2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS preview test ride

After the disparaging comments on the internet about the lack of evolved design on the new Suzuki V-Strom, we’ll be taking it for a test ride in Croatia to see for ourselves.
The new Suzuki adventure bike is a mixed bag in the style of the enduro-sports-tourer bikes currently on the market and is based on the “Comfortable Adventure Tourer” concept.

We’ll be finding out over the next couple of days whether it’s got the refinement required to compete in this segment, but generally we expect the V-Strom to have solid performance at mid to low revs and its characteristic versatility.

In this new generation V-Strom we understand we’ll be getting better comfort, improved wind protection and some other details which should tweak the design a little.
Improved fuel consumption should also be a focus.
The new Suzuki V-Strom is being released in time for its 10th anniversary in 2012, and while the new model hasn’t exactly made a big splash at its leaked launch, there’s no denying there’s ten years of steady, modest success behind this bike.

We don’t think we’ll be riding a revolutionary V-Strom in Croatia, but an adaptable, pleasing update on the previous model should at least be what we get.
No official pricing is available yet, but we understand that the new V-Strom price in Europe will be about 8,400 euros, ABS included.
More to come.