Trail – New Suzuki V-Strom 2012 test: received, very good mention! – The fear of the blank sheet?

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New Suzuki V-Strom 2012 test: received, mention very well !

Trail - New Suzuki V-Strom 2012 test: received, very good mention! - The fear of the blank sheet?

During its first test in Croatia, the new trail Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom 2012 made no dead ends and passed the rigorous examination of Site which it obtains with the congratulations as well in town, on small roads and on expressways.

The fear of the blank sheet ?

Almost 10 years ago, when Suzuki released its V-Strom 1000, the manufacturer claimed to create "a new motorcycle category: the Enduro Sport Tourer"Convinced of the strong potential of this kind of motorcycle – especially in Germany, but also in France – Suzuki launched in the wake, in 2003, the 650 cc version equipped with the twin cylinder of the SV.

"With the addition of a model with ABS in 2006, the V-Strom 650 has always been the best-selling model in its class.", also congratulate the Yellows who have since abandoned the 1000 cc. But with the arrival of the news or in particular, Suzuki had to review its copy…

For "further improve road performance and driving comfort", the Hamamatsu firm has embarked on the development of a new DL 650 which will mark in 2012"the 10th anniversary of the V-Strom series".

Ah, the internet leaks…

When he begins his presentation to the French journalists gathered in Split (Croatia), the marketing assistant Makoto Kudo offers us his sincerest apologies: the 2012 novelty that he "reveals" to us is already no longer one, the official fault. to a distracted webmaster (read).

This "leak" necessarily embarrassed Japanese officials: at the sight of the cliches alone, the motorcycle press and its readers immediately understood that the 2012 V-Strom was only an evolution of the old model. . and not a total overhaul !

This simplistic method is nevertheless good: by making small adjustments, engineers limit the risk of crashing. In addition, it must be recognized that the 2011 V-Strom was far from being outdated (read in particular our).

Finally, this update technique has the advantage of being much less expensive, a strong argument at Suzuki. And yet this is where the first – and the only – bad surprise about the very last Suz ‘lies: its price !

Not expensive enough ?!

Priced at € 8,199 with its standard ABS, the new 2012 V-Strom costs € 700 more than the old model (2011) offered at € 7,499 with the ABS option. The difference is even greater with the 2010 model still available in: € 6,549 for the version without ABS !

"Certainly, the cycle part is very close to that of the old model and the engine is closely linked to that of the Gladius", humbly acknowledges Hisayaki Fuwa, Marketing Development Manager at Suzuki."But we have modified many parts, installed new equipment and completely revised its look. But this requires a significant investment".

At the level of the twin cylinder for example, the Japanese engineers modified the profile of the cams and recalibrated the injection with double butterflies – the famous SDTV inaugurated on the Gex – in order to make the "six-fifty" (645 cc precisely) more torquey to low and mid-range. In addition, the valve springs are no longer split and the spark plugs are of the double-ignition iridium type..

The idle control system now integrated into the throttle body (dubbed the TI-ISC) also contributes to better capacity and more starting stability in cold weather, as well as to the reduction of CO2 emissions after starting the engine. engine.

In parallel, "the release mechanism has been changed from a ball screw (ball-nut) type to a cam type for precise and reliable use, enhancing the impression of instant operation", specifies Suzuki.

The new double-layered clutch cover and scissor-type primary drive gear are said to reduce mechanical noise. Finally, the redesigned crankshaft must "increase the throbbing sensation of the V-Twin engine at uneven intervals"…

Taken end to end, these small modifications make it possible both to gain in performance (+2 horsepower or 69 hp in all, and a higher power curve as a whole) as well as in consumption: the Japanese claim that their new DL 650 2012 is 10% more sober than the 2011…

Copying is not cheating

A very convenient figure since it corresponds exactly to the loss of capacity of the tank: the new Suzuki trail carries 20 liters of fuel with it … against 22 for the old model! The estimated range of around 350 km therefore remains relevant..

The fuel tank is not the only exterior element to have been revised: the entire line has been redesigned and gives the V-Strom a more "toy" look than before. The two-tone fairing also lightens its silhouette, as does the replacement of the oil cooler with a liquid cooling system.

We appreciate that some black resin parts of the casing take on a carbon look – that’s qualitative! -, but we would have preferred that all the raw parts were painted. The Japanese will probably keep their paint cartridges for the next editions … And the same goes for the indicators: white on the 2011, they turn orange again in 2012.

As for the mechanics, Suzuki did not however stray too far from the old model in terms of the look: double optics, three-position windshield, pot placed on the right in the high position, perimeter frame and swinging arm in unchanged aluminum, double disc at the front and two-piston caliper, 43 mm fork and rear shock absorber adjustable by means of a large knob for the rear … We find a good part of the recipe for success of the Suz ‘DL !

On the practical side, we note the appearance of a trigger on the left stalk allowing you to scroll through the information of the new dashboard without leaving the handlebars with your hands: an excellent initiative! The V-Strom also scores maximum points thanks to its instrument cluster consisting of a readable analog tachometer and a very complete digital display..

At a glance you can thus monitor its speed, the gear ratio engaged, the fuel levels and engine heaters, the proper functioning of the ABS and engine cooling. A frost alert is even planned for the wheels-always !

By briefly pressing the trigger, you juggle the total mileage, the two partial trips and their two respective average consumptions. And by keeping it pressed, you can select either the clock or the room temperature. Finally, we note the presence on the key of the immobilizer system (SAIS). Who says better ?!

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