Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS Tourer 2014 — Specifications

You're captivated by the Suzuki twin, this smooth and agreeable engine that transforms every outing into a smiling ride. The V-Strom 650 has this rare talent of disappearing, of blending into your movements to leave only the simple pleasure of riding. But once the smile fades, one question persists: what if we really wanted to leave, far away, with all our gear? The base version, as honest as it is, quickly shows its limits when faced with vast open spaces. That's when Suzuki plays its trump card, the Tourer version, a machine that radically changes the proposition without touching the very essence of the model.

Suzuki simply packed its bags, and yours at the same time. The pack is complete, almost generous. We find a taller screen adorned with an adjustable deflector, the kind of detail that turns a highway into a stroll. Standard handguards prevent numb fingers in the early morning, while cylinder protectors and an engine guard ensure serenity on slightly rough trails. The bulk of the work is the 112 liters of luggage: two side cases and a top case that blend into the landscape without weighing down the silhouette. A center stand, an accessory that is seemingly insignificant but so precious for chain drive maintenance, completes the ensemble.

With its 69 horsepower delivered without haste and a torque of nearly 59 Nm available from the middle of the rev range, the V-twin is not a rocket. It doesn't claim to compete with sharp triples or overpowered twins. Its strength lies in its mechanical hedonism, its ability to swallow up the kilometers without ever getting upset, fueled by a 20-liter tank that promises long-distance autonomies. The chassis, with its 43 mm fork and a seat height of 835 mm, maintains a perfect balance between stability on the asphalt and the ability to leave the paved road without trembling. At 9999 euros, the price is fair, but it places this Tourer in contested territory.

Because that's where the shoe pinches. At this price, you're approaching the entry level of premium road trails, and the 2014 V-Strom 650 Tourer shows its age. ABS is present, but the instrumentation is spartan, the aesthetics remain gentle, and the braking, although honest with its 310 mm discs at the front, lacks bite compared to more recent competitors. It doesn't chase records, its top speed being around 180 km/h, but it will drive you there with minimal fatigue.

So, who is this machine for? For the pragmatic traveler who prefers reliability to showiness, for those who see the motorcycle as a road companion rather than a performance object. It is the ideal road trail for a first major trip or for the user looking for versatility without complication. The Suzuki V-Strom 650 Tourer is not the most exciting, nor the most modern, but it possesses this too-rare virtue: it is profoundly, sincerely, made to last.