Suzuki, at the INTERMOT 2018 had plenty of surprises in its bag. The Japanese company dropped jaws at the expo its new bikes such as the Katana and a tweaked version of the GSX-R1000 and GSX-R1000R. However, unveiling the 2019 SV650X, which will now enter the US markets, might have been its most surprising move. The new SV650X is based on the standard SV650 along with a unique café racer twist.
The new bike retains its frame, suspension and motor from the SV650 making the changes strictly cosmetic. In the new bike, Suzuki has opted for rather traditional styles of clip-on steel handlebar that would put the rider in a more committed position. However, it is not too low to be termed as ‘aggressive’ as it does not drop below the top triple clamp.
The new bike calls for better aerodynamics due to its new semi-fairing (sort of) and the additional cowl over the frame in front of the fuel tank. The 2019 SV650X comes with a brown-ribbed seat which adds to the retro panache to the new bike. The new seat is also placed slightly higher than the SV650 and gets a tuck and roll treatment for the rider’s posterior.
The graphics on the new SV650X hints at a racy-vibe with the stylized number plate on the cowl below the passenger seat along with the blacked-out treatment that can be seen on numerous contemporary motorcycles.
The bike is powered by a 645-cc V-twin engine, mated to a six-speed transmission. The bike uses a steel trellis frame with a spring-preload adjustable suspension in the front coupled with a linkage-assisted spring preload adjustable shock at the rear. Braking duties on the bike are handled by a 290mm floating discs with 4-piston Tokico calipers in the front and a single disc with a single-piston caliper at the rear.
