When it comes to true versatility on two wheels with real off-road capability, it’s hard to do better than a dual-sport motorcycle. Sure, adventure bikes are sort of dual-purpose machines, but their off-road chops aren’t as adept as a dual-sport. That’s where Suzuki’s DR650S comes in. It rocks wheels and tires that are set to tackle rougher stuff with suspension that can handle whatever you can dish out, and the $7,199 price point is accessible for most budgets. Capable as a dual-sport, the DR650S verges on being an entry adventure bike.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Suzuki and Honda. The information given is current as of the time of this writing.
Related
10 Most Versatile Adventure Bikes You Can Buy In 2025
These 10 adventure bikes refuse to stay in one lane (figuratively of course)
The DR650S’s Old-School Engine Still Delivers Big In 2025
Rugged simplicity, surprising capability
Suzuki
Suzuki powers its DR650S with an air- and oil-cooled thumper that makes for a narrow drivetrain overall. The single-cylinder layout is relatively torquey, but it comes with a hidden benefit. The long period between power pulses gives the rear wheel time to get a bite on the ground when in soft terrain for excellent traction as long as your throttle inputs are reasonable. There’s a reason Harley-Davidson and Indian V-twins, with their uneven firing order, long dominated the hill-climbing races and flat-track circuits.
A balancer-shaft in the engine takes some of the sting out of the vibrations coming from the engine. That will really matter on the superslab. That’s right, top speed is clocked at around 100 MPH, so it’s well capable of interstate travel anywhere in the U.S. with plenty of room at the top end for decisive passes. Power flows through a rack-and-pinion actuated clutch that delivers low-effort operation, then a five-speed transmission and tough, O-ring chain final drive.
Suzuki DR650S Engine And Performance Specifications
Engine
Single-cylinder, air/oil-cooled
Displacement
644 cc
Compression
9.5 : 1
Power
34.3 HP @ 6,000 RPM, claimed
Torque
33.4 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM, claimed
Transmission
5-speed
Top Speed
~100 MPH
Built For The Trail While Being Light On Its Feet
How the DR650S’s frame, suspension, and wheels tackle tough terrain without weighing you down
Cast- and tubular-steel members in the DR650S make up the single-downtube, dual-cradle frame. Without a standard-equipped bash plate, the cradle section will provide poor protection from terrain strikes, so hit the accessory catalog if off-roading is in your plans. A beam-style aluminum yoke serves as the swingarm for the lightweight strength it brings to the table to better handle rough terrain. The suspension is also set up to handle the rough stuff with a generous 10.2-inch stroke at both ends.
Laced wheels have ever been the favorite of off-road riders, and these have aluminum rims and hubs with steel spokes to tie them all together. The hoops run with street knobbies that can handle both the black and the brown. At only 366 pounds soaking wet, this machine only rates a single front disc brake to provide the bulk of the stopping power.
Suzuki DR650S Chassis And Suspension Specifications
Frame
Single-downtube/ dual-cradle, steel
Front Suspension
Telescopic forks
Rear Suspension
Coil-over shocks
Wheels
Laced with aluminum rims
Front Tire
90/90-21
Rear Tire
120/90-17
Front Brake
290 mm disc, two-piston caliper
Rear Brake
240 mm disc, two-piston caliper
Related
This Dual-Sport Motorcycle Is The Perfect Blend Of On-Road And Off-Road Riding
KTM’s latest small bike offering has a voracious appetite for both tarmac and dirt in equal measure
The DR650S Surprises On The Street
Feels like a compact adventure bike with real street credentials
When I first saw the DR650S, my initial thought was, “okay, dual-sport, cool.” After riding it a bit, I was no longer sure it was a big dual sport as much as it’s a small adventure bike. It’s a solid ride, and the only things lacking are a bigger fuel tank and accessory bags. A rear rack is available in the accessory catalog, but you’ll have to hit the after-market for some bags. No way around it, the dual-sport genre can be mistaken for dirt bikes with stealth knobbies, but this isn’t exactly correct or fair. Still, the front mudguard on the DR650S rides tucked up under the triple clamp, leaving room for the front suspension stroke with vestigial number plates from its racing roots.
A bench seat accommodates two, complete with folding footpegs and J.C. handles so you can carry a friend right off the dealer’s lot. To make this a more versatile bike, you’ll want to get a gel seat, because the factory-equipped seat is very uncomfortable for the long-haul. What makes this bike really work is its street capabilities. Between the ample top speed, blinkers, and headlight, Suzuki gives you all the tools you need to handle the roads with aplomb, not just tolerate them.
As for colorways, you can choose between Solid Special White No. 2 with blue tank trim and Solid Black & Iron Grey with orange trim. Seat height is understandably tall at 34.8 inches off the deck, but a dealer-installed lowering kit can drop that down to 33.2 inches instead. Even with the lowering kit, with my 5-feet-4-inch frame, I was tippy-toeing at stops. Yes, it’s tall, but that’s the nature of the beast.
Suzuki DR650S Design Specifications And Dimensions
Length
88.8 inches
Width
34.1 inches
Height
47 inches
Seat Height
34.8 inches
Wheelbase
58.7 inches
Ground Clearance
10.4 inches
Fuel Capacity
3.4 gallon/ 3.2 gallons California model
Curb Weight
366 lbs
The DR650S Has A Few Lighter, Smarter Siblings
How Suzuki’s DR-Z400S and new DR-Z4S bring advanced tech and bigger off-road ambitions
If the DR650S isn’t quite what you were looking for, Suzuki has smaller stablemates. It comes with a pair of down-tier stablemates in the DR-Z400S and the new-for-2025 DR-Z4S. Both keep to the same design guidelines as the “650” with high mudguards, bench seats, and dirtbike-like bodywork. It may be a smaller machine, but it’s even more capable off the beaten path with its 11.3-inch front and 11.6-inch rear suspension strokes. Street-knobby tires, blinkers and head/tail lights ensure legal operation on public roads.
A 398 cc thumper drives the DR-Z400S to speeds well over legal limits, so it’s as capable as its big brother in that respect. The new DR-Z4S carries a reworked version of the 398 cc mill with lots of modernization to keep the family competitive in a highly technical market, even though it puts out a little less power. Ride-by-wire control and dual-spark ignition join a slipper clutch to thoroughly spruce up the drivetrain. Gone are the vanilla stems in favor of KYB suspension products that add a level of adjustability never before seen in this model family, and travel is pretty good at 11-inches up front and 11.6-inches out back.
Suzuki DR Family Engine And Performance Specifications
Model
DR650S
DR-Z400S
DR-Z4S
Engine
Single-cylinder, air/oil-cooled
Single cylinder
Single cylinder
Displacement
644 cc
398 cc
398 cc
Compression
9.5 : 1
11.3 : 1
11.1 : 1
Power
34.3 HP @ 6,000 RPM, claimed
39 HP
38 HP @ 8,000 RPM
Torque
33.4 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM, claimed
29 LB-FT
27.3 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM
Transmission
5-speed
5-speed
5-speed
Top Speed
~100 MPH
94 MPH
93 MPH
Related
The Dual-Sport Motorcycle That Goes Where Others Won’t
If you are after a dual-sport that can make some dedicated dirt bikes look average off-road, this might be for you
Suzuki’s Old-School Rival: Honda XR650L
How Honda’s big thumper matches the DR650S in style and brings its own clever engineering tricks
Domestic foe Honda hits the turf and tarmac with its own dual-sport entry, the XR650L. The overall design is cut from pretty much the same cloth as the rest with the high mudguards, rally-style bodywork, bench seat, and street-legal lighting. Showa suspension handles business with 11.6 inches of travel ahead of 11 inches out back. It lacks a proper bashplate, but has a sort of cage built around the forward bottom of the engine to protect it from terrain strikes.
The frame also doubles as an engine-oil reservoir with some cooling effects that back up the cooling fins to keep the engine in the operating range. Power comes from a big thumper that, interestingly, has two small exhaust headers instead of one large one. I’m certain there’s some tuning magic involved in the exhaust tract.
Suzuki DR650S Vs. Honda XR650LEngine And Performance Specifications
Model
Suzuki DR650S
Honda XR650L
Engine
Single-cylinder, air/oil-cooled
Single-cylinder
Displacement
644 cc
644 cc
Compression
9.5 : 1
8.3 : 1
Power
34.3 HP @ 6,000 RPM, claimed
34.1 HP
Torque
33.4 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM, claimed
31.4 LB-FT
Transmission
5-speed
5-speed
Top Speed
~100 MPH
~108 MPH
AloJapan.com