Suzuki Updates V-Strom 650, V-Strom 1000 Workhorses

Suzuki Workhorses V-Strom 650 and V-Strom Updated for 2017

Suzuki brings four new V-Strom models to market for 2017, offering variations including the street-oriented ABS and off-road focused ABS XT. As you might expect, the ABS version comes with cast aluminum wheels while the ABS XT series comes with tubeless spoke wheels. The Suzuki V-Strom 1000 first appeared in 2002, and attracted a mixed bag of sport/touring/sport-touring/adventure sport riders, largely by virtue of its 90-degree V-Twin and affordable price tag. The popularity curve improved even more in 2004 with the release of the 650 and the rest as they say, is history. The little brother, owing to its versatility, found a much larger market and as a result the 1000 was dropped for a decade only to reappear in 2014.

The V-Strom 650 was updated in 2011, and three years later the new 1000 became the test bed for Suzuki’s first traction control system. By that time it was apparent that the two bikes appealed to two distinctly separate demographics. The 1000 was the choice of sport/adventuring/touring riders for its power, the 650 to a more practical bunch with utility, weight and size a higher priority. Now both Twins have been restyled to reflect the expansion of the market for both medium and large-bore sport tourers. The V-Strom 1000 gets the new “Motion Track Brake System” on its new and improved “Sports Adventure Tourer.” The 1000 has a new seat and cowling/windscreen design for improved comfort, supported by a torque curve reaching its maximum output at a rider friendly 4000 rpm.

The V-Strom 650, which set the standard for middleweight do-everything rides, gets its first refurb in five years. The latest model with ”new styling is now lighter, more powerful and has the image of the DR-BIG, the pioneer of the adventure segment, and aims to appeal to even more enthusiastic riders.”

Noting the popularity of off-road adventure styles, Suzuki has adopted the “styling image from the desert racer DR-Z and DR-BIG, to match the V-Strom 1000. The 650 is “a masterpiece with an ultimate balance provided by the natural riding position, comfortable seat and the flexible engine character realizing stress-free riding from daily use to long distance adventure touring. The 650 is also available with either cast aluminum or wire-spoked wheels, offering a choice for riders."

As far as we can tell, Suzuki is making a nice push here at INTERMOT 2016, which should set itself up with a nice line-up for this year and the upcoming. Between the new GSX-R1000, the GSX-S and the populat V-Strom models, things are looking good here. Below are some additional images to get youin the Suzuki V-Strom spirit.