We recently reviewed the Suzuki DL650 V-Strom and made mention that the capable all-rounder hasn't been given a major overhaul in more than six years. But all this is set to change in July as Suzuki takes the wraps off its new generation Suzuki V-Strom, which is expected deliver a new chassis and engine.
Update: Suzuki has released a handful of new images, and though blurry, they provide another clue as to the bike's design.
The Japanese manufacturer has released a number of new teaser images in the lead up to the launch of what is expected to be the new V-strom, though Suzuki is keeping its cards close to its chest at this stage.
Using a similar guerrilla marketing 'drip-feed' campaign as the Triumph Tiger 800 to try and create some buzz, the Suzuki images from the US website show a smooth design that appears to evolve the V-Strom's lines, rather than reinvent them.
But unlike the Triumph Tiger campaign, we know that the lead time is not massive, as we'll be attending the world launch in Croatia in July.
It is not clear whether the company will launch with a 650 or a 1000cc version of the new machine, though sources at Suzuki have dropped the word "middle class machine" on a couple of occasions, which suggests that perhaps a 650cc version will be launched first.
Another point of conjecture will be the new motorcycle's orientation - will it be a more road-biased machine or a best-of-both worlds dual-purpose bike? One of the teaser images states "Time For Real Adventures" so perhaps the new Suzuki will have bona fide off-road DNA.
Stay tuned for more news on this intriguing middle class machine.
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