When you talk about a sub-liter class adventure touring
motorcycle, there are virtually no options in the Indian market. So naturally, there
was no way I was letting go of the opportunity to ride the Suzuki VStrom 650 XT for a week in North Thailand!
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It is quite apt to view the Suzuki VStrom 650 and the
Kawasaki Versys 650 in the same league, the major point being the latter sells
in India and the former doesn't. Both these motorcycles are baby versions
of their 1000 cc counterparts; however, the 650cc variants provide not only a
cost-effective entry point into the lucrative adventure tourer category, a
gradually growing segment in a maturing two-wheeler market but also the same
versatility as their 1000 cc variants.
Ever since I extensively rode the 2017 Suzuki VStrom 650 XT for about
1700 km, I have been getting numerous requests from fellow riders and motorcyclist friends to compare
and contrast the VStrom 650 with the Versys 650, which I proudly own. It is the
first time I am penning a review of any motorcycle, but rest assured, I will
give it my best shot.
Let me start off by comparing features on each of them one by one-
Looks-
Arguably the better looking of the two, the Versys looks sportier and more compact. Looks are anyway a personal choice so I will leave this distinction at that. What matters beyond looks is what a motorcycle offers the rider!
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| Front View of the 2017 VStrom 650 XT |
Seat Height-
If you are shorter than 5’8’’, the 841 mm seat
height on the Versys will make you uncomfortable at certain times, especially
on steep downhills and in city traffic, because your feet won't rest firmly
on the ground which means you will be tiptoeing! The VStrom on the other
hand, will be more comfortable if you are slightly shorter owing to its 6 mm
lower seat height than the Versys. 6’2’’ and taller, you may find the compact seating of the
Versys more apt than the VStrom.
Power and Torque-
In terms of pure numbers, both the motorcycles are nearly identical with the VStrom offering a tiny amount more power and the Versys offering a tiny amount of more torque. Practically, the Versys has a higher mid-range torque and its throttle response is also livelier and quicker, sometimes so much so that it scares you! However, the downside is that the Versys 650 has a jumpy throttle response at lower rpms. Refinements of these minute downsides is what you get to see on the VStrom. However, I would say that the differences are negligible.
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| Relaxed seat height w.r.t Versys 650 |
Display Panel-
The Versys' panel includes a gear indicator, rpm meter, odometer, two trip meters, fuel mileage, range, fuel meter and time of day. The
V-Strom 650, meanwhile, displays air temperature in addition to everything the Versys shows you. Utility-wise, the VStrom panel is better but it looks shoddy, to say the least, when compared with the Versys.
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| Console of the VStrom 650 XT |
Braking-
The braking on the Versys is much more responsive than the VStrom- if you want the Versys to stop, it will stop immediately; but the VStrom braking is milder and you need to exercise extra caution at higher speeds because of the sightly larger braking distance.
1) ABS- Both the motorcycles come with ABS as standard, however, there is no option to disable it on either of them.
2) Traction Control- The Versys 650 has no traction control (TC) and this sets the VStrom 650 apart. There are 3 levels of TC- OFF, 1 and 2 and like any other TC system, takes wheel speed, throttle position, gear and crank position to determine when to reduce power to hold traction.
Suspension-
Neither bike’s suspension can be classified as great; nevertheless,
both the Versys and V-Strom have remote preload adjuster knobs at the rear, a real convenience while touring with luggage.
The Versys permits preload and rebound damping adjustment at the front but only preload adjustment
at the rear, while the VStrom is the exact opposite, with preload adjustment allowed at the front and rebound damping and both preload adjustment allowed at the rear.
Handling and Maneouvring-
A tall and heavy sports bike is how you would characterize the Versys. Even though it carries some bit of adventure with respect to its styling, the reality could not have been farther from the truth!
Once you exit the highways and hit the twisties is when you realize that the VStrom emerges a clear winner. On the Versys, you are forced to juggle between flickability and abrupt throttle response and simply cannot ride extremely hard in corners because there is absolutely no scope for mid-corner corrections. The VStrom is hands-down the more dirt-oriented of the two, with a 19-inch front wheel, 90/10 on-/off-road tires and spoked rims, not to forget the ADV-style beak! If at all you find yourself staring down a rocky patch of road- dirt, gravel or whatever, the VStrom gives you the confidence you need to manage such terrain in the sense that if the rear end does come loose, the traction control immediately kicks in. This assurance that all is well makes it an extremely capable adventure motorcycle.
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| TC is a gem and the tyres have superb wet grip! |
On the road, however, the Versys steers telepathically. It is extremely easy to pick a line and even if you change your mind and pick another line, the Versys will do it for you in the slightest of efforts.
The VStrom’s V-twin engine is remarkable in terms of user feedback and response to the rider making it gentler compared to the Versys’ hyper-energetic parallel twin engine.
Wind Protection-
Wind protection on the Versys is hands-down better, while it
is just adequate on the VStrom. To put things in perspective, the V-Strom’s
windscreen creates less buffeting around the rider’s head but less protection
around the body. However, the Versys’ adjustable windscreen provides more effective body
protection and head buffeting.
Vibrations-
The V-Twin engine of the VStrom is an absoute gem and virtually no vibration makes its way to the footpegs or handle bars,
regardless of engine speed. If at all the vibrations are felt, they are scarce and through the seat only. On the parallel twin engine of the Versys, there are slight vibes felt at higher speeds, especially on the mirrors, but neutralized to a large extend by the rubber-clad footpegs and larger bar-end weights.
Overall, engines on both these motorcycles are extremely refined and the impeccable on-road etiquette of these machines will make anyone want to ride them far and beyond!
Other Accessories-
A standard 12V socket next to the display, plastic handguards and a lower engine cowl come as standard accessories on the VStrom, all of which are optional on the Versys.
Final Verdict-
Electronics and rider aids are basic on both these machines,
but that’s acceptable considering these are built to be attractive both in
price and utility. However, with it’s impeccable handling and maneouvring, adventure-readiness
and corner-carving capability, the VStrom 650 literally stole my heart. A relaxed tourer
with ABS and Traction control as standard combined with the ability to
magically whiz past even carelessly maintained roads (that's the feeling I got!) would definitely make the VStrom 650
XT my first choice!
Just in case you are interested, have a look at this-
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Tech Spec
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Kawasaki Versys 650 LT
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Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT
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Price (Approx.)
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8.1 Lakh
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8.6 Lakh (Converted
Price)
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Engine
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649cc, Liquid-Cooled
Parallel-Twin
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645cc, Liquid-Cooled
90° V-Twin
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Valve Train
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Dohc, 4 Valves Per
Cylinder
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Dohc, 4 Valves Per
Cylinder
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Bore X Stroke
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83.0 X 60.0 mm
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81.0 X 62.6mm
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Compression
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10.8:1
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11.2:1
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Fuel System
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EFI
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EFI
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Clutch
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Wet, Multi-Plate
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Wet, Multi-Plate
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Transmission
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6-Speed/Chain
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6-Speed/Chain
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Frame
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High-Tensile Steel
Trellis Frame, Steel Gullwing Swingarm
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Cast Aluminum
Twin-Spar, Cast Aluminum Swingarm
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Front Suspension
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Showa 41mm Fork,
Adjustable For Spring Preload And Rebound Damping; 5.9 inch travel
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Showa 43mm Fork
Adjustable For Spring Preload; 5.9 inch travel
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Rear Suspension
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Showa Shock Adjustable
For Spring Preload; 5.7 inch travel
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Showa Shock Adjustable
For Spring Preload And Rebound Damping; 6.3 inch travel
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Front Brake
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Nissin Two-Piston
Calipers, 300mm Discs With Abs
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Tokico Two-Piston
Calipers, 310mm Discs With Abs
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Rear Brake
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Nissin One-Piston
Caliper, 250mm Disc With Abs
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Nissin One-Piston
Caliper, 260mm Disc With Abs
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Front Tire (Stock)
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120/70 R17 Dunlop
Sportmax
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110/80 R19 Bridgestone
Trail Wing
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Rear Tire (Stock)
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160/60 R17 Dunlop
Sportmax
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150/70 R17 Bridgestone
Trail Wing
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Rake/Trail
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25.0°/109 mm
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25.3°/109 mm
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Seat Height
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841 mm
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835 mm
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Wheelbase
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1415 mm
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1560 mm
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Measured Weight (Wet/Dry)
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232/212 kg
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240/222 kg
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Fuel Capacity
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21 L
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20 L
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Fuel Mileage
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City- 18 kmpl
Highway – 21 kmpl
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City – 22 kmpl
Highway – 25 kmpl
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Range
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400 km
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450 km
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Warranty
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24 months or 30000 km, whichever is earlier
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12 Months and Unlimited
Mileage
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