StromTrooper banner

New engine on the cards for the V-Strom?

14K views 71 replies 34 participants last post by  Big B  
#1 ·
I figured that I would share a thread l that I had read on the UK V-Strom Owners site, V-Strom 650 dodges the axe (for now) Extract from that thread, "Visordown are reporting the 650 and SV have a stay of execution until the end of next year. But it'll lose 3bhp and gain some weight. But worse than that, they're saying the updated engine to replace the current one will be a Parallel Twin." The Visordown artical can be viewed on Suzuki SV650 and Suzuki V-Strom 650 set to avoid a premature axe
Your thoughts...
 
#2 · (Edited)
P-Strom?
No thanks.

Edit - The above was a bit off the cuff and snarky. While I do think 90 degree v-twins (and v-4s) make great motorcycle engines and are more "interesting" than parallel twins and fours, my first bike was a Yamaha XS400 that I have found memories of. However, I prefer the look, sound and power delivery of 90 deg.v- twins and fours. About the only thing I like better about a p-twin is the reduced valve maintenance of one cylinder head to deal with instead of two.

Apparently the Yamaha 270 crank twin feels like a V, but I haven't ridden one. And I find the engine visually unattractive due to the hose routing and ugly coolant bottle stuck to the frame. Yamaha could take engine styling lessons from Honda and KTM. The CB500X engine looks very clean and tidy as do the various Duke engines.
 
#3 ·
I just read an article in the new cycle world magazine on the 2021 Aprilia RS 660
which is a parallel twin.100 h.p peak just shy of 50 lb ft of torque with a table
flat curve. 270 degree crank spacing for a more v twin sound,.so it is in the
future and this article explains a lot.
 
#4 ·
What's wrong with a parallel twin engine? I am researching my next bike, and the BMW models are powered by parallel twins. I believe I read that v- twins are better for off road riding. I do not ride off road much, so the parallel twin may not be an issue for me. I am also looking at the tiger 900, and that has a triple engine. I have owned a Vstrom 650, and now a Vstrom 1000- great bikes even if the engines are somewhat tractor like.
 
#16 ·
that's strange I just bought my '18-650XA from the owner that bought the F750GS to replace the strom after only a few months of ownership, looking for a lower and lighter bike for his wife, I guess different bikes - different likes...
 
#6 ·
Sounds like a great idea, should help drop the COG on the bike and make it easier to service. The next logical upgrade would be for the 1000/1050 to get an i4
 
#8 ·
Don't overlook that a parallel twin is cheaper to build. The can have better traction, theoretically, as the power pulses are spaced in a way that promotes tire bite. But I doubt if too many here are good enough riders to actually use that advantage! They can package tighter, with a lower center of gravity. BUT...there is a cost with the design that I don't think outweighs the benefits. They buzz. They are not lighter, and may be heavier, due to the must have addition of balance shaft(s) to control some of the vibrations. They can make good power, or not, depending on the setup. Because the advantage of the ability to tip the cylinders both rather forward ( for more weight on the front ) that compromises the angle of airflow into the cylinder head in some cases. Most are tuned more toward torque than peak power, in part due to this problem with them. They don't sound all that good, if that matters at all.
One big reason I would buy a DL 1050 right now over an Africa Twin or a Super Tenere is the 90 degree v twin is smoother and sounds better. In the 650 - 800 class I can see the parallel twin being a good engine, but again you will give up smoothness on the highway. Not a factor in off pavement. But I would hate to see the 650 V Strom go this route. I have a Super Tenere in the family. The parallel twin in that bike has done nothing to make me like that engine design.
 
#9 ·
My motorcycle experience includes only Vstroms. I will be test riding the BMW 750 gs and f900xr shortly, in addition to the Triumph Tiger 900gt. Different engines that the Vstrom V-twin. I did ride a friends' Tiger 800 recently, and was impressed with the triple. Love my Vstroms, but the triple was noticeably smoother.
 
#10 ·
You can look at the Yammy T7 as a target for the DL650.....
T7 appx 455lbs with a steel frame & spoked tube type wheels
DL650XT appx 475 with an alloy frame & spoked tubeless wheels

The 650 couldve lost some unnecessary weight by changing from the old 2002 design DL1000 frame it still uses.
The 2014 1000 frame was stated as being appx 20lb lighter than before so why not apply that to the 650??? But Suzy never did.

Like the SV650/Gladius did...the new 650 will prob revert to a steel frame & so..the parallell twin engine can make up weight savings keeping the new bike around that 450lb target with reasonable cost.

Lets just hope Suzy keeps 2 different models of the new bike.....
DRXT w/spoked 18/21s
DRSP w/mag 17/19s

Sent from my LML212VL using Tapatalk
 
#11 ·
There are loads of parallel twin options on the market. If you want one, take your pick. Why add another? Would that not just be another option in a sea of options, with no differentiator?
 
#19 ·
Crank dynamics and energy return are the key words in an "ell'' twin design. A different design can be created to fulfill differing objectives but a ninety degree design is a goal in and of itself. Yhe lights came on at Yamaha, pushing out their "cross plane" engineering. The BMW/Rotax "hammering sickle" design is a turd in my observation. Look for yourself the service history on that one. I'm with Realshelby. No "ELL" twin, no V-Strom.
 
#21 ·
The 90° V engine just plain has more soul.

If it is really a matter of compliance, sleeve down a 1050. Or Just put different decals on a 1050 and brag about having a really fast 650.;)
Some folks thought the "65" in V65 Magna or V65 Sabre meant 650. They received brutal surprises in the traffic light runs!
 
#22 ·
The engine in the Aprilia RS 660 has dual counter balancers for vibration free revs up to 10.500 rpm.
So the PTwin can be engineered to be smooth if done right.
 
#23 ·
I had an 08 800ST BMW. 85 hp or so. It was a brilliant bike that handles well, got great gas mileage and was comfortable. Only down side, 4.2 gallon gas tank . I hit a deer and kinda broke the bike but I didn't go down. After 5 years it was out of warranty and with 58K miles not worth the $4500 to fix it. o i got a G650GS BMW. Fun but nowhere near the bike the ST was.
I like the Wee Strom because generally it works as well as most of the airheads I've had but is more trouble free.
Isn't the Kawasaki Versys a parallel twin?
I got to ride mine for the first time in weeks today. Nice outing up the recently burnt mountains.
Can't say that any one particular engine lay out is preferable.
 
#27 ·
I had an 08 800ST BMW. 85 hp or so. It was a brilliant bike that handles well, got great gas mileage and was comfortable.
I had the F800ST also- actually I had two of em, and '07 and an '09. Loved to ride those bikes. Light, powerful, quick, and very nice handling. That motor -parallel twin- was smooth and reponsive, fast revving; and the gear box was well matched to it.

The rest of the bike had problems, though. I chewed up drive belts, the alternator was recalled, and the rear wheel axle/bearing assembly fell apart. It got to the point where I didn't trust it to take me across the desert, so I sold it. Too bad- it was definitely a sweet bike.

..................shu
 
#24 ·
The Versus is a parallel twin but older technology
it was my toss up between the Vstrom and the Versus.
The fact I used to own an SV 650 sold me on the Vstrom engine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gert
#25 ·
My Versys X300 and the 650 are parallel twins, the Versys 1000 is a cross four derived from the Z1000 donk.
The X300 is not as relaxed as my V-Strom as you need to wind it up for it to perform, but it certainly does not have any vibration issues. It has vibration balancers and a 180 degree crank.
There are design advantages, as well as disadvantages in the parallel twin design.
The X300 feels much lighter than its spec sheet states compared the the DL650. It is also much nimbler but every bit as stable.
 
#26 ·
One of the main reasons I bought my first Strom 10 years ago was because of the engine. I found out with my TLR that I really loved Suzuki's L-twins. And it was because of THAT Strom, that I bought my brand new one last year, my first ever brand new bike.

If they go to parallel twins, I definitely won't have another. There's nothing wrong with 'em, I just don't care for them.
 
#35 ·
Thanks kindly, yeah this engine is a rocket......and oh that sound. :)

I personally think that an inline 3 would be a cool new powerplant for a Strom, but obviously I am biased. LOL
 
#36 ·
Perazzi, you had me going for a minute. V4 as in TUONO? OMG! Have you experienced one of those? Motorcycle Porn is what that bike exudes. A level of performance and naughty I have had the pleasure to sample. What a BIKE. Not a V-Strom.
 
#37 ·
Big B, I hear what you're sayin. Lets talk Tiger for a moment. Triumph (USA) had a 1050 that they discontinued in North America in 2012... but Triumph (UK) revamped into a very nice bit of kit and sold throughout the rest of the world but not North America. I personally wrote several letters to T(NM) in Atlanta to implore them to distribute this much improved bike here but they never gave reply. They put all their chips on that wildly popular elephat , the 1250.(/s) I still hold a grudge.
 
#56 ·
Big B, I hear what you're sayin. Lets talk Tiger for a moment. Triumph (USA) had a 1050 that they discontinued in North America in 2012... but Triumph (UK) revamped into a very nice bit of kit and sold throughout the rest of the world but not North America. I personally wrote several letters to T(NM) in Atlanta to implore them to distribute this much improved bike here but they never gave reply. They put all their chips on that wildly popular elephat , the 1250.(/s) I still hold a grudge.
Now that the Tiger 900 is here, that I think is the end of that dream.

And it really does sound and feel like a V Twin up to about 4200 rpm when it remembers it’s a triple (thanks to new firing order). Yes, I now have one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro