Suzuki V-Strom 650XT - 2014 Intermot

Suzuki unveils an upgraded 2015 Suzuki V-Strom - the V-Strom 650XT - focusing more on off-road adventures.

By: William Connor

Oct 1, 2014 at 3:00am ET

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Suzuki unveiled an updated and restyled Wee-Strom known as the V-Strom 650XT. The 650XT is focused more for off-road riding than its predecessor, and its styling is geared to match the V-Strom 1000.

2015 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT

Suzuki stated they developed the bike to be versatile, comfortable and more friendly by fitting the bike with wire spoked aluminum wheels, along with more adventurous styling and accessories. Statements like that always worry us. When adventure styling is mentioned that prominently, my concern is that the builder is actually succumbing to BNG (Big New Graphics) Syndrome and not offering actual improvements. Is this just a styling exercise or will it be rubber to the road.. or in this case dirt. With wire wheels and handful of new accessories, we can only wait to see if these improvements pay off.

The front beak is a nod to the 1988 DR-Z ridden by former motocross world champion Gaston Rahier at the Paris-Dakar Rally. Wheel sizes are the same as the current model.

The luggage looks like Suzuki partnered with SW-Motech/Bags Connection for the design. They are definitely TraX-looking side cases with the Suzuki logo.

READ MORE: Intermot Coverage

Suzuki's press release:

'Based on the already popular V-Strom 650, which has been the top-selling dual purpose machine in the 650-800cc class in the last decade, the V-Strom 650XT comes with more adventure as standard.

'The new V-Strom 650XT takes design cues from the DR Big, the first dual-purpose machine to feature the now standard 'beak' design synonymous with models in the adventure sector. A new beak blends smoothly into the existing front bodywork, with air ducts that channel airflow to the radiator.

'Newly designed, lightweight, wire-spoked aluminium wheels aid in the adventure styling of the new V-Strom 650XT, and shock absorption performance is increased on unpaved roads. Its arrival is anticipated as early as December this year.'