The Suzuki V-Strom 650, also known as the DL650, was launched in 2004 as a mid-weight, dual-sport motorcycle with a standard riding posture, fuel injection and an aluminum chassis. Marketed in Europe, Oceania and the Americas, the DL650 is manufactured at Suzuki's ISO 14001 certified plant in Toyokawa, Japan.The name V-Strom combines V, referring to the bike's V engine configuration, with the German word Strom, meaning stream or current.
The V-Strom 650 trades strength in a single area for adaptability to a variety of riding conditions: commuting, cruising, adventure touring and — to a lesser degree — off-road riding. The bike is variously categorized as a "Sport Enduro Tourer" and "Street/Adventure, Commuter, Entry-Level."
A six-speed transmission mates to the fuel-injected and slightly retuned 645 cc engine from Suzuki's SV650 sport bike, using a two-into-one exhaust system. An upright, standard riding posture contributes to the bike's handling characteristics.Engine The engine is a 90-degree, liquid cooled, four-stroke V-twin, with 81.0 mm (3.19 in) bore and a 62.6 mm (2.46 in) stroke, four valves per cylinder, and intake and exhaust valving each with their own camshaft. Its more relaxed cam profiles (than the SV engine) boost the power between 4,000 and 6,500 rpm, along with slight changes to the airbox and exhaust. Relative to the SV, the crank inertia (flywheel effect) is also increased by 4% via a redesigned starter clutch. As well, the DL650 engine uses a plastic outer clutch cover and engine sprocket cover for reduced weight and noise.
Unlike the SV engine, which uses cast iron cylinder sleeves, the DL650 uses Suzuki's proprietary SCEM (Suzuki Composite Electro-chemical Material) plated cylinders, a race-proven nickel-phosphorus-silicon-carbide coating for reduced weight and improved heat transfer, allowing for tighter and more efficient piston-to-cylinder clearance[10], similar to a Nikasil coating.
The DL650 engine electronics aid starting and throttle control and uses Suzuki's AFIS (Auto Fast Idle System), eliminating a fast-idle control. The engine control module (ECM) reads engine information (ie, coolant temperature) via a 16-bit central processing unit (CPU), controlling the fuel system's dual throttle bodies.
The DL650 uses Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) fuel-injection and exhausts via a two-into-one exhaust system with a catalytic converter in the muffler. European models meet Euro 3 emissions specifications. In the US, a "PAIR" air injection system reduces CO and HC emissions.A stiff, twin-spar aluminum frame and swingarm accommodates a rear Showa mono-shock with hydraulic preload adjustment. Front Showa damper-rod forks are preload adjustable. The DL650 has a 19 inch front wheel and a 17 inch rear wheel.
