The SWM Superdual T is the latest addition to the middle-weight adventure tourer segment in India. The motorcycle was recently launched by Kinetic-owned Motoroyale and this is the first motorcycle from SWM in our country. The motorcycle goes against the newly launched Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT and the 2019 Kawasaki Versys 650. We took a quick look at how the three adventure tourers stack up against each other.
Design:
The SWM Superdual T draws inspiration from enduro motorcycles with high-set front mudguard, long travel suspension and tall windscreen. And, its higher-spec version gets knuckle guards and red-coloured engine guard as well. On the other hand, the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT looks very similar to its 1000cc sibling. The beak-like front fairing, knuckle guard and tall windscreen give it a proper adventure tourer look while the beefy exhaust can and golden wheel rims add to the aesthetics.
The Versys, on the other hand, boasts of a sharper design with twin headlamps and muscular bikini fairing and tank. Contrary to the spoked wheel rims on the Superdual T and V-Strom 650, the Versys 650 rides on blacked-out alloy wheels.
Features:
The newest entrant, Superdual T, displays all the information on an LCD unit while the V-Strom 650 XT and Versys 650 sport a semi-digital instrument cluster. The Suzuki adventure tourer is the most advanced electronically with three-level switchable traction control and ABS. Meanwhile, the Versys 650 and Superdual T only get ABS as a safety feature.
The Superdual T offers a pannier frame on its higher-spec version which is absent on the Versys and V-Strom. The windscreen of the V-Strom 650 is a three-way manually adjustable unit while the Versys’s gets two-way adjustability and the Superdual T has a fixed windscreen. The Suzuki and Kawasaki adventure tourers sport 20 litres and 21 litres fuel tank, respectively, while the Superdual T incorporates the smallest unit at 18 litres. The Superdual T and V-Strom get a 12V DC charging point as standard.
Engine:
The SWM Superdual T is powered by a 600cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which generates 54bhp of power and 53.5Nm of torque. Notably, this is the only bike to get a single-cylinder powerplant. Powering the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT is a 645cc, twin-cylinder motor that churns out 71bhp and 62Nm. Finally, the Kawasaki Versys 650 packs in a 649cc, twin-cylinder engine that is capable of 67.4bhp and 64Nm. All three motorcycles get a six-speed gearbox.
Cycle parts:
Starting with the wheels, the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT and SWM Superdual T, both ride on 19-inch front and 17-inch rear spoked wheels while Versys 650 comes equipped with 17-inch front and rear alloy wheels. The Versys 650 and Superdual T are suspended on USD forks on the front while only the V-Strom 650 XT gets the standard telescopic front forks. It gets link type monoshock suspension at the rear with rebound adjustability. As for the Versys, its rear wheel is suspended on a 145mm monoshock absorber with preload adjustability while the Superdual T comes with a 220mm single hydraulic shock absorber which offers preload, rebound and damping adjustability.
Braking duties on the SWM are handled by a 300mm disc with a floating caliper on the front and a 220mm disc with floating caliper at the rear. The Versys 650 gets dual 300mm discs on the front and a 250mm disc at the rear. As for the Suzuki, it is anchored by a pair of 310mm discs on the front and a 260mm disc at the back.
Pricing:
The SWM Superdual T base variant has been priced at Rs 6.80 lakhs while its more tourer-spec version is retailed for Rs 7.30 lakhs. The Kawasaki Versys 650 carries the price tag of Rs 6.69 lakhs and it is the most affordable bike amongst the rivals. As for the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT, at Rs 7.51 lakhs, it is the most expensive model in the middle-weight adventure tourer segment (all prices are ex-showroom, Mumbai).
