Suzuki Dual Sport

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Suzuki Dual Sport

There is a long history around great Suzuki dual sport motorcycles. Their range runs from the small, light duty DR 200 SE and the nimble DRZ-400S which excels on single track and technical trails, to the 1000 cc V-Strom DL-1000, targeted more at fire roads and long distance adventure touring.

Sandwiched in between are the evergreen DR 650 and the V-Strom DL-650. No, they don't share engines (far from it) and it's clear just by looking at the bikes that the DR 650 is made for dirt and the DL 650 the street. But be careful judging these bikes too quickly.

The DR 650 has proven itself a comfortable street mount for many riders. While the V-Strom DL-650, when properly modified has proven it can tackle the toughest of off road trails.

No matter your needs, there is a Suzuki dual sport motorcycle to fit both your dirt riding plans and your budget. Another critical and excellent trait Suzuki dual sport motorcycles all share is reliability. Add in ease of maintenance and its easy to see why Suzuki's dual sports have legions of fans worldwide.

If your needs are technical single track blitzing, grab the DRZ-400S. Its light, comes with a great suspension and loads of ground clearance. Given its power output isn't too far behind the DR 650, it'll easily keep ahead of it on a tight trail with a decent rider onboard. If your dirt time trends more towards two-track Jeep trails, the torque-rich DR 650 might be more your mount. It's heavier than the DRZ-400s, but also packs more power and torque. Its extra mass is more manageable on two-tracks. While the suspension is only so-so from the factory, it'll work for most people in most situations. Beyond that, the aftermarket exists to help you tune the bike to your desires.

This leaves the V-Strom DL-1000 and 650. Where do they shine? Damn near everywhere. Straight off the showroom floor, both bikes are very street-oriented. Tires will make the biggest difference in ability to traverse varied terrain, so slipping on more dirt-oriented rubber lets you tackle gravel and fire roads with ease. The V-Strom DL-650 is a bit lighter than the DL-1000, so retains an edge in handling. Don't be fooled, however: both the V-Strom DL-650 and Dl-1000 are heavy bikes. Drop either and it'll take some thinking, work, and maybe even a helping hand to right the beasts.

Popular mods to the V-Strom can easily see these motorcycles transformed from street-cruisers to comfortable continent hoppers. Tires, skip plates, wind shields, hard bags, seats and more are all available to make the V-Stroms very capable rigs. Many feel they rival the fables BMW GS models at a fraction of the price.

To cater to the light-duty crowd, Suzuki offers the DR 200 SE model. While capable of light duty offroad use, it's engine size limits its speed and capabilities. If you're leaning toward the V-Strom DL-650, it's worth noting there is a model available with ABS, which is easily worth it's slight added cost in on-road situations. ABS is less desirable when offroad.

When shopping for my last bike, I test rode the Suzuki DL-1000 V-Strom. In fact, I was convinced it was the bike for me, and my test ride damn near confirmed that. It was torquey, fast, handled well and I was comfortable handling the bike's bulk. It easily accommodated my 30" inseam yet still allowed me to almost flat-foot on the street. The windscreen was positioned well enough to blast most of the air over my helmet keeping the rest of my 6 foot tall frame well protected from any weather. After the test ride, I couldn't help thinking the DL-1000 V-Strom was like a tractor. Solid, reliable, torque-rich and the seat was comfy. For the record, I like tractors. Now, had that been the only bike I rode that day, it would have come home. As circumstances went, though, I then rode the Ducati Multistrada 1200s, a Yamaha FZ1, a Suzuki B-King (wow!), a Yamaha FJR1300 and a Kawasaki Concours 14. The Yamaha came home and I remain happy with the choice. Fast, reliable, smooth and perfect for the two up riding I do in the Pacific Northwest.

Suzuki dual sport motorcycles offer the type of choice that can ensure you never look past the brand's own offerings. Every model is well covered by the aftermarket and many groups exists online targeting each model, so finding support and ideas for how to modify your Suzuki dual sport is easy and near endless.