Suzuki finally updating the Wee-Strom?

[eakins]

i like it.

it's an evolution of the original not a full redesign as some had hoped for. the looks are more refined and better looking...kinda tiger like but with adv wheel sizes. spoked wheels would have really made a huge leap so kinda bummed suzuki did not go the extra step there, but i was happy enough with my old strom's wheels.

[internalcombust]

Nothing says "adventure" like a smaller gas tank!

[stubmw]

Originally Posted by Parigi

Apparently they are still learning how to design a muffler....

Hey it has a buffed-finished end cap gracing it!.......

"The upswept muffler, topped with a silver cover and a buffed-finish end cap is gracing the rear end."

[eakins]

don't see suzuki trying to compete in the exact same segment or price point as yamaha, so not sure you can compare.

Originally Posted by Zapp22

Poser


vs.

Power

[hitchface]

Marginally smaller. Plus, if the engine has been made more efficient by even a little amount, effective range will not change in any appreciable manner.

I really dig the new look, personally.

Some ways they did this just right, others not so much.

Point is, they didn't screw too much with what worked. I want to see comparisons between the new mills...that will tell us if anything really neat has happened.

[dcstrom]

Is it just me, or does that front pipe look even more exposed than the current model?

[Crazy_Dave]

So wait................this is the new bike?

[hitchface]

Yeah, I dunno why they even bother with that.

Here are some details from the feature page. At least the ones that stand out to me:

3-way height-adjustable windscreen, carefully shaped with extensive wind tunnel testing, efficiently reduces wind noise and rider fatigue.

Instruments with an analog tachometer and brightness-adjustable LCD speedometer. LCD readouts include odometer, dual trip meter, gear position, coolant and ambient temperature, average fuel consumption, fuel gauge and clock.

LED indicators include a road freeze warning indicator which, together with the ambient temperature display, helps riders' awareness of road conditions.

The 6-speed transmission is tailored for active sporty rides with tighter 1st through 5th gear ratios, while keeping highway cruises comfortable with a tall top gear.

Spring-preload-adjustable 43mm-stanchion-tube front forks and link-type rear suspension with rebound stepless damping adjuster as well as a preload adjuster.

Transponder-type Suzuki Advanced Immobilizer System (SAIS) helps prevent theft with an electronic code ID system built into the owner's key.(excluding North American specifications)

A wide selection of Suzuki Genuine Accessories, designed for a smooth, easy fit with the V-Strom 650 ABS, adds to both adventure tourer profile and function.

[hitchface]

Double post, unless someone comes in after.

Some differences:

Compression ratio bumped down to 11.2:1 from 11.5:1

0.2 inches thinner

0.2 inches added to the wheelbase

Gas tank capacity decreased by a whopping 2 liters.

Can't find old model rake and trail info, or new model ground clearance.

Looking at them side by side, the lower exhaust pipe looks to be in the exact same configuration

[Crazy_Dave]

Then WTF was this all about?

[eakins]

no, same header pipe bend.
suspension is just compressed.

Originally Posted by dcstrom

Is it just me, or does that front pipe look even more exposed than the current model?

[CBBaron]

Did the server crash or did they just remove it?
I can't see the web site linked or the photos people have linked from there.

Sounds like pretty minor changes considering all the hoopla, but over all thats probably not a bad thing. The Vstrom is a pretty good platform and definitively has a good value. However the competition has stepped up quite a bit in the last couple years so its kind of surprising Suzuki didn't make a bigger change. This means they probably wont make a significant change for atleast 4 or 5 years.

They may have addressed a couple of the big issues if the buffeting was reduced and suspension improved. A couple pounds lighter is not a bad thing either. Current range is excellent so hopefully the smaller tank was offset with an increase in fuel economy, but probably not.

Craig

[eye.surgeon]

I like it a lot...
sharp styling, and didn't mess with what already works. Disappointed in the smaller fuel tank but wouldn't be surprised if the range was the same assuming some fuel economy improvement. I'll probably give it a year to shake the bugs out and then sell my '09 wee and buy one.

[kawierider]

Ha Ha… same bike new plastics…

I think a lot of people saw this coming, definitely not worthy of a ‘teaser” ad campaign.
On the bright side, the old bike was really pretty good, and It does not look like they screwed it up.

Based on what I have seen of Suzuki over the past 3 years this is about all we can really expect form them (small incremental improvements of existing platforms). You have keep in mind that they are the smallest of the big 4 and that they are not in great shape financially.

I was talking to one of the corporate Suzuki managers at a trade show last year and I was telling him my thoughts about all of the new bikes that they should be building. He listened politely for while then got a little irritated and said ‘do you know how much it costs to bring a totally new bike to market these days? About 10 million dollars, do you know how many bikes we would need to sell to make that money bacK?” Then he stared at me for a minute and said, “are YOU going to buy all of those bikes?”

He made his point and I realized that the company was probably closer to being on life support than moving to introduce new models.

[hitchface]

You guys realize that the fuel tank decrease is like...less than 10%, right? This is a piddly little change.