Suzuki is one of those manufacturers that has a habit of keeping some models around for a little longer in order to get the most out of the development investment. This is something of a double-edged sword in the sense that while these bikes almost always offer superior value, they can feel a little dated compared to the competition. This is especially telling in the highly competitive adventure bike segment.
With so many ADVs currently at our disposal, it is very easy to see why Suzuki has finally pulled the plug on the V-Strom 650XT. But, even though it is a dated platform, it holds true to the other side of that sword, as it offers solid value. It is also about as proven as any bike currently on the market, promising a stress-free ownership experience.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Suzuki. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
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The Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Leads The Segment In Stress-Free Ownership
MSRP: $9,799
The last meaningful update the V-Strom 650XT got was all the way back in 2017. Since then, we have only really seen color changes, which is not necessarily a bad thing. There wasn’t much need to fix something that wasn’t broken in the first place, but by the time the V-Strom 800 was launched, we all knew its days were numbered. It stayed on as a budget-friendly alternative, but several other competitively priced ADVs have also hit the market over the past few years.
In this sub-$10k space, the biggest competitor has to be the new Honda Transalp. It offers amazing value at this price point, but in an effort to achieve this low price, several features were left off the base model. Honda offers a wide variety of options, and the aftermarket for that bike is also growing, but it certainly isn’t the finished article straight from the factory, so the price is a little deceptive.
Chinese motorcycles have come of age and are now offering a lot more value as opposed to simply being cheap and cheerful in the past. There are a couple of decent Chinese options competing in this space, both of which use stroked-out Kawasaki 650 engines. The Benelli TRK 702X might have an Italian name, but that is about as much European DNA as you will find in this bike. The Moto Morini X-Cape 700 is the other Chinese-made option, and is arguably one of the best-looking bikes in this segment thanks to its Italian design. Both of these bikes are cheaper and offer more features than the Suzuki.
The V-Strom 650XT Has A Bulletproof V-Twin
Power: 70 Horsepower
In recent times, the 270-degree parallel-twin has become one of the most popular engines throughout the industry. Those engines do a great job of imitating a V-twin, but all they can do is imitate it. The V-Strom has a proper little V-twin, and while it will almost certainly cost a little more to manufacture than the average parallel-twin, the tooling for this engine has already paid for itself several times over. It is more or less bulletproof and is also efficient enough to get through modern emissions testing, but it has a little something else that makes it special.
More Fun Than You Might Expect
While it doesn’t necessarily make a lot of torque, pretty much all of it is available from around 3,000 RPM onward. This is not an especially low figure compared to some of the newest bikes, but it revs quickly enough for the power to be there just as quickly as other bikes in this class. It is a peach of an engine that makes an otherwise tepid-looking motorcycle a pleasure to own, and it is a big part of why owners love this platform so much.
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The V-Strom 650XT Is Incredibly Versatile
In a sea of complex, modern adventure bikes, the V-Strom sticks out largely because of its relative simplicity. It still comes with ABS and traction control, and while the suspension and chassis are dated, they are indeed perfectly adequate for a bike that only makes 70 horsepower and has no sporting pretensions.
With a wet weight of only 476 pounds and a seat height of 32.9 inches, it is also a physically approachable motorcycle. This also makes it light and nimble enough to handle tight city streets with ease, and it is also more than comfortable enough to handle long tours over the weekend. While it offers impressive levels of versatility and certainly can go off-road, that is the one area where it is a little compromised.
Compromised, But Still Lovable
That accessible seat height gives it a competitive edge among its peers, but there is a reason why most ADVs have tall seats. With a ground clearance of only 6.7 inches, it is severely limited in this department. There are indeed street bikes with more ground clearance, so if you are looking for a competent off-road-oriented adventure bike, you are indeed shopping in the wrong aisle. In fact, it is fair to say if that is what you are after, Suzuki will gladly point you in the direction of the new V-Strom 800.
The V-Strom 650 has stayed on precisely because it is a different kind of motorcycle. It is not particularly good at any one thing, but it is pretty good at most things. It is an easy bike to ride, it is phenomenally reliable, and it is affordable to own and maintain. One key factor that needs to be taken into account for any bike that has been around for some time is what owners have to say about the bike. Anyone who has actually owned a V-Strom 650 never seems to have anything bad to say about the bike.
Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications
|
Chassis |
Twin-spar aluminum |
|
Front Suspension |
Telescopic, coil spring, oil-damped |
|
Rear Suspension |
Link type, single shock, coil spring, oil damped |
|
Weight |
476 lbs |