Innovation hasn’t been Suzuki’s forte over the past few years. Sure, the House of Hamamatsu released updated versions of its V-Strom 1050, Hayabusa, GSX-S1000, and GSX-S1000 GT, but those revisions simply raised the brand’s styling and electronics up to today’s standards. Throughout that period, Suzuki depended on its existing engine platforms to get the job done.
They can’t apply that same practice to the ultra-competitive middleweight segment, though. As most competing constructors moved to parallel twin engines in the name of mechanical simplicity and compact footprints, Suzuki stuck to its guns, championing a 645cc 90-degree V-twin in the SV650 and V-Strom 650. That could all change in 2023, as the firm prepares for its 700cc parallel twin to finally hit the market.
