Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT, freedom and adventure where eagles dare [OFF-ROAD TRIP PHOTO]

La Suzuki V-Strom 650XT was the great protagonist of this first edition ofHAT Sestriere Adventourfest, shared with other leading brands in the sector, contributing strongly to the success of this new event born on the wave of success that the segment is having Adventure, aimed at enthusiasts of two-wheel travel and in particular the most adventurous raids. In the splendid context distributed over the mountains that hosted the Winter Olympics of the 2006 around Sestriere, the House of Hamamatsu gave the possibility to carry out both road tests and off-road through numerous circuits appropriately designed by the organization in order to be able to best test the different means made available. In this regard, it is right to point out the new important opportunity of V-Storm Academy, a school organized by Suzuki, which offers a wide range of courses to accompany motorcyclists on a growth path, useful for refining their off-road riding skills on the family's motorbikes V-Storm, whose objective is to make the student aware of their limits, raising the bar of their abilities and instilling confidence and mastery in driving on a theoretical and practical level, with the possibility of participating in real trips that take place over a weekend to discover different and interesting Italian territories including the Po Valley andNorthern Apennines.

With the Suzuki V-Storm 650 XT towards a double offroad challenge

We had the pleasure of participating in the window of the event dedicated to journalists riding one Suzuki V-Storm 650 XT, performing two distinct circuits, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, for a total of approximately 150 km off-road distributed along spectacular and panoramic itineraries along ex-military dirt roads at high altitude until reaching the 2.500 meters above sea level. After a short briefing initially carried out with an expert guide in the area, we left with a group of about ten elements. The percorso morning it was the most difficult, made up of very narrow dirt roads with steep slopes, where I was able to push the vehicle in extremely critical and difficult situations, using the most suitable traction control maps to gain greater confidence until eliminating them completely to test the expert guidance and push me al overdrive. The views and silence of the surrounding nature were a wonderful, stimulating setting to lighten the fatigue of this exciting ordeal. After a quick lunch break to regain energy, we resumed the test on a more open and faster circuit on a dirt road adjacent to a stream until we reached a height of approximately 2000 meters above sea level to stop in a refuge and give ourselves a well-deserved coffee break enjoying the view of wonderful and unique panoramas and then return to the base.

How is the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT?

As for the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT, the one in our test was equipped with knobby tires Anlas Capra, the current version maintains the now famous engine 90 degree V-twin with 645 displacement which develops a power di 71 Cv and complies with Euro 4 standards. Despite a weight in running order quite high for the category, around 215 kg, it is very balanced. The riding position, slightly lower than category standards, is comfortable and the chassis is very precise, in classic style. Suzuki. The traction control and the 19" front rim are a nice added value despite being considered a motorcycle for a rider entry level audience. The right compromise for those who want to enter this category even if a few more horses would have been nice. The comfort driving is good, resulting from the right triangulation, the saddle it is comfortable, both for the driver and the passenger. There instrumentation it derives from its older sister, simple modern and shows all the most significant data, integrated with a small digital display. There clutch is not assisted and in the context of our test this lack made itself felt, making the hand very tiring when driving on mixed terrain and above all on long distances, where the cultural, , which in our case we found to be slightly hard in the grafts.
We can recommend this model above all to those who want to approach this category for the first time but also to those who want a motorcycle that is easy to ride and comfortable, both for trips out of town and for long distances.