The SuperDual bike fitted with the Euro-IV engine likely to roll out in India
This one feels quite different from the bikes we are used to on Indian roads. Yes, we are talking about the SWM SuperDual 650, which is pretty tall, almost like a dirt bike, with fab on-road behaviour, and promises to cost less than the Kawasaki Versys.
The SWM SuperDual 650 is an on-and-off-roader and is powered by a 600-cc DOHC, four-valve, single-cylinder. This middleweight adventure tourer is surprisingly compact, and has acres of ground clearance.
There are two variants of the SuperDual: the SuperDual T (T for touring), and the off-road focused SuperDual X. These are the new Euro IV versions, which have received tweaks to meet the more stringent emission norms. MotoRoyale will be getting the SuperDual T to India first and the off-road-biased X will be coming to our shores shortly after.
The 600-cc engine has an old-school single-cylinder feel. Pics/SWM
It's a bike designed for touring and can do some off-road riding too. The beak-like front fender, small headlight and tall windscreen clearly indicate its European lineage. The SuperDual T comes with a 19-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear one, with dual sport Metzeler Tourance tyres — a setup more apt for road riding — whereas the X gets a larger 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear, with tyres that can tackle more serious off-roading. The T also comes with several useful features including knuckle-guards, dirtbike-style foot-pegs and rear brake lever, guard to protect the engine and radiator, and extra lights near the radiator. It also gets a handy luggage rack behind the rear seat.
It's a tall bike, with a saddle height of 890 mm. The test bike had optional full-size panniers attached, which made getting on or off the bike quite entertaining... for others who were watching. Every time we clambered over it, our boots scraped the panniers, in spite of being cautious.
The bike has dual exhausts
There are a few design traits that give away its Husqvarana roots — such as its motocross bike-like rigid single downtube double-cradle frame or the dual exhaust system. In spite of getting modernised with fuel-injection and liquid-cooling, the engine feels and sounds like an old-school single-cylinder.
Low-end power is just adequate, but it's between 4,000 and 5,000 rpm that the SWM gets kicking. It happily climbs the revs all the way to the red-line, with a fairly enticing exhaust note. It managed to hit three-digit speeds on the tiny digital display without the motor feeling strained. The taller ratio makes it a relaxed mile-cruncher on the few open stretches that we got.
The optional panniers look cool
What's most impressive is the suspension setup. Doing the duty upfront is a 45-mm upside-down fork with rebound adjustment in combination with a Sachs monoshock with completely adjustable preload, compression and rebound. The SuperDual tames pretty much any road surface that it comes across.
The tall stance with the taut suspension and the dirtbike-inspired steel frame gives it great agility. Weaving through traffic or negotiating sharp hairpin turns the bike felt nimble and alert. And, the great grip from the Metzeler only boosted our confidence. It also gets a 300-mm single disc in front and a 220-mm disc at the rear with ABS as standard.
The reps at MV Agusta are determined to get the Euro IV-ready SWM SuperDual T at the MotoRoyale dealerships before the end of 2017. And, depending on the implementation of GST, we expect it to be priced between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 5.5 lakh. And, yes, it's worth the wait.
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