Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/172722
RIDING IMPRESSION P58 2013 SUZUKI V-STROM 650 ABS ADVENTURE SPECIFICATIONS 2013 SUZUKI V-STROM 650 ABS ADVENTURE rider Jason "Air It Out" Abbott at the controls. It does have decent ground clearance and more than five inches of wheel travel at both ends - far more than your average streetbike. ABS is no longer an option for the V-Strom 650; it's now standard equipment. The Bosh system been updated from the previous version – and it's lighter and refined. It can't be turned off, but that didn't seem to matter off-road, since you can't really ride the 'Strom that fast on the dirt anyway for the ABS to become a nuisance. But on the street, the V-Strom's ABS works well and you hardly know it's there, though you certainly do when you need it. Overall braking performance is adequate from the Tokico calipers; the all-important front brake feels soft but strong enough. Adventure rides usually means long days in the saddle and the V-Strom is set up perfectly for that. Seating position is fairly straight up and relaxed with no obvious stress-points on the body. Although seat height increased a tad over the previous-generation V-Strom due to the stouter suspension, it's still quite low at 32.9 inches. Suzuki does offer optional high or low seat heights of 20mm. Heat doesn't radiate from the motor as much as I remembered, which most likely has to do with better airflow Suzuki designed in and around the bike. There is plenty of knowledge to take in via the V-Strom instrument cluster – it's all right there in easyto-read format with analog readout on the left and digital on the right. You have all the usual necessity info on top, including dual trip meters, a gear-select indicator, ambient temperature, clock and even a road freeze warning indicator. Overall, there isn't much not to like about the Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS. It's a machine that can carry you comfortably anywhere you want to go and maybe even where you don't want to go - like the of- ENGINE:................... Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90-degree V-Twin DISPLACEMENT:...............................645cc BORE/STROKE:............. 81.0mm/62.6mm COMPRESSION RATIO:....................... 11.2:1 FUEL SYSTEM:................................. Suzuki Fuel-Injection/ Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) System LUBRICATION:............................Wet Sump TRANSMISSION:.... 6-speed, constant mesh IGNITION:........ Electronic (transistorized) FINAL DRIVE:.............Chain D.I.D #520V8 CHASSIS:...................Twin-spar aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION:....... Telescopic fork w/5-way spring-preload adj REAR SUSPENSION:...................Link type, single-shock w/stepless rebound damping adj and 5-way spring preload adj. FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL:....................5.9 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL:......................6.3 in. FRONT BRAKE:............... Dual disc w/ABS REAR BRAKE:.............. Single disc w/ABS FRONT TIRE:............ 110/80R19M/C 59H, tubeless REAR TIRE:............... 150/70R17M/C 69H, tubeless FUEL CAPACITY:.............................5.3 gal. WHEELBASE:....................................61.4 in. GROUND CLEARANCE:......................6.9 in. SEAT HEIGHT:.................................32.9 in. COLOR:.................. Metallic Thunder Gray BASE MSRP:...................................$9,999 fice. But that all changes on the weekend. Slap on the bags and the V-Strom is instantly ready for an overnight getaway adventure. And for just $8499 for the standard V-Strom 650 and $9999 for the "fully loaded" Adventure, the V-Strom is truly an adventure in versatility. CN