New Suzuki V-Strom: underwhelming or just misunderstood?

We’d like to say we’re waiting for the official details of the new Suzuki V-Strom to be released so we can get all the big pics and updated specs, but after managing to leak its own new adventure bike, the DL650 V-Strom hasn’t exactly made a splash on motorcycle websites.

Are we being unreasonable, though?Expectations that the new V-Strom would somehow be a radical take on what was a practical bike probably over-evaluated what Suzuki itself had in mind.

The teaser campaigns which are all so fashionable at the moment only drum up excitement that then must inevitably be let down and our message to motorcycle companies is – DON’T TEASE THE BIKES.
Unless you’re going to give us something that totally blows our socks off, you will have to content yourselves with some comments about new product which border on nasty.
Anyway, the media fortunes of the new Suzuki DL650 V-Strom don’t look good at this stage with words like “boring” and “underwhelming” being used.

Exactly what Suzuki plans to do about this situation is anyone’s guess as after the first images were leaked, the website section has since been closed and we’ve heard nothing else.

It does kind of pour cold water over any big launch planned.
Here’s what the web is saying about the new Suzuki adventure bike: Hell for Leather: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….
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.
Asphalt & Rubber:If you were expecting more, and feel let down…welcome to the club….
Find the massively underwhelming leaked photos, details, and specifications after the jump.
MCN:So far Suzuki has been teasing us with a rather annoying campaign of sketches, line drawings and most recently blurred images of the new machine….
The images show a restyled front fairing, side strakes with a hint of the old Suzuki RF900, cast wheels but much of the rest of the bike appears very familiar.
There’s not much to be said yet about any engine modifications and the technical specs below don’t indicate much.
So far we’ve been lead to believe we will see some torque improvements on the 650cc Gladius engine but otherwise nothing specific has been released.
In addition to all this, doubts over whether the new Suzuki DL650 V-Strom will be able to compete with the likes of the BMW F650GS or the new Triumph Tiger won’t be doing its future any favours.
See what you think from the pics and specs below as we wait for more from Suzuki about the new V-Strom.
Technical Specifications of the 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS:Engine Type 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90°V-TwinBore x Stroke 81.
0 mm x 62.
6 mm (3.
2 in x 2.
5 in)Engine Displacement 645 cm3 (40.
2 cu.
in)Compression Ratio 11.
2 : 1Carburetion Fuel injectionOil Capacity (overhaul) 3.
0 L (3.
2 / 2.
6 US / Imp qt)Starter System Electronic ignition (Transistorized)Lubrication System Wet sumpTransmission 6-speed constant meshPrimary Reduction Ratio 2.
088 (71 / 34)Final Reduction Ratio 3.
133 (47 / 15)Rake/Trail 26°/ 110 mm (4.
3 in)Suspension Front Telescopic, coil spring, oil dampedRear Link type, coil spring, oil dampedBrakes Front Disc, twinRear DiscTires Front 110/80R19M/C 59HRear 150/70R17M/C 69HFuel tank 20.
0 L (5.
3 / 4.
4 US / Imp gal)Overall length 2,290 mm (90.
2 in)Overall Width 835 mm (32.
9 in)Overall height 1,405 mm (55.
3 in)Wheelbase 1,560 mm (61.
4 in)Seat height 835 mm (32.
9 in)Curb mass 214 kg (472 lbs)