Suzuki V-Strom 650XT 2020 — Specifications

Is a pair of spoked rims and a plastic skid plate enough to transform a civilized road warrior into a trail adventurer? That's the bold gamble of the Suzuki V-Strom 650XT, a version that focuses on the look of the open road without truly upsetting the base model's DNA. For a little under €9000, precisely €8999, you get this superb sport-tourer dressed for adventure, but whose heart remains irrevocably that of a tall roadster, ultra-versatile and reliably unfailing.

Under the revised fairing, mimicking the 1000, beats the now-famous 645 cm3 V-twin engine. With its 71 horsepower at 8000 rpm and its 69 Nm of torque available relatively early, it doesn't crush the competition on paper, but it possesses the progressiveness and smoothness that make it an ideal companion engine. It pulls without ever surprising, drinks moderately from the 20-liter tank, and its new Euro4 trim hasn't stripped it of its character. Faced with a Yamaha Ténéré 700, more spirited and radical, or a Kawasaki Versys 650, more road-focused, the Suzuki plays the card of balance and accessibility.

And it is precisely here that the XT version is hampered. Its "adventure" equipment sometimes seems cosmetic. The 19- and 17-inch spoked rims are a real plus for robustness and image, but the engine protection skid plate is made of plastic, a surprising economy on a motorcycle at this price. The handguards are welcome, but the absence of a center stand on a 213 kg motorcycle fully fueled borders on a crime against the user. It therefore positions itself as a road trail, capable of digesting occasional dirt roads, but not as a hard-core adventurer. Two-mode traction control and ABS are reassuring assets, as is the adjustable screen and start-up aids.

So, what is the price of a Suzuki V-Strom 650XT? For these €8999, you buy above all a machine of remarkable everyday efficiency. Its aluminum frame, supple suspension, and 83 cm seat height make it an accessible, reassuring, and incredibly easy-to-live-with motorcycle. It's the ideal motorcycle for the road warrior who wants to see the country without complication, or for the novice looking for a first reassuring large displacement. It forgives everything, consumes little, and never breaks down. On the other hand, if it's for the rocky field, you'd better look elsewhere. The V-Strom 650XT is an excellent motorcycle, but it remains an asphalt adventurer.