VOL. 52 ISSUE 25 JUNE 23, 2015 P105
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ABBOTT
S
ay hello to the 2015 Suzuki V-Strom
650 ABS. First launched in 2004 with
the name DL650, this mid-weight sport
touring motorcycle now finds itself in its second
generation (2012) as the V-Strom 650 ABS.
The V-Strom line of Suzuki motorcycles have
earned quite a reputation as being solid ma-
chines and having ridden the Adventure version
of the 650 a few years ago we felt it was time to
revisit the Strom in its slimmed down version.
To be honest, the V-Strom 650 ABS doesn't
have the most desirable look. There's an organ-
ic influence in the design of the bodywork and
the front of the bike has an insect-like look, but
for the most part the exterior is bland. Unfor-
tunately, if you want a motorcycle with loads of
creature comfort features, you won't find them
here. There's no power mode adjustment, no
heated grips and the super basic LCD screen
features only the most important information—
speed, rpm, mileage, gear, engine temp, fuel
and clock.
Thankfully, the V-Strom 650 is an extremely
comfortable motorcycle. The seat has a cushy
feel and sits low, allowing my 5'11 frame to eas-
ily touch the ground, and the handlebars and
foot pegs are placed in a neutral position. It
isn't until you actually sit on the Strom that the
bodywork design starts to make sense as the
tank wraps around your legs and you get the
feeling of being one with the bike. Wind protec-
tion from the manually adjustable three-position
wind screen and bodywork is very good, and
whether you're on your daily commute or travel-
ing long distances, the V-Strom 650 provides
nothing but an enjoyable experience.
AS THE OLD SAYING GOES,
"YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!"
TAKING A
SECOND LOOK
