New Suzuki - the Urban X Over

[Rincewind]

Suzuki revealed a new bike at a Frankfurt auto show - the Urban X Over.  

Looks like basically a stripped version of the new V-strom 650.  

At least they didn't call it a X-Strom, a Strurban or a Wee-X.  Well, Urban-X-Over is pretty bad by itself...  



http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/new-suzuki-motorcycle-urban-x-over-unveiled.htm

More pics @ http://www.motosblog.fr/post/6095/exclusif-showbike-suzuki-urban-x-over

[Rincewind]

I like it.

Me too.  It is like the "XC" version of the normal V-strom. 

Here you can see the normal version of the V-strom in the background.  I notice now that the sign says "showbike" so maybe it is just a concept.

[Kootenanny]

Been done before...Buell brought out the City-X version of their XB9S Lightning in what 2005?  Once again, the Big Four are late to the party (but I'm sure they'll capitalize on the concept...).

[Rincewind]

Been done before...Buell brought out the City-X version of their XB9S Lightning in what 2005?  Once again, the Big Four are late to the party (but I'm sure they'll capitalize on the concept...).

True but Buell did not go to the same lengths with their City-X.  IIRC they only made the body panels translucent and added a guard to the headlights.  Here Suzuki has added knobbies, wire wheels, skid plate, and quite a few additional items to make it more of an adventure bike.

[jfurf]

Whoa. It's like the V-Strom got some tattoos and a new Billy Badass demeanor.  

[ConPilot1]

It is billy badass but I like it too.  


Strom engine??

[falconati]

I'd rather have the strom (how many times has that sentence been uttered?)

[squeezer]

I like it.

Me too. I'd want to tone down the graphics a bit, but you know, it's a show bike.

[stew71]

Want.

[Kootenanny]

True but Buell did not go to the same lengths with their City-X.  IIRC they only made the body panels translucent and added a guard to the headlights.  Here Suzuki has added knobbies, wire wheels, skid plate, and quite a few additional items to make it more of an adventure bike.

City-X came with "street knobbies" much like the Suzuki, and the skid plate is built into every Buell (it's called the muffler ).  Didn't have wire wheels--who wants to run tubes, anyway?  The Buell did have full hand protectors, a flat "moto-style" seat, and a cross-braced handlebar, in addition to the headlight guard.  Oh, and there was an X-shaped piece on top of the airbox cover to help prevent scuffing from a tankbag...

Not to say I don't like the Suzuki--I do!  I also like the BMW G650 X-Country.  I'm just saying, it's been done before...maybe Buell was ahead of the times...

[Rincewind]

City-X came with "street knobbies" much like the Suzuki, and the skid plate is built into every Buell (it's called the muffler ).  Didn't have wire wheels--who wants to run tubes, anyway?  The Buell did have full hand protectors, a flat "moto-style" seat, and a cross-braced handlebar, in addition to the headlight guard.  Oh, and there was an X-shaped piece on top of the airbox cover to help prevent scuffing from a tankbag...

Not to say I don't like the Suzuki--I do!  I also like the BMW G650 X-Country.  I'm just saying, it's been done before...maybe Buell was ahead of the times...

The Buell came with Pirelli Scopion Syncs (or very similar) - they aren't nearly as aggressive as those shown on this Suzie.  And the wire wheels with tubes are better for actual offroad use, though like you I wouldn't want to run tubes either.  I'm not disagreeing with you - but I am saying that the Buell seemed like more of a styling exercise, where this Suzie looks like something that would be more useful in actual offroad conditions.

[FirstVtwin]

I like it...like it even more if it had the SV1000 motor in it.

[Kootenanny]

The Buell came with Pirelli Scopion Syncs (or very similar) - they aren't nearly as aggressive as those shown on this Suzie.  And the wire wheels with tubes are better for actual offroad use, though like you I wouldn't want to run tubes either.  I'm not disagreeing with you - but I am saying that the Buell seemed like more of a styling exercise, where this Suzie looks like something that would be more useful in actual offroad conditions.

With a name that includes the word "urban," I thought this was more aimed at "commando commuting" than actual off-road use.  Kinda like "CityX."

Have you ever seen the BMW G650 X-Country?  Or hey, even the Triumph Scrambler?  All I'm getting at is that this isn't really as new a concept as Suzuki might like us to believe (hell, back in the day, weren't ALL bikes basically like this?--my Dad rode motorcycles in the prairies back in the 40s, where paved roads were few and far between...).

All that said, I do like this Suzuki...it may be what the Wee-strom shoulda been in the first place...

[jfurf]

Anyone know what sort of tires that beast is wearing? They look very... dual-sporty. Like they'd be pretty good on wet pavement and on dirt roads/trails.

[County Tar]

My guess is the new Heidenau K60 in the 150/70R-17 size.  It has a different tread pattern than the smaller K60's.  It looks like they are using either the same size wheel and tire front and rear, or at least a front which is wider than the stock 110/80 on the VStrom.

[DogBoy]

Does that look like a 17" front wheel? Hard to tell.

[Cablebandit]

It does look like a 17" up front.  I guess that makes sense since it the "urban" version.

[Rincewind]

It looks like a very wide front 17" wheel to me.  

[Hickey]

I like it.

But spoked wheels? Why? I'd rather run tubeless radials.

I wonder if it will make it into production and if so to America?

[County Tar]

It would make sense to offer this gussied up version in continental Europe where the Strom is popular.  Not so much in the US.