What kind of car is the most ideal car in your mind?
Some people like the sportiness of imitation racing
Some people like the comfort of American cars
Some people like the convenience of speed
And I like the all-round consideration of multi-purpose vehicles
V-Strom 1000 Although the configuration, comfort and power made me fondly remember, but returning to many practical considerations such as economic conditions, usage habits, etc., I finally chose to take this V-Strom 650XT home before the Chinese New Year at the end of January this year and replace the previous one. Taiwan's 88-year-old car with 100,000 kilometers on it is also officially introducing the V-Strom 650 to everyone today, as well as the differences between the V-Strom 650XT and the V-Strom 1000 that many people are not sure about.
I haven’t continued to ride the white card since I bought the red card eight years ago. Therefore, the red card must be able to meet my needs for transportation, work, travel, etc. Also, because I am a photographer by profession, I often have to carry photography equipment everywhere. Running, when choosing a motorcycle, practical and practical considerations are the first priority.
brakes and TC
In February, I followed a group of friends to complete the challenge of the legendary Taiwan Top Highway Central Mountains Longitudinal Walk. It was really nice for a group of people to cycle on the mountain road and see the beauty of Taiwan’s mountains and forests. It is comfortable, but the frequent braking, acceleration and deceleration on mountain roads also increases the risk of riding. The most common accident among Taiwanese cyclists is the accident of operating errors in corners. In the foreseeable future, ABS brakes and TC tracking will be standard safety configurations in the European Union. Prior to this, Suzuki's V-Strom car series has already provided car owners with the safest vehicles.
The V-Strom 650XT uses dual 310mm TOKICO one-way dual -piston floating calipers on the front wheel, and the rear wheel uses a single 220mm NISSIN one-way single-piston floating caliper,
while the V-Strom 1000 uses dual front wheels. 310mm TOKICO two-way four-piston radial calipers. Although the rear wheel maintains a one-way single piston, the disc diameter is increased to 260mm. In comparison, although the V-Strom 650XT has a simpler brake configuration, with the support of ABS, the V-Strom The 650XT can also provide braking safety that is very close to its big brother.
However, it is worth mentioning that the V-Strom 1000 has added a cornering ABS system. This configuration upgrade is quite advanced for Japanese car manufacturers, and it also provides safer protection for riders who often run in the mountains and forests of Taiwan.
is also about friction safety configuration, that is, whether it is V-Strom 650XT or 1000, both provide a three-stage (including off) TC tracking control system. Such a comprehensive safety configuration even if you look at imported cars In the market, not every car has standard equipment, let alone the 600CC class models.
I had a profound experience with the practicality of tracking anti-skid on the Dalton Highway in the Arctic Circle last year. When I crossed the Brooks Mountains in the Arctic Circle, I encountered road conditions full of mud and snow. When I rode over, I immediately felt the engine output. The reason was that the rear wheel had started to slip on the mud and snow, and the tracking system immediately intervened to avoid the risk of crashing.
Therefore, the V-Strom 650XT is equipped with tracking anti-skid on par with its big brother. It is really a car with a very sincere configuration and is designed with safety and practicality in mind!
Windshield and bow guard
Although Taiwan's terrain is mainly mountainous, the most common trip around the island for Taiwanese people is still mainly the empty west coast and east coast. I believe many cyclists have experienced it. During the strong northeast monsoon season, most car owners without a windshield or bow guard will feel like riding with the kind of wind pressure that comes with driving north from the west coast. If it is a sports car or a simple street car with a hood, you have to lie down on the windshield. Avoid wind pressure.
This advantage of multi-purpose vehicles and SUVs is greatly demonstrated. You don’t need to lie down with backache, and you can rely on the adjustable windshield to choose whether you want to enjoy the gentle breeze or block the oncoming biting cold wind.
V-Strom 650XT is equipped with a three-stage large-area windshield that can be adjusted in height, and the height is 9mm higher than the previous generation. From the picture above, you can see that the height of the windshield can reach the knight's mouth when manually adjusted to the highest level. When riding, only the top of the helmet will hit the wind, and the rest of the body is protected behind the windshield.
The V-Strom 1000 even has a mechanism to quickly adjust the windshield angle manually. You can adjust the windshield angle in three stages with a gentle push, which is really very convenient.
The bow guard is also a standard accessory for both V-Strom 650XT and V-Strom 1000. Although the bow guard of both does not have a gorgeous and fashionable appearance, it has an excellent protective effect, whether it is following a sand and gravel truck. Whether you encounter flying sand and rocks behind you, branches from both sides when crossing the forest road, or the 0-degree cold wind blowing constantly in the Arctic Circle, this bow guard can give you the best protection and protect you at the same time. There is no need to look for Guisensen's modified products.
Of course, if you are really a knight who is afraid of the cold, you can also buy the original heated handlebars and add a warm enough glove to ensure that nothing can make your hands cold.
In addition, using the picture above, let us mention the configuration difference between V-Strom 650XT and 1000. That is, V-Strom 650XT uses a traditional clutch cable, while V-Strom 1000 uses a hydraulic clutch. It also has the adjustable lever function, which is quite considerate for riders with smaller hands.
Of course, the traditional clutch cable and the hydraulic clutch have their own advantages. The hydraulic clutch can ensure that it still has a springy feel after long-term use, and there is no need to frequently adjust the clutch clearance. At the same time, it can better cope with the impact of bad weather on the clutch cable. of wear and tear. But the biggest advantage of a traditional clutch cable is that it can be more easily troubleshooted when something goes wrong, and its simple structure also allows you to bring one on the car for emergencies when riding long distances. This is also the reason for the oil. Something that can't be done by pressing the clutch.
Load capacity and seat cushion
As mentioned before, my profession is photography, and I often ride around to work and shoot. The entire vehicle is often stuffed with photographic equipment, tripods, laptops, clothes and other luggage, plus the occasional I take my girlfriend out for a stroll, so I pay more attention to the vehicle's load capacity than the average person. When we were in North America last year, we had to tie up tents, sleeping bags, spare fuel tanks, etc. The whole car was packed to the extreme, and even a bunch of things were tied to the engine bumper.
Load capacity is the most powerful feature of V-Strom 650XT compared to other 600-level vehicles on the market. First of all, the subframe has been specially strengthened for load-bearing. At the same time, the native rear rack is also directly connected to the subframe. Locking points make the V-Strom 650XT more stable and more load-bearing than other models when loading the trunk!
The owner's manual clearly states that the load capacity of the V-Strom 650XT, including the vehicle itself, is 415 kilograms. Deducting the vehicle equipment weight of 215 kilograms, it equals a load capacity of 200 kilograms.
V-Strom 650XT Due to many considerations, it did not choose the original three-box accessories but the common aluminum box set on the market. Relying on the natural physical advantages of the excellent frame design, it can still play more than other car types. Advantages: For example, we held a barbecue cycling group in March. The barbecue equipment, food, and drinks for the group of nearly 40 people could all be loaded in one car. Are you crazy?
Among the important indicators for long-distance travel, in addition to the load capacity, the seat cushion is also related to the comfort of the rider and the back seat. Although my last car was a street car, the original seat cushion was tilted forward, which not only kept If you slide forward, you will not be able to sit in the most comfortable position, and the anti-fall pants will be damaged early due to friction.
In comparison, the V-Strom 650XT's seat cushion is very wide and thick, and the rider's seat cushion looks quite flat from the side. Riding the V-Strom 650XT, you can ride from Miaoli to Pingtung in one go without stopping. The previous car could only ride up to in Tainan and , so I had to give my butt a rest.
The rear seat cushion is not like other cars of the same class, which is wide at the front and narrow at the rear, showing an obvious triangle shape. The rear seat of the V-Strom 650XT is not only wide, but also has a large front and rear space. Even if the rider in the front seat is carrying a backpack, the rear seat There is still a comfortable space, and if a rear box is installed, it will be easier to lean on the rear box without being affected by the pulling feeling when accelerating. Believe me, your partner will fall in love with his back seat space.
Suspension settings, tires and seat height
just mentioned the load capacity, and the corresponding thing is that there must be enough suspension support to be able to exert its load capacity. The rear suspension of the V-Strom 650XT adopts a mid-mounted single-gun multi-link design. It also has preload adjustment, which is very good in terms of driving performance. Whether it is carrying a heavy load or traveling lightly, it can meet the needs of the car owner, and it is suitable for cornering on mountain roads. The time is also quite stable.
The multi-link design of the rear suspension reminds me of the previous car. Due to the direct-pull side-mounted traditional suspension, when I was driving around the island with a three-box car, I suddenly felt that the rear wheels were not tracking properly. I checked it for a long time. There was nothing wrong with the rear wheels. It wasn't until I got home and washed the car that I discovered that the fixed welding point of the rear suspension was broken! The shock absorber spring on one side was the culprit of the rear wheel losing its chance of finding a chance. Both cars carried three boxes of girls around the island, and their final performances were decidedly superior.
The front fork is the only shortcoming of the V-Strom 650XT. Although the 43mm upright front fork with 150mm travel can already provide excellent road feel on the bad roads in Taiwan, it is a pity that the preload back The bullets are not as adjustable as the V-Strom 1000.
Although the front fork does not play as heavy a role as the rear shock absorber when loading, if the car owner is very concerned about the characteristics of the front fork feedback in bends and compression during sudden braking, the car owner can only meet the car owner's needs through modification. . But I must emphasize again that the 43mm front fork setting has made the front support of this car much better than ordinary 600-step cars. The 150mm travel is also particularly suitable for daily off-road use on Taiwan’s bad roads.
In addition to the front fork stroke, the off-road performance of a vehicle is also one of the important indicators. The larger the wheel frame, the better the performance indicator for overcoming obstacles on bad roads. Basically, it can truly be classified as a multi-purpose vehicle. The front wheels of all functional car models are at least 19 inches, and some models even have 21-inch wheel frames. Recalling that last year I rode the V-Strom 1000 on "unpaved" gravel roads such as the Dalton Highway and the Top of the World Highway, and could still move forward at speeds of 70 or even 100 kilometers per hour. The 19-inch tires really contributed. .
Just the large wheel diameter and long-travel suspension naturally come at the cost of a higher seat height. The seat height of the V-Strom 650XT is 835mm. Many car owners who want to buy this car will send private messages to ask if their height can control this car.
With a height of 169cm, there is actually no big obstacle to riding this bike. If you put two feet on it, it can’t lie flat, but it’s not that you need to do ballet. If you put one foot on it, it can lie flat no problem ( But usually there is still a slight step), so I think riders over 165cm should not have much of a problem.
Although the seat height of V-Strom 1000 is 850mm, if you step over it in person, you will find that the front end of the seat cushion of V-Strom 1000 is sharper than that of V-Strom 650XT. The actual feeling of stepping on it is almost the same.
V-Strom car series, whether it is 650 or 1000, is equipped with front 110/80R19 M/C 59V and rear 150/70R17 M/C 69V tires, but the 650XT surpasses the big brother in rim configuration, using It has the tubeless airtight steel wire frame that many people dream of. The elasticity and adjustability of the steel wire frame give the V-Strom 650XT a wilder appearance and adventurous nature. The trade-off, of course, is the hassle of washing your car.
The 19-inch front wheel and longer wheelbase (1560mm) provide excellent off-road power and high-speed cruising stability. The upright sitting position is also quite comfortable during long-distance riding, but the price is Weak turning radius and weak high-speed cornering performance.
Fortunately, the leading rudder angle of the V-Strom 650XT is extremely large, which allows a smaller turning radius for riders who are familiar with the operation.The upright sitting posture is more flexible and flexible than a purebred sports car when facing tricky continuous narrow mountain roads.
Engine, instrumentation and endurance
Suzuki has mastered the tuning of the 90-degree V2 twin camshaft engine used in the V-Strom 650XT. Whether it is pushing the throttle or maintaining cruising, there is almost no vibration or numbness. It is transmitted to the seat cushion or handlebars very smoothly. The maximum torque of
is 62Nm at 6500rpm. Even if you start in third gear, it will not stall easily. This engine output characteristic is particularly suitable for the densely populated and mountainous terrain in Taiwan. It can be used in third gear on mountain roads. It can travel easily and leisurely, reducing the trouble and frustration of frequent gear changes. It can also easily cope with the busy streets in the city without maintaining tiring high revs.
And the 70.7ps 8500rpm horsepower output can make you feel quite abundant power in the mid-range acceleration of 70-120km/hr, whether you want to overtake a slow car on a mountain road or cruise at a speed of less than 130 per hour on a fast road with dual loads, The power of the 650 twin-cylinder is sufficient. Of course, if what you want is to be able to easily change the speed between 60-180, then you will want the V-Strom 1000 under your crotch.
The amount of 2.4 liters of engine oil will not make you go bankrupt from changing the oil, nor will it be so small that you can easily burn the coil like I did in my last car. The amount of oil exchange is really not as small as possible. Be careful and save a small amount of money to make a big difference!
Of course, one of the indicators that car owners who choose the 650-level distance cares most about is fuel consumption. If you ride as gently as I do and almost always cruise below 130, then you can refer to the fuel consumption figures for single-person cruising:
110 About 4.3L
at km/hr90 km/hr about 3.3L
at 065 km/hrAbout 2.5L
at 065 km/hr My experience is that it will consume a little more fuel on express roads, because the speed is kept around 110-120 kilometers per hour. When traveling on mountain roads easily and leisurely, most of the time the car is traveling at a speed of 70 kilometers per hour and can achieve an average fuel consumption of nearly 3.6-4. The fuel consumption after riding for 10,000 kilometers is about 4.3.
These numbers are all actual data obtained from the multi-function instrument decentralized by V-Strom 1000. In addition to looking at the average fuel consumption, this instrument panel can also fully display the following information, from left to right and top to bottom: ：
1. Tachometer, TC tracking, neutral light, ABS light signal, high beam and low temperature warning light that will illuminate below 4 degrees
2. Gear display, speedometer
3. Total mileage/division mileage / Instrument brightness, water temperature meter, air temperature meter, TC level, clock
4. Voltage meter / Average fuel consumption / Instantaneous fuel consumption / Endurance mileage
A 12V 36W car charger is also set up next to the instrument panel, eliminating the need for this Demanding car owners also have to worry about wiring. Dashboards like
can be said to have everything you need, especially the voltmeter, which can provide an early warning before a battery failure occurs, eliminating a lot of opportunities to look around.
The real-time monitoring of the water temperature meter can also provide early warning when a problem occurs in the water cooling system. Unlike some entry-level cars, you won't have to wait until the engine overheating light comes on to find out.
For novices, the most important gear display is also placed in a place with high visibility. Bonus points
The cruising range allows you to evaluate whether you should move on to the next refueling station when you are almost out of gas. If you don't want to stop, you should take some time to find a nearby gas station. You often ride until the last 10 kilometers before refueling. Children must not learn this.
Speaking of battery life, I have to mention that the most proud thing about this car is that the astonishing 20-liter fuel tank is exactly the size of a liter, but coupled with the fuel consumption of a 650 twin-cylinder car, the battery life of this car is greatly improved. It has reached a theoretical mileage that can exceed 500 kilometers, and the riders who went out with it all felt quite headaches about this endurance.
Let me give you an example. At the beginning of the article, we said that we held a cross-section challenge to the top of Taiwan during the Chinese New Year. The meeting point was at the intersection of the Kansai-Rome Highway. After refueling there, I rode on the mountain road in one breath. It’s only after 400 kilometers to Alishan that I need to refuel.
When a rider from another car type told me that he needed to refuel, I looked at him suspiciously: "I still have half of the fuel left. Why do you spray fuel so fast?" 』
Or, the journey around the peninsula can be completed by just filling up with gas once at Taitung . Or, the fuel gauge is full of six bars, and there are still two bars left after I go from Miaoli to Pingtung, which is enough for me to carry. My girlfriend went to Kaohsiung for two days.
And when your oil light starts to light up, you actually still have about 70 kilometers of endurance, which is enough for you to ride from Bali to Miaoli
Yes, the endurance of this bike is so abnormal, even if you ride until you are exhausted or exhausted. With his butt made of steel, he probably still has more than 100 kilometers of combat power left to spend with you.
shortcomings
After talking about all the features, let’s talk about the shortcomings of this car.
In addition to the non-adjustable front fork mentioned before, another shortcoming of this car is the adjustment of the headlight. If you actually DIY the front of this car, you will find that every piece of plastic is interlocking. , it takes a lot of effort to remove the instrument, which really brings a considerable degree of inconvenience, because for people like this who often switch between riding with heavy equipment and light equipment, adjusting the angle of the headlights is very important. It’s a common thing, but there are really a lot of things that need to be removed to adjust the headlights of the V-Strom 650XT.
Moreover, the headlight adjustment screw cannot be turned by hand. You must use a torx wrench or a hex wrench to adjust it, which is really troublesome.
Another small drawback is the position of the pedals. Although the rider triangle of this car is very comfortable, the position of the pedal design will make the rider's calf bones get stuck when he stops at a red light and puts his feet down. In the city The comfort of the rider will be affected to some extent when walking in stop-and-go areas.
However, this problem is not unsolvable. The simplest solution is to purchase original modified pedals.
This original high-quality pedal is released with the new 2018 style V-Strom 1000. Because the car series settings are very close, the V-Strom 650XT can also be used. This pedal not only has a height of 2 cm up and down It is adjustable and also has an adjustment distance of one centimeter front and back, which can effectively improve the discomfort of the calf bones stuck in the pedals.
For riders who like to cruise comfortably, this original high-quality pedal can be placed at the lowest and most forward position, making the riding posture more comfortable. For riders who like to run mountains, the design of lowering it to the lowest position and adding a short lollipop can also increase the inclination angle. It can be said to be the favorite modification project
In addition to the modified pedals, the original factory standard lower guard The protection range is also better than that of some modification factories. Not only does it painlessly support the original engine bumper (I heard that the mix and match will get stuck), there is also an extra plastic baffle between the water tank and the lower guard plate, completely blocking any damage caused by the engine bumper. There is a possibility that pebbles rolled up by the front wheels may hit the engine.
This design can also be seen on the rear wheel. The extended plastic baffle protects the rear shock absorber from the erosion of water splash and sand brought by the rear wheel.
Although the engine bumper is an optional accessory, it is The experience of using bumpers to hang gasoline cans in North America also led me to choose this set of bumpers to prepare for emergencies. Later, a cup holder was added to make it more convenient when going out. After all, a multi-purpose vehicle does not have an engine bumper. Is that true?
The center brace is naturally one of the must-have options for multi-purpose vehicle owners. When washing the car, it is very convenient to have the center brace when washing the rear wheel and chain. If the rear tire blows out and needs to be repaired or inflated, there is The middle support is also a lot more convenient.
At the end of the article, let’s sort out the differences between V-Strom 1000 and V-Strom 650XT.
1. Quickly adjust the angle of the windshield
2. Hydraulic clutch and adjustable pull rod
3. Fully adjustable inverted fork
4. Opposed four-piston radial calipers
5. Cornering ABS
6. More powerful power
7. The difference between aluminum frame and steel wire frame
8. The weight difference is about 13 kilograms
Everything provided by the V-Strom 650XT is actually enough for use:
The rear shelf connected to the frame provides one of the best load capacities in its class
The suspension system is also far away It is better than other rivals in the 600 segment. It is also equipped with TC, ABS and other safety systems from the V-Strom 1000. The wide seat cushion provides the most comfortable riding experience in this category, and also makes it more comfortable. Your wife is more willing to go out with you, especially because it is lighter in weight and has a large leading rudder angle. It is not stressful to shuttle through urban alleys. It does not have flashy high-rpm horsepower data in exchange for better fuel consumption and powerful low-rpm torque. Taiwan is very practical.
You ask me why I chose V-Strom 650XT instead of V-Strom 1000?
Because like the V-Strom 650XT, it is a pragmatic person.
More traces left by traveling around Taiwan with V-Strom 650XT:
Finally, I would like to give a word to my friends who are still hesitating whether to jump into the field of multi-purpose vehicles:
V-Strom 650XT has already You have taken me and other like-minded cyclists all over Taiwan’s secret places. Are you still hesitating?
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