Why you don’t want the best motorcycle you’ll ever ride

What makes a motorcycle good? Is it big horsepower numbers and a long list of novel technology? Its ability to triple the highway speed limit? Is it presence in a TV show or its ability to impress your buddies on a motorcycle forum? This new 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 has none of that. When it leaked last year, we even called it boring. But, after spending over a month on it, that opinion has changed totally. The V-Strom might not be the sexiest motorcycle out there, but it is the most broadly capable we’ve ridden.

Photos: Sean Smith :continue:

Wes Siler. February 27th, 2012 - Permalink - Comments (96)

Suzuki Urban X-Over

No official info has been released for this bike, but what you’re looking at are photos snapped by Motosblog of a lightly modified V-Strom with an eye toward dirt performance and crashability. Knobby tires, grippy dirt-bike pegs, upgraded brake lines, fog lights, hard bags and a cut down, lightweight looking tail with LED lights help the bike perform a little better. An aluminum radiator guard, beefy pipe guard, skid-plate and tubular steel handguards increase your chances of being able to ride away from a spill. It’s a neat concept that would do well with a front fender and fork guards that actually protect the vulnerable exposed sliders.

Sean Smith. September 14th, 2011 - Permalink - Comments (38)

42 big photos of the 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650

The minimal mechanical changes to the 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 make it almost too boring to write about. Luckily, you can look at these pictures instead. Unlike the ones that accompanied the original leak, the ones in this leak are very large, so you can see all that plastic in great detail.

Wes Siler. June 22nd, 2011 - Permalink - Comments (22)

2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650: they teased this?!

These are the first pictures of the new 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650. Ever web-ignorant Suzuki managed to leak them themselves, uploading them to their European website days ahead of the official launch. As you can see, it’s a slightly restyled take on the old bike. We’re digesting the information to see if there’s anything of value here, but until then, bore yourself with the images in this gallery. :continue: