V-Strom and SV650S

Message

flynrider · #1 Unread post by **flynrider** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:58 pm

I'm curious about these two bikes. Looking at the specs, they appear to be pretty much the same bike. They seem to appeal to the same category of motorcycling (standard, sport tour). So, is there something I'm missing that differentiates these two models? Somebody was asking me the other day whether I'd pick one over the other and (other than minor styling cues) I can't really tell one from the other. It's unusual these days for a manufacturer to put out two versions of the same bike in the same class. What am I missing?

flynrider · #2 Unread post by **flynrider** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:59 pm

Oh yeah, I also had one more question. What the hell is a strom ?

#3 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:07 pm

flynrider wrote:It's unusual these days for a manufacturer to put out two versions of the same bike in the same class. What am I missing?

The SV650S is just a fared version of the SV650. The two V-Stroms are considered semi-dual-sports, with more suspension travel and more off-road friendly tires. The SV650, SV650S, and V-Strom 650 do share the same 90* V-Twin engine, but if I remember correctly the V-Strom's intake is designed for more torque and better midrange and the gearing is different.

flynrider wrote:Oh yeah, I also had one more question. What the hell is a strom ?

German for "storm".

flynrider · #4 Unread post by **flynrider** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:02 am

ZooTech wrote:The two V-Stroms are considered semi-dual-sports, with more suspension travel and more off-road friendly tires.

Thanks Zoo. Looking at the specs again I can see that now. The factory info on the V-Stroms doesn't really seem to stress that very much.

I actually knew that strom was german for storm, but never connected that a japanese motorcycle company would use it on a japanese bike. Go figure!