Suzuki DL650 V-Strom

The new Suzuki DL650 V-Strom may have a '2011' moniker attached, but it’s essentially unchanged from the all-new model we first saw in Australia in 2005. It's got a fresh lick of paint (black or grey) which adds a little bit of appeal, but other than that it's business as usual for the dual-purpose campaigner.

But the ageing all-rounder shouldn't be dismissed based on its maturity.

Suzuki delivered a very good 'sport enduro tourer' in the middle of last decade and, miraculously, it has stood the test of time. While we spent most of this review on the bitumen, with a couple of dirt road forays, and it was a real surprise to see just how capable, and refined, the V-Strom still is today.

Motive force is derived from a fuel-injected 654cc V-twin, with liquid cooling, four valves per cylinder and remarkably smooth character. It's not completely vibe-free, but is more refined than some its rivals, such as the Honda Transalp XL700V.

One of the most impressive aspects of the powertrain is the fuel injection, which delivers snatch-free power delivery that makes the V-Strom a viable daily rider, tackling city congestion and stop-start traffic with effortless ease. As well as good fuelling, it's got plenty of mumbo in its mid range and is tractable enough in its bottom end below 5000rpm, yet it doesn't run out of breath if you feel like winding up the engine, all of which makes it very easy -- pleasant even -- to ride.

It surprised me how easy the bike was to ride around town, and the little things helped too, such as the tight turning circle and easy-to-read instruments, dual trip meters and the temperature gauge.

Suzuki has manufactured a good-looking bike too, the angular design motif lending the DL650 an almost timeless appearance, while LED indicator lights add a little razzle dazzle to proceedings.

The high 820mm seat height may be a hindrance for riders 170cm and under, but it does ensure an upright riding position that delivers a commanding view of your surrounds, whether that be urban, coniferous or possibly even barren tundra.

The riding position is eminently comfortable, aided by the tall bars that rise up to meet you and a generous seat with good cushioning. It doesn't take much effort to tip the bike into corners either, and it was surprising just how capable the Suzuki DL650 is at carving up corners. It's not in the same league as the Triumph Tiger 800, but it can maintain a good pace with amply levels of feedback through the (somewhat soft) suspension.

Suzuki made an intelligent design decision to equip its all-rounder with a large 22-litre fuel tank, which means less refilling and an extended touring range, and the mid-sized front screen is another advantage on longer journeys, deflecting wind around the rider. It's also manually adjustable, which is a nice touch.

Ride quality is very good, the suspension ably soaking up bumps and tears in the road, but the flipside of this creamy smooth ride is a lack of poise under brakes. The front end will dive if you apply a firm handful of brakes, and this can be unsettling if you're approaching a corner. The moral of story? Brake smoothly. It only took me about 20km of riding through the twisties to figure it out...

On dirt the 645cc V-Strom is capable and predictable and the smooth fuelling and direct gearbox also come into play here, making it easy to coax along. That being said, mid-range torque is such that you won't need too many gear changes on the dirt -- just leave it in third gear and let the torque do the rest.

It feels stable on the dirt both standing and sitting and, although it's not designed for hardcore bush bashing, it'll climb some very steep inclines without too much trouble and there's enough travel in the front suspension to bounce your way through rougher terrain. It's the road-biased tyres that stop it from truly going bush.

Though it can't match the BMW F 800 GS or Tiger in terms of absolute brawn, for about $5000 less you’re not sacrificing too much. Sure, Suzuki hasn't changed the mechanicals at all -- it's essentially the same bike that was getting around seven years ago -- but it's a testament to the bang-up job the Suzuki spanner monkeys accomplished. It doesn't have a centrestand or bashplate, but these minor omissions can be forgiven when everything else works so well.

Comfortable to ride in almost any situation, with impressive throttle response and a design that has, and will, stand the test of time, the Suzuki DL650 V-Strom represents good value priced from under $11k for the ABS model.

Visit the DL650 V-Strom in Bike Showroom.