650cc VStrom coming

**wkid_one** · 19th December 2003, 00:44

pic attached

text at www.mcnews.com.au

**What?** · 19th December 2003, 05:33

Can't figure it out. Suzuki sold motors to Cagiva, who then built the Navigator. Nice bike it is too.
Suzuki then build their own version, which is both ugly and cheap. The 650 looks just the same, and like it's forebear, the 650 Freewind - cheap and nasty.

**jrandom** · 19th December 2003, 07:27

oooh I dunno. Yeah, the Freewind is a pile of ugly shite, but the VStrom has a good rep overseas AFAIK and if the new bike is the Suzuki version of an F650 with a v-twin instead of a thumper, I'd be quite tempted TBH.

**What?** · 19th December 2003, 07:40

Not arguing with the concept, or the ride, just the crap finish, especially of the bodywork. It looks like recycled polyethylene barrels to me.

**matthewt** · 19th December 2003, 08:01

Originally Posted by What?

Can't figure it out. Suzuki sold motors to Cagiva, who then built the Navigator. Nice bike it is too.

It might be for the US market. I thought Cagiva weren't allowed the Suzuki powered models in the US because the Suzuki USA kicked up such a fuss.

**Hitcher** · 19th December 2003, 10:29

I looked seriously at the Vstrom 1000 and the Bandit before making my recent purchase. Both are pig-ugly but extremely functional pieces of kit -- the Vstrom more so than the Bandit. The SV650 has a gorgeous donk but its looks too must be a matter of taste. The seat is a bit high too -- even for bigger dudes like me. Talk of "depowering" this sweet little 650 to give it more response in its lower to mid ranges may work but you've really got to wonder... The proof of the pudding?