Suzuki V-Strom 650 India launch likely in August; to take on Kawasaki Versys 650

Suzuki Motorcycle India has been busy this year with the launch of GSX-S750 in April and Burgman Street on Thursday (July 19). However, the Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer is not done yet. Suzuki Motorcycle India now inching closer to the lunch of the V-Strom 650 adventure tourer.

Suzuki Motorcycle India had revealed the V-Strom 650 at the Auto Expo 2018 in February while the company is coy about the launch date. A report in Autocar claims Suzuki will launch the V-Strom 650 very soon, most probably next month (August 2018).

Suzuki offers the V-Strom 650 in standard and more off-road-specific XT version in the international markets. The model bound to India is reportedly the XT version and is expected to cost around Rs 7.7 lakh to Rs 7.9 lakh (ex-showroom). 

Suzuki is expected to locally assemble the adventure bike and in that case, it will be the third big bike that Suzuki Motorcycle India will be assembling after Hayabusa and GSX-S750.

Suzuki V-Strom 650 looks like the miniature version of the elder sibling, V-Strom 1000, which is also on sale in India. The motorcycle has a purposeful stance with a front beak that neatly integrated below the headlamp. The large windscreen is manually adjustable.

The motorcycle has more plastic panels upfront while the rear gets only minimalistic body panels. The V-Strom 650 XT gets mounting points for luggage panniers and a top box. The V-Strom 650 is more compact than its 1,000cc version and it comes with a fuel tank capacity is 20 litres.

Being an off-road focused version, the V-Strom 650 XT version gets spoke wheels and dual-purpose tires, knuckle guards, engine guards and others. Suspension duties are handled by preload-adjustable 43mm front forks and rear monoshock adjustable for preload and damping. In addition to the ABS, 310mm discs at the front and a single 260mm rear disc tame the bike.

Based on the twin spar frame, V-Strom 650 XT is powered by a twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 645cc engine belting out 71hp of power at 8,800rpm and 62Nm of torque at 6,500rpm. The mill comes mated to a six-speed transmission and also gets a three-stage traction control system as standard.

Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT will go up against Kawasaki Versys 650 in India which is priced around Rs 6.69 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. Kawasaki's adventure tourer is powered by a parallel twin engine that develops 68hp of power and 64Nm of torque.