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The (very) long-awaited successor to the Suzuki SV650 roadster has been photographed during road tests, alongside the V-Strom 650. The bike could, in all likelihood, carry the GSX-S moniker, as it no longer uses V-Twin engine like its predecessor.

The venerable roadster has – quite extraordinarily – been a mainstay of Suzuki's lineup for over two decades with only relatively minor updates since it was first introduced in 1999. Despite this, the SV650 remains one of Suzuki's most popular offerings , thanks in part to a V-Twin engine that has become a unique selling point over the years as rivals have moved to an in-line engine configuration.

However, time has finally caught up with both the SV650 and V-Strom 650, as tightening Euro5 emissions regulations leave a deadline of December 31, 2022 for both models to undergo major re-engineering. The two collectors at the front are an essential and clearly recognizable feature. They signify the departure of the V-Twin concept towards the in-line twin. In-line twins are more compact, lighter, less complex to manufacture and therefore less expensive. Almost all manufacturers now do it this way, Suzuki – with Ducati – has remained faithful to the V for the longest.

Although the exact details of this new liquid-cooled parallel twin engine remain under wraps, it will likely be the same 700cc engine found in the new V-Strom. Due to the heavy camouflage, details on the main frame are sparse, although the tubular steel rear loop is visible.

The suspensions take a big step forward with the use of an inverted fork, and although it's not clearly visible here, the rear suspension features a monoshock. The braking system is still handled by Japanese company Nissin, with a pair of radial calipers clamping on dual discs up front and a single-piston caliper and single disc setup at the rear.

The design of this motorcycle clearly takes inspiration from the new Suzuki GSX-S 1000, particularly the LED headlight at the front and the sharp, angular fairing replacing the flowing lines of the SV650. The taillight is a design element we haven't seen from Suzuki, as it's integrated into the license plate bracket (much like the BMW F900R and KTM 790/890 Duke).

This successor to the SV650 sports a rectangular dashboard and should offer electronic driving aids, as is currently the case with competitors.

EICMA 2022 is fast approaching and considering that the Suzuki range has not seen an all-new engine and chassis model for a few years, we can expect to see the all-new SV there at this event. living room.