Suzuki DL 650 V-STROM 2020 — Specifications

Who remembers the first Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom, the one that landed in the early 2000s with the SV's twin-cylinder tucked under the tank? A likeable machine but a bit bland, the kind of bike you recommend to everyone without anyone dreaming about it at night. Starting with the 2017 model year, carried over to this 2020 version, Suzuki decided to shake things up. Aggressive new face modeled after the big sister DL 1000, modernized electronics, reworked engine. The Suzuki V-Strom 650 now wants to throw elbows against the Kawasaki Versys and Yamaha Tracer, and it doesn't do things by halves.

Style-wise, forget the gentle curves of previous generations. The monobloc headlight and prominent beak are divisive, no question. This front end won't win any beauty contests against a Tracer 700, but it has the merit of existing and giving character to a bike that sorely lacked it. The overall look is cohesive without being graceful. For those who want to push the adventure slider further, the Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom XT trim adds spoked wheels, a skid plate, and handguards. A proper adventure kit, offered in the catalog since the first models of this generation that appeared in 2017.

Under the fairing, the 645 cc 90-degree V-twin continues its long career. Born in the cradle of the SV, it was seriously revised with around sixty new parts to meet Euro4 standards. The result: 71 horsepower at 8,800 rpm and 62.8 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. The gains over the previous version remain modest — two horsepower and a touch more torque — but it's mainly the mid-range availability that improves. This engine will never pin you to the backrest, but it pulls with reassuring consistency. Its only real flaw is its displacement. In a segment where competitors flirt with 700 cc, the Suzuki's 645 cc is starting to feel a bit short. The powerplant nonetheless remains remarkably reliable, a weighty argument on the used Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom market where examples from the 2004, 2005, 2007, or 2012 generations still run without complaint.

The electronics represent the real qualitative leap for this generation. Two-mode traction control plus full deactivation, hill start assist with Low RPM Assist, Easy Start system — it's all there. You can debate the usefulness of traction control on 71 horsepower, but given the state of our roads, better to have it than regret it. ABS comes standard, the windscreen adjusts to three positions without tools, a 12V socket sits in the fairing cowl, and the dashboard borrowed from the 1000 offers complete instrumentation with an analog tachometer. On the other hand, the center stand remains optional. As do the mounting plates for panniers. For a bike with touring ambitions listed at 8,399 euros new, that's a bit stingy.

The chassis plays the confidence card. The aluminum twin-spar frame and swingarm carry over unchanged. The 43 mm telescopic fork and monoshock each offer 150 mm of travel. The braking system with its 310 mm front discs and 260 mm rear disc gets the job done without particular flair. Cast wheels shod in 110/80-19 and 150/70-17 with Bridgestone A40 tires complete a classic but effective package. At 213 kg wet, with a 20-liter tank ensuring comfortable range and a seat height of 830 mm, the Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom 2020 remains a rational proposition. It's aimed at pragmatic tourers, everyday riders looking for a versatile tool rather than an object of desire. Not the most exciting in the segment, but probably the one least likely to leave you stranded. And over time, that's an argument that carries serious weight. The Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom accessories available in the catalog will allow the most demanding riders to customize it to their needs, from simple handguards all the way to full grand touring equipment.