SUZUKI’S ALL-ROUNDER OFFERING GIVES A WARY BIKER HIS CONFIDENCE BACK
Suzuki’s V-Strom 650 may not be the newest kid on the block, but up-to-the-minute tech is meaningless if a bike doesn’t give you that special spark. And that is something the V-Strom brought back in spades for me.
I came off my own bike last April, and since then I’ve struggled with road riding. That all changed as soon as I swung a leg over the V-Strom in the Auckland CBD.
Photo / Mathieu Day
The ’Strom had a major aesthetic upgrade a couple of years ago, but Suzuki don’t change anything unless they have a very good reason, and the V-Strom as is, is a very well-composed package. At the heart of the ’Strom is the same 645cc 90-degree V-Twin that first saw the light of day in 1999 in the much-loved SV650.
Combined with 20-litre fuel tank you’d see well over 400km with the as-tested 23.4 km/l average economy the bike’s computer was reporting.
Power for some is everything, but in a bike like the V-Strom, which is built to gobble up the miles no matter the road surface, reliability is more of a concern.I’ve seen a DL650 hit more than 160,000km with no major issues before the owner upgraded to the current model.
Photo / Mathieu Day
Weighing in at 215kg, the ’Strom sounds like a heavy behemoth. But although it is a slightly taller bike with a seat height of 835mm, the V-Strom is incredibly well balanced. That balance gave me the courage to head off the beaten track to put the V-Strom’s go-anywhere chops to the test.
It will never compete with a proper traily, the V-Strom holds its own well for a road-biased bike.
The first test was a long gravel road leading to the centre of the Hunua Ranges. The plush suspension takes the abuse gravel poses well, but it did reach its limits on gnarly pot-holes and rutted sections. It is adjustable for preload however, which is great as you plan to load up the ’Strom with luggage or pillion and hit the road.
Likewise the Bridgestone Trailwing tyres are all about balancing that highway/off-road ability so although they did feel out of depth on the more slippery sections of gravel, they were very confidence-inspiring on the highway.
Photo / Ben Witty
After safely making my way to the middle of the Hunuas, and somehow finding myself on a BMX track (don’t ask), I decided it was time for a bigger challenge in the form of the sands of Port Waikato.
Port Waikato is an hour-and-20-minute ride from the Driven office and the road conditions are quite varied. Some sections have been poorly maintained but there are also beautifully maintained straights, so it was a good test of the touring ability of the V-Strom.
Like any good tourer, the ’Strom is supremely comfortable with great rider ergonomics and an adjustable windscreen. I had the windscreen at the highest setting, which kept the wind off my chest and meant I wasn’t as fatigued as I normally am after riding for the same amount of distance. However you have to bust out an alan key and get off the bike to adjust it.
Photo / Mathieu Day
The clocks are very easy to read with a nice analogue tachometer and a digital display for everything else. Included is a gear position indicator, as well as the usual trip meters and fuel gauge.
When it comes to stopping, whether it be in a hurry or just to pull over, you’ve got ABS as a backstop for the Tokico brakes.
This model, the DL650XT ABS, comes with tubeless wire rims that reduce un-sprung weight as well as give the ’Strom a bit more visual offroad credibility.
Riding on Port Waikato’s sand is unlike anything I have ever done before. The bike sinks into the sand and everything you know about bike control becomes essentially useless.
Photo / Mathieu Day
After taking my fill of photos I got a little cocky and headed deeper into the dunes, and that’s where things became unstuck.
After dropping the Suzuki on both sides in deep sand I’d had enough and, after a seven-point turn, retraced my tracks to escape.
Once home and after washing away all the sand I was quite pleased to find little-to-no damage to the ’Strom. Sand is definitely preferable to fall on than a busy Auckland motorway for more reasons than one.
It’s been a while, but I finally have the fire in my spirit that I had before my crash, and it is a surprise to even me that it wasn’t on the newest, most high-tech, bike available that brought that fire back. At $14,995 + ORC the V-Strom is an ideal candidate if you are looking for something cabable of propelling you on many varied adventures.
Photo / Mathieu Day
SUZUKI DL650XT ABS V-STROM
| ENGINE: | 645cc v-twin |
| PRICE: | $14,995 +orc |
| PROS: | A comfortable, capable all-rounder |
| CONS: | Oil filter is susceptible to damage off the beaten track |