Universal type - Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS

Enduro touring is one of the most important segments of the motorcycle market. For many companies, two-wheelers for asphalt and light off-road driving are the backbone of sales. Why do customers love them? We check on the example of the Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom.

Aesthetic impressions

Chances are good that when you decide to buy a sporty grinder or a chrome-studded cruiser, you will be marked by your surroundings. In the first case, you may be considered a person who is trying to attract attention at any cost, and considers the road a treadmill, completely ignoring the issue of safety. In turn, the eye-catching and thundering powerful V2 cruiser, in the opinion of many, is just an expensive gadget. And the new Suzuki V-Strom? This is undoubtedly the equipment that guarantees a large dose of anonymity. The oversized exhaust box keeps noise at a moderate level, and the shape and color of the fairings don't make the car stand out from the crowd.

Equipment

Looking closely at the new Suzuki V-Strom 650, you'll notice interesting details such as the fender and other carbon-fiber textured plastic, as well as the sofa with red stitching and the model name. Little things and make you happy. Mudguards, a radiator cap and a gas tank are made of unpainted plastic, so repairs after passing through the "soil" will not be very expensive. Braking in difficult conditions is facilitated by regular ABS. The test motorcycle received a set of additional accessories, ie. a set of three covers, a center stand, a lower fairing, an aluminum chain cover, a windshield with a deflector, hand covers, adapters for increasing mirrors and heated handles. Most of the listed elements have a positive effect on the functionality of V-Strom and ...

Comfort

You get behind the wheel and immediately you know that everything will be fine. The couch is stuffed with a fairly soft and properly profiled sponge. The angles of the legs, arms and body are completely neutral. Sound mysterious? If you sit in a comfortable chair and stretch your arms in front of you, you will have a preliminary idea of ​​how favorable the conditions are for the driver of the Suzuki V-Strom 650. The spring suspension catches even serious bumps. As a result, the comfort of movement is incomparably higher than in the case of sports cars, as well as two-wheeled vehicles of sports and tourist class. Of course, the upright position means that you have to deal with air pressure when riding faster, but the tested V-Strom, thanks to the additional diffuser glass, provided good wind protection even at highway speeds.

Leading

We don't expect breakneck performance or cat-like cornering agility from a touring enduro. The more surprising are the possibilities of the new model from Hamamatsu. On a winding road, the V-Strom, under the control of an experienced motorcyclist, will easily feed sports car users. Thanks to its relatively high center of gravity, the Suzuki is very willing to corner. The possible folding angles clearly exceed the needs of most potential buyers - suffice it to say that rubbing the pavement with running boards is not a problem. It is important to note that pulling the car out of the node is just as easy.

Performance

The engine produces 60 Nm at 6400 rpm and 68,7 hp. at 8800 rpm. With one person on board and empty trunks, the dynamics are good - acceleration to “hundreds” takes less than five seconds. Widlasta two starts working already at 3000 rpm. Vibration and noise increase with rotation. The increase in acceleration is not so impressive. When everything starts to indicate that the engine will not be able to squeeze out more, at around 7000 rpm we get an unexpected “kick” in the back. Most impressive, however, is the flexibility. Driving in last gear can start at 60 km/h. Even after fully unscrewing the shifter, the V-Strom will not start to pull the chain, nor will it otherwise show dissatisfaction with the work at forced low speeds.

Economics and ergonomics

Another plus for recording traces. During dynamic driving in a combined cycle, an average of 5,5 l / 100 km leaves the fuel tank. Light off-road driving can reduce trip computer readings to less than 4 l/100 km. Theoretically, on one tank you can walk five thousand kilometers. For tourists, he was found! The analysis of fuel requirements is facilitated by an extensive on-board computer. It has a two-kilometer counter and analyzes the fuel consumption separately for each kilometer, which, with a closer acquaintance with the motorcycle, allows you to accurately estimate the range. In addition, the Suzuki V-Strom 650 gets a digital speedometer, gauges for coolant temperature, fuel level and selected gear, and a thermometer that is interchangeably displayed on the clock. To change the functions of the on-board computer, a switch on the left lever is used, which clearly solved the problem of inconvenient control of the buttons on the instrument panel. Those who travel a lot and in various conditions will certainly appreciate the cabin brightness control and the frost alarm. When you need to take on a bumpy smooth tarmac road, the large and conveniently located knob can change rear suspension spring preload in seconds. Tools must be used to adjust the front end.

Universalism

Versatility was a key factor in the success of the first release of the Suzuki V-Strom 650. Buyers got a bike with Swiss army knife functionality that was virtually flawless. The style and dynamics are not impressive, but in a two-wheeler, which is used mainly for winding kilometers, this is not the most important thing. The skeleton of the new V-Strom is a frame well known from the old model. Engine and suspension? Polished but not new. However, the amendments came to V-Strom forever. It consumes less fuel, handles better and offers more comfort than its predecessor. Will he become a frequent visitor on the road? The new V-Strom 650 has many competitors, but behind it is a solid brand and a reasonable price of PLN 36,5 thousand.