable highway touring.

Other second-generation upgrades included a revised three-way adjustable windscreen, a narrower fuel tank (with capacity reduced from 22L to 20L), improved riding position, revised styling and the addition of an engine immobiliser. In 2015 Suzuki introduced the 650XT version of the V-Strom, which was fitted with wire spoke wheels, handguards and an under-engine cowl.

Now – 2018

The third-generation V-Strom 650 was launched in 2017 and it incorporated a raft of improvements designed to offer better performance and greater comfort, along with revised styling inspired by legendary off-road Suzukis of old such as the DR-Z and DR-BIG. Suzuki has retained the XT (Cross-Touring) variant that comes with wire spoke wheels, handguards and an under-engine cowling, and both the 650 ABS and 650XT are offered in Learner Approved configuration.

Changes to the V-Strom’s 645cc V-twin have been made to meet Euro 4 emission requirements, and include new resin-coated pistons, revised exhaust camshaft, re-positioned high-ignition nickel spark plugs and a new exhaust system. Changes have also been made to the fuel injection system for increased combustion efficiency, and Suzuki has introduced ‘Low RPM Assist’, which automatically raises the idle speed when the clutch is engaged or when riding at low revs. While peak power and torque outputs are not significantly changed, maximum torque is now available lower in the rev range, which is just what you want in a tourer.

Suzuki has also equipped the V-Strom 650 with a mode selectable traction control (TC) system. The system is designed to prevent wheel spin in various conditions and has three modes (1, 2 and off). Mode 1 has a low level of intervention to allow for some rear wheel spin, while Mode 2 is designed to eliminate rear wheel spin altogether.

While the current V-Strom has inherited the previous model’s aluminium twin-spar frame, the deletion of plastic sections around the fuel tank and below the seat make the bike slightly narrower, making it easier to reach the ground.

Revised styling also makes the bike look narrower than before; it now has a vertically stacked headlight that’s more neatly matched to the front beak, and a restyled, taller windscreen. The 650XT has plastic handguards and an under-engine cowling, although you’d probably want to fit a strong aftermarket item if off-road riding is on the cards.

The new exhaust system sits considerably lower than the previous model, which lowers the centre of gravity and allows for fitment of a totally redesigned (optional) three-part luggage system, which is much narrower than the previous unit.

A new instrument panel consists a big analogue tacho and brightness-adjustable LCD for speedo, odo, dual tripmeters, gear position, coolant and air temperatures, voltage, fuel range, average fuel consumption, TC mode, fuel gauge and clock. There’s also a handy 12V power outlet for powering satnav systems or charging mobile devices.

Suzuki offers a comprehensive list of optional accessories for the V-Strom 650 to further add to its touring credentials. Items include top boxes, panniers, chain guard, centrestand, touring screen, accessory bar, fog lamps and more.

While the current V-Strom 650 doesn’t slip under the $10k price point (it’s not far off; the 650 ABS is $10,990 and the 650XT is $11,990) it’s still great value for money. If you’re after a comfortable, easy-to-ride mid-capacity tourer with solid performance, then it’s well worth a look.

Words Dean Mellor  Photos Suzuki Australia