Suzuki V-Strom 650XT
£7499 | 645cc | Four-stroke liquid-cooled 90º V-twin | 68bhp | 44lb-ft
Expanding its adventure bike family further, Suzuki has now added the offroad capable V-Strom650XT to its popular range.
Tell me about the engine
The XT’s motor is unchanged from the standard V-Strom650 model – the four-stroke, dohc, liquid-cooled 90º V-twin 645cc engine produces 68bhp@ 8800rpmand 44lb-ft @ 6400rpm. It’s a unit well-known for its strong fuel economy; tests have proven that the middleweight adventure bike can return up to 71mpg, meaning there’s the potential to ride a substantial number of miles before filling up the 20 litre tank.
What’s the chassis like?
If the 650XT looks familiar, it should; it is an evolution of the standard V-Strom650, which arrived on the scene back in 2012.
But now it’s had an adventurethemed facelift which has seen the introduction of several new components, including an endurostyle peak mudguard, handguards, a sump-guard, crash-bars and some super-tough spoked wheels. Why? Suzuki’s answer is that it sees a gap in the market for such a motorcycle.
“We decided to offer people a middleweight model which could cope with much more punishing terrain”, explained Suzuki GB’s product planner Steve Hacklett. “The standard bike’s been very popular for us. We sold around 400 of them in the UK last year, but we anticipate the combined sales of the new XT and standard V-Strom will achieve even higher figures in 2015”.
Riders can opt for a low or high seat option on the spacious XT. Likewise, the bike’s large windscreen can be adjusted between three different positions to ensure the optimum level of comfort for the user.
Should I buy one?
If you’re looking for an economical bike which is capable of tackling tough off-road terrain, then the VStrom650XT offers a good option. It’s a simple and comfortable bike to ride, and its sensible pricing is undoubtedly going to do it a few favours. A new XT will set you back £7499, with the standard machine retailing at £6899. Both models come with good finance offers over two years too, making the options even more attractive.
We asked Steve whether current 650 owners could retrofit the XT components. He said: “You would have to change quite a few parts to do so, but it is physically possible. The wheels will slot in, but the front cowl on the XT would need a few panels switching to fit the new peak. The rest of the items will bolt straight on. But right now we don’t have such a parts kit for people to purchase. We might offer one in the future, but that’s not something I can confirm at present.”
So what’s it like to ride?
Taking the XT out on a 120-mile loop of the south-west coast of Ireland proved a fantastically rewarding experience. Despite strong winds, snow and constant lashings of rain, the six-hour jaunt around the Ring of Kerry was a real eye-opener.
If you’re familiar with the V-Strom you’ll know all about its comfortable
riding position, which seemed to suit all the different shapes and sizes of those of us on a test ride; lots of leg room, sensibly placed bars and a broad and long saddle won praise from everyone. As did the substantial windscreen, which kept the worst of the weather away from us as we wound our way along the breathtakingly scenic Gap of Dunloe.
Tight and narrow roads were the order of the day, which also allowed plenty of chance to try out the bike’s agility. Despite new wheels and the other additional components, the model’s suspension is unchanged from the standard 650 – telescopic coil springs on the front and a linktype coil spring on the rear.
The model looks far lardier than it really is, proving more than capable of slicing its way along the tightest of bends, including uphill hairpins. The V-StromXT is a commendably stable package, which works well with its neutral riding position to inspire the rider to push harder without ever taking you out of your comfort zone. It rolls into bends with ease, holds a line well and responds positively when you get on the gas and drive out of corners.
At just 68bhp, the power on tap from the bike’s V-twin motor is hardly unnerving. Ringing its neck on wet roads never once led to any moments of concern, while riding the bike on a remote Atlantic beach proved the ultimate test to assess the engine’s linear delivery.
Riding on dual-purpose Bridgestone Battlewing tyres, traction was surprisingly hard to break. And when the bike was sliding, the commendable connection from the throttle to the rear wheel meant that it was always easy to determine exactly what was going on beneath you.
Taking on a few river crossings and riding over rocks also proved the perfect chance to put the XT’s new wheels to the test. Suzuki acknowledged the standard cast wheels on the V-Strom650 limited its versatility. The same can’t be said for the new steel-spoked items, which sit on light but strong alloy rims.
I actively went looking for potholes to hit or rocks to climb; no matter what went under the 19in front, 17in rear combination, I had no problems with durability throughout the course of the test. It most certainly proved up for whatever I could throw at it.
For typical green lane work, the XT is undoubtedly well suited. Even in the crashing department. Unfortunately, one of my colleagues came a cropper during the day, but the bike’s protective crash bars meant that very little damage was done to the bike; it was picked back up and ridden away with just a few scuffs.
While we weren’t smashing our way through hedgerows to test the durability of the handguards, I can still confirmthat they did a top job of keeping the freezing cold wind and rain from reaching the core of our hands. Add to this equation the bike’s three-stage heated grips and I’d go as far as to say that I felt pretty cosy out in the elements.
My only criticism of the package is the niggly challenge of adjusting the span of the front brake lever. Before the ride commenced, I spent a couple of minutes trying to move the lever inwards by turning the dial. But the inside of the covers run close to the turn dial, which meant I had to take my gloves off and fettle around a bit more to get the set-up I was after. A small thing to note, but it’s worth being aware of.
Otherwise, I really did struggle to find anything unpleasant about the XT. If you like what you’ve seen, you’ll be glad to know that the XT’s are in dealerships now. Get yourself along for a test ride.