Suzuki DL650 VStrom

The Suzuki V-Strom 650 (DL650) is a mid-weight, sport touring motorcycle made by Suzuki since 2004, in its third generation since model year 2017. It has a standard riding posture, fuel injection and an aluminum chassis. Marketed in Europe, Oceania, the Americas, and since 2018, India, the DL650 is manufactured at Suzuki's final assembly plant in Toyokawa, Japan. The V-Strom 650 trades strength in a single area for adaptability to a variety of riding conditions: commuting, cruising, adventure touring, and to a lesser degree, off-road riding. The bike is variously categorized as dual sport, sport enduro tourer, street/adventure, commuter, or entry-level.

According to the New York Times, the V-Strom has a loyal following worldwide, and the DL650 outsells the larger Suzuki V-Strom 1000 and the Suzuki V-Strom 1050 and the smaller Suzuki V-Strom 250.

The name V-Strom combines V, referring to the bike's V engine configuration, with the German word ''Strom'', meaning stream or current.

Mechanicals

The V-Strom has a six-speed transmission with a fuel-injected and slightly retuned 645 cc engine from Suzuki's SV650 sport bike, using a two-into-one exhaust system. An upright, standard riding posture contributes to the bike's handling characteristics.

Engine

The engine is a 90°, liquid cooled, four-stroke V-twin, with bore and a stroke, four valves per cylinder, and intake and exhaust valving each with their own camshaft. Its more relaxed cam profiles, compared with the SV engine, boost the power between 4,000 and 6,500 rpm, along with slight changes to the airbox and exhaust. Relative to the SV, the crank inertia (flywheel effect) is also increased by 4% via a redesigned starter clutch.
As well, the DL650 engine uses a plastic outer clutch cover and engine sprocket cover for reduced weight and noise.

Unlike the SV engine, which uses cast iron cylinder sleeves, the DL650 uses Suzuki's proprietary SCEM (Suzuki Composite Electro-chemical Material) plated cylinders, a race-proven nickel-phosphorus-silicon-carbide coating for reduced weight and improved heat transfer, allowing for tighter and more efficient piston-to-cylinder clearance, similar to a Nikasil coating.

Engine electronics

The DL650 engine electronics aid starting and throttle control and uses Suzuki's AFIS (Auto Fast Idle System), eliminating a fast-idle control. The engine control module (ECM) reads engine information, such as coolant temperature, via a 32-bit central processing unit (CPU), controlling the fuel system's dual throttle bodies.

Emissions

The DL650 uses Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) fuel-injection and exhausts via a two-into-one exhaust system with a catalytic converter in the muffler. European models meet Euro 3 emissions specifications. In the US, a "PAIR" air injection system reduces CO and HC emissions.

Chassis

A stiff, twin-spar aluminum frame and swingarm accommodates a rear Showa mono-shock with rebound and hydraulic preload adjustment. Front Showa damper-rod forks are not adjustable. The DL650 has a 19-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel.

Instruments and bodywork

The bike's instrument cluster includes a compact analog step-motor speedometer and tachometer (both with LED illumination) and a digital LCD unit with odometer, trip meter, coolant temperature gauge, fuel gauge, LED neutral, digital clock, turn signal and high beam lights and an oil pressure warning light.

An adjustable windshield allows movement of . A small underseat compartment, suitable for small tools, gloves, or an owner's manual, can be accessed by removal of the seat, via a lock located at the rear of the bike, just below the built-in rack.

Awards and reviews

The V-Strom 650 was named one of the "ten best" bikes under $10,000 by ''Motorcyclist (USA)'' magazine, October, 2007—beating out, among many others, the V-Strom 1000. In a September 2006 article, ''Cycle World'' magazine wrote "the DL650 may just be the most shockingly competent machine in the world today."September 2006 article
from Cycle World
A 2004 article from ''MotorcycleUSA.com'' said "it was hard to imagine another machine with a competitive versatility-per-dollar ratio."2004 article
from MotorcycleUSA.com
Twice consecutively, the DL650 has earned the title "Alpenkoenig" (King of the Alps), winning German '' Motorrad'' magazine's trans-alp multi-bike test in 2005 and 2006.Alpenkoenig
from MOTORRADonline.com

At the DL650's launch, Kevin Ash said "taking everything into account - price, comfort, fuel range, general ability, you could argue it was the bike of the year," adding, "there's something honest and solid about the V-Strom." Having ridden a DL650 as his daily rider, in 2005 Ash called it the "best bike you can buy." Ash complimented the bike's comfort, fuel range, engine and handling, faulting its brakes and corrosion resistance, and described the bike as "perhaps the ultimate all-round machine." At the launch of the revised 2012 model, Ash said that the previous generation, which could be very vulnerable to corrosion, had "been left behind, especially by direct rival, the Kawasaki Versys." After the release of the 2012 model, Ash placed the Vstrom ahead of the Versys.

First generation

2004

* First model year

2005

* Headlight interrupt when starting added.
* Only 100 special edition units were created that included several unique accessories and was notable for having a tire mark painted on the fairing.

2007

* Optional ABS (Anti-lock braking system)
* Wheelbase increased from with an increase in the swingarm length by
* Dual sparkplugs at each cylinder. (Excluding European Models)
* Idle adjustment screw removed

2008

* Alternator output increased from 375 to 400 watts.

2009

* All-steel locknut on rear axle, previously castellated nut style. (US Model only, this feature always present on Australia and New Zealand Models)
* Clear signal light lenses, previously amber.

2010

* No 2010 models in US.

2011

* For US, all models, ABS equipped.

Second generation

2012

The 2012 model had minor changes in styling and some specifications, including fuel capacity reduced from , seat height raised from , and 10mm more rear suspension travel.

2015 XT Model

*Front styling included a beak-like front cowl.
*Wheels were changed to lightweight wire-spoked aluminium rims in keeping with adventure styling, but retained the tubeless feature of previous models. (Available as optional extra only in some dealers)

Third generation

Beginning in 2017, the DL650 was available in two model versions; the base and XT. The base has Ten spoked cast-aluminum, while the 650 XT features tubeless tire wire-spoked wheels. This version of the DL650 now has intercompatible luggage rack with the updated DL1000 from 2014. It also now features adjustable traction control and throttle assist which slowly increases the rpm of the engine when the clutch is released or riding at slow speeds. This decreases the chance the rider will stall the motorcycle. The 2017 model is also Euro4-compliant.

Unique to the V-Strom 650XA are the knuckle covers to support harsh condition riding, and the engine under cowling to give the rider that extra adventure feel, both as standard equipment.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Suzuki V-Strom 650
V-Strom 650
Dual-sport motorcycles
Motorcycles introduced in 2004