The adoption of the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) in Victoria, bringing that State into line with New South Wales, South Australia, ACT and Tasmania, has heated things up in the sub-650cc classes across all market segments: cruisers, sports-touring and trail.

Now, bigger, heavier, older and wider-arsed novice riders can ride something that won’t disappear between the bum-cheeks the second after they’ve swung the leg over. (Now where did the bloody thing go…? Better send a search party Bruce.) They can ride something like Suzuki’s DR650SE, Australia’s number one selling big-bore trail bike.

Reliable, street-legal (and LAMS legal), the 2009 DR650SE is now available in Solid Black or an all-new White livery. (It won’t make it go harder, but you’ll more easily see where it’s been.)

With plenty of low-to-mid range torque, the DR650SE is powered by a 644cc, four-stroke, air-cooled engine, with Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material (SCEM) coated cylinders to minimise wear.

With the new model, Suzuki claims agile handling and a comfortable ride whether on or off the road thanks to a lightweight frame and grunty 650 donk.

The DR650SE is now available from Suzuki dealers for $7,690 (RRP, inc. GST; excluding dealer delivery and government charges). Also included is a two-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.