2019 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Touring
Add some bags and protection to your middle-weight adventure
The Suzuki V-Strom 650XT has proven popular with fans of middle-weight adventure touring motorcycles. Couple that with a plethora of accessories available directly from Suzuki and the aftermarket, and you’ve got a flexible mount for either commuting or racking up the miles. Still, some people don’t want to bother with outfitting their bike with accessories, preferring that the essentials be installed directly at the factory. The release of the 2019 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Touring should make these people very happy.
The heart of the V-Strom 650 line has always been the SV650-based engine. Tuned for a strong bottom end and mid-range, the Strom uses 39mm throttle bodies with servo-motor controlled secondary butterflies to smooth power delivery. The Touring also receives Suzuki’s Advanced Traction Control System for rider confidence in varied riding conditions.
The 43mm fork, twin-spar aluminum frame, and aluminum swingarm connect the 19-inch front wheel with the 17-inch rear. The spoked wheels carry Bridgestone Battlax tubeless radial tires for travel on pavement with a little bit of dirt road thrown in. Stopping comes courtesy of dual 310mm discs and two-piston calipers plus a rear 260mm disc with ABS.
However, what separates a V-Strom 650XT Touring from a plain old XT are the installed accessories. The hard saddlebags are keyed to the motorcycle ignition for easy locking and removal without burdening you with extra keys. The Touring also receives an accessory bar that should offer protection in a tip over. Finally, the included center stand should make maintenance and loading the bike much easier.
Suzuki starts the price for the V-Strom 650XT Touring at $9,999.
Like most of the best happenings in his life, Evans stumbled into his motojournalism career. While on his way to a planned life in academia, he applied for a job at a motorcycle magazine, thinking he’d get the opportunity to write some freelance articles. Instead, he was offered a full-time job in which he discovered he could actually get paid to ride other people’s motorcycles – and he’s never looked back. Over the 25 years he’s been in the motorcycle industry, Evans has written two books, 101 Sportbike Performance Projects and How to Modify Your Metric Cruiser, and has ridden just about every production motorcycle manufactured. Evans has a deep love of motorcycles and believes they are a force for good in the world.
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It looks like my KTM 1190 Adventure R. Except my bike was $16,800, not $9,999. And it is 1200cc, not 650cc. And weighs 535 lbs not 476 lbs.
The under cowling protection should be replaced with an actual skid plate like Givi's. I wonder what the cost would be with each item separately added?