A bike that fears nothing.

The DR650S offers the possibility to venture yourself out of the beaten paths; handling is surprising even on narrow, muddy trails. The suspension behaves well over repetitive bumps and you can even attempt medium-range jumps. Don't try bigger stuff, though, because the suspension can quickly run out of wheel travel.

On a gravel road, the DR650S feels relaxed and comfortable, gobbling up miles and miles with authority. However, you have to remember that the 13-litre fuel tank will allow you to cover about 180 kilometres before taping into the reserve.

The comfort level is reasonable thanks to a relaxed seating position and a very soft suspension. Over long rides, however, the seat becomes uncomfortable because of its narrowness and lack of support. Vibrations produced by the drivetrain are nothing to worry about during normal driving, but they rapidly become irritating when the rhythm picks up.

Competition on the horizon

The DR650S still has "it"... but improvements are awaited.

In 2007, the DR650S still has "it" thanks to a wide range of qualities, a design that's still trendy and also a very competitive price. In order to continue to put up a good fight in this category, the DR650S will no doubt require a fresher styling. The arrival of the new and completely redesigned Kawasaki KLR 650 will most certainly convince Suzuki people to develop a brand new DR. A 650-cc supermoto variant, similar to the DR-Z400SM, would be the best solution.



Photos : Pascal Bastien