First impressions: Suzuki V-Strom 650 Xpedition

The new Suzuki V-Strom 650 Xpedition adds impetus to the increasing adventure bike market.

The £7300 Expedition falls neatly into the middleweight adventure machine section currently populated by the BMW F560 and F800GS models.

Based on the popular V-Strom 650 ABS model, the Xpedition comes loaded with a host of genuine Suzuki accessory parts, eg rugged aluminium panniers to turn the V-Strom into a capable distance machine.

MCN’s Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin had a long-term test standard V-Strom in 2007 and is looking forward to riding the Xpedition version: “My V-Strom led a brutal life, but proved to be a reliable, very likeable machine over the 10,000 miles we covered.

“The accessory parts and panniers go hand in hand with the bike’s 22-litre fuel tank to make it a genuine long-distance bike at an affordable price.”

Read Trevor Franklin’s first review of the new V-Strom 650 Xpedition in MCN, on sale Wednesday 25 August.