Not very often I write reviews of motorcycles with this level of excitement and energy. The motorcycle on focus right now is Suzuki‘s newly launched VStrom SX 250. This 250cc motorcycle by Suzuki was first launched in April 2022, but has not been talked much on the Internet, but it is one of the rare gems which I discovered. The market is flooded with Royal Enfields, Jawas, Yezdis, Honda CB350s and those absurdly priced 150-250cc motorcycles with a way too little power.
The Suzuki VStrom SX 250 is in a different ballgame altogether – the product is filled with all things good and is a powerhouse which every motorcyclist crave for. Let me take your through this product in this detailed review:
First Impressions and Design
This motorcycle is humungous in size and looks so sporty and attractive – thanks to the Suzuki branding in the front side panels and sporty graphics with SX, VStrom 250 wordings on it. While we wished that we would get a the VStrom SX 250 in yellow color scheme for testing, we received the Red one (Orange) and I tell you, this is one amazing color option , a visual treat to your eyes. When it comes to the design, the Suzuki VStrom features a large windshield in front and gets a advanced fully digital instrument cluster . The motorcycle is fairly heavy, long, well-finished and it has its own original character. The motorcycle features bright LED headlight and taillight. Not to forget the beak in the front looks fantastic and gives a sporty appeal.
Power and Performance
If you have already fallen for the looks of this motorcycle, hold on, the talking point of this machine is not just the way it looks but the way it performs on the road and the kind of power which it delivers – It is purely satisfying. This review is simply not an exaggeration, this is what it is – the whooping 26.5 PS of power at 9300 rpm and maximum torque of 22.2 Nm at 7300 rpm delivered by 249cc, 4-valve, 4-stroke, single-cylinder, oil-cooled SOHC engine thrills you upto your heart’s content. This powerful engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission gearbox – you could feel the power and rush, every single time you upshift and change the gear – it only makes you happy and does it so consistently (Thanks to electronic fuel-injection system).
One thing I really loved in this motorcycle is its character of resilience – how much ever capable and powerful the motorcycle is, when running on lower gears, the motorcycle transforms itself to one innocent being making lower noise and delivering very graceful power – you would appreciate this kind of behaviour when you are negotiating tight traffic in midst of packed vehicles around you in city conditions.
Ride and Handling
How easy it is to steer this motorcycle and how easy it is to handle it on roads of different kinds? The overall length of VStrom SX 250 is 2180 mm and the wheelbase measures 1440mm – this is an amazing motorcycle to ride on those long highways, cornering at the edges of the road and feeling so confident about its power and stability. It is extremely stable at high speeds and does 0-100 kmph in a matter of few seconds – it is not one of the very quickest like Interceptor 650 (Apples to Oranges comparison though :D), it is decently quickest. I easily hit a top speed of 128 Kmph on my way to GaadiKey office in Bengalutu enroute NH7 and Oh Man! should I say more? The blog title says it all. This machine is researched, designed and tested for high performance motorcycling and Job well done Suzuki, Keep it up.
Let us talk a little bit more on practicality aspects – The motorcycle features a 12-litre fuel tank which is fairly good enough for long trips and comes with a USB power outlet for charging your phone on the go. The windscreen on offer is large and it does its job efficiently at higher speeds protecting you from wind blast and adding more fun to your ride.
Riding Comfort, Space Pillion Seat and comfort
The motorcycle gets a split seat setup. The rider’s seat is caved in and the pillion seat is positioned up. The seat height of this motorcycle is 835 mm, so if you are like me with a height of 5’7, you cannot completely put down your foot on the ground during times like traffic signal stops or while getting in. The default setup offered in Suzuki VStrom SX250 is good for tall riders above 5’8, however as an accessory Suzuki is offering a setup which reduces the seat height to 810mm ( cutting 25mm). If you are a short rider and are really after this motorcycle you should go for that accessory setup.
The overall ergonomics offered to the rider is great. Since the pillion seat is positioned upwards, it needs some effort for your pillion to climb it up. However, the footpeg positioning is good and grab rails are optimally positioned for riders comfort. You can also mount top box or touring bag at the rear on your adventure trips.
Brakes, Suspension and Tyres
Both front and rear wheels get Disc brake setup with dual-channel ABS for safety. The Tyre in front measures 19 inches and rear tyre measures 17 inches. The brakes are responsive and there is a room for improvement. The SX250 features Telescopic suspension in the front and mono-shock absorber at the rear to tackle uneven roads and road humps. While it is not a pure off-roader (missing large front tyre), it does its job really well on flat surfaces.
Vs the Competition
How does the Suzuki VStrom SX 250 fair against the competition? In terms of product quality, attention to detail, looks, performance and pace factor, the VStrom any time scores higher than other 250cc or 350cc counterparts. I would any day choose this bike over Royal Enfield Scram 411 or Hunter 350. The price point is reasonable for such a humungous, high quality, performance motorcycle. The fuel gauge offered in Suzuki VStrom SX 250 works flawlessly and is so much more certain than the one offered in Royal Enfield motorcycles.
Verdict – Should you buy?
With an ex-showroom price of Rs 2.11 lakhs, the motorcycle is a steal deal. I would close my eyes and buy this motorcycle if I had that kind of money. If you are a tall rider this is the motorcycle made for you – If you are a shorter rider you can still go for it by choosing the seat-height adjust accessory. Offered in 3 attractive colors (Yellow, Orange, Black) , the Suzuki VStrom SX 250 motorcycle looks sporty, it is huge, it is stable at pace, a brilliant package and is definitely a powerhouse which every motorcyclist crave for.
Check the Full Photo gallery of Suzuki VStrom SX 250.
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