Adventure motorcycling! It is a phenomenon that is catching on in India now and more so in the sub Rs. 4 lakh bracket. And the latest manufacturer in the entry-level sport touring segment is Suzuki, with its V-Strom 250 SX. Billed as a versatile sport touring adventure touring motorcycle, the V-Strom SX caters to riders who want a motorcycle, capable of taking on the daily commute, highway riding, as well as for exploring mild off-road trails. And yes, it is built on Suzuki's 250 cc platform, that also underpins the Gixxer and the Gixxer SF 250.
(We like tall stance and the styling cues on the V-Strom SX, taken from bigger V-Strom motorcycles)
The Suzuki V-Strom SX takes styling and design inspiration from its bigger siblings in the V-Strom family. You see hints of the bigger V-Strom models on the 250, especially on the front end, and that's not a bad thing at all. The tall ADV-esque seating, along with the beak and the bright orange colour that really pops out, gives the SX a distinct look on the road. Swing your view to the sides and the rear and the short, stubby exhaust is indicative of the fact that the motorcycle is meant to spend more time on tarmac than blazing through trails.
(The motorcycle gets decent ergonomics and is comfy even when you want to stand up and ride)
So, the V-Strom SX has a comfortable rider triangle and a flat, wide handlebar offering decent leverage for hustling the motorcycle around. While we hardly did any off-roading, but the motorcycle is comfy when standing up and riding too! We would have liked taller handlebars, but that is only when you go off the road frequently. For all purposes, the ergonomics work, except for the exhaust playing foul with my right foot, especially when standing up and riding. It gives you less room to move your feet on the pegs.
(The Suzuki V-Strom SX gets a decent list of features, including a USB port and a dual-channel ABS)
The Suzuki VStrom SX gets similar features as its other Gixxer siblings. The display is the same and so is the switchgear. The SX does get a USB charging port on the side of the display and is lit too, so that's a nice touch! There's dual-channel ABS too but an option of disconnecting ABS for the rear wheel would have been welcome.
(Suzuki could have offered an option to disengage the ABS on the rear tyre. Could have worked well for off-road situations)
The ABS unit is intrusive and in case you are looking to go off-road, you would want lesser intrusion. The company also offers Suzuki Easy Start System, Bluetooth connectivity via the Suzuki Ride Connect app, but unfortunately, we were unable to try the features out! Overall, the quality and fit and finish of the Suzuki V-Strom SX is similar to its Gixxer rivals and while it may not be the benchmark, it gets the job done.
(The V-Strom SX has great highway manners. It can comfortably sit at 100-110 kmph all day long.)
| Specifications | Suzuki V Strom SX |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 249 cc |
| Max Power | 26.1 bhp at 9,300 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 22.2 Nm at 7,300 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
Talking about the performance of the VStrom SX, it gets the same 249 cc engine as Gixxer and the Gixxer SF 250. It makes In typical Suzuki fashion, the engine is likeable and smooth. It offers oodles of grunt in the bottom end and mid-range. A little more top-end would have been better. And while Suzuki says it is meant mainly for tarmac, you could explore mild off-road trails on the motorcycle, it definitely has decent off-road capability. The braking is adequate, but we would have preferred just a touch more bite on them! The motorcycle gets decently tuned suspension, just a touch on the softer side, although you will feel some of the harder-edged bumps on the go.
(The motorcycle gets the same 249 cc engine as the Gixxer 250, in the same state of tune)
The motorcycle gets 120 mm of travel on the front telescopic forks and the company hasn't disclosed the travel on the rear suspension. For an adventure bike, that sure is less travel and it is likely to crash over off-road trails. But do remember, the cycle parts are taken from the road oriented Gixxer and the V Strom SX is after all a street motorcycle, dressed as an adventure bike. But it does the job, almost 90% of the time. The 205 mm ground clearance is generous enough for mild off-road excursions and the 19-17 setup for the wheels works well too. It has great highway manners and we quite like the motorcycle handles despite being taller than the Gixxers
(The colours on the new V-Strom SX definitely pop out on the road. Makes for good visibility )
The Suzuki V-Strom SX is priced at Rs. 2.11 lakh (Ex-showroom) and has the KTM 250 Adventure and Benelli TRK 251 as its main rivals. But considering its price tag and capability, it will also go up against the likes of the Royal Enfield Himalayan, Yezdi Adventure, Hero XPulse 200 4 Valve, and even the Honda CB200X.
(The V-Strom SX comes across as a nice motorcycling package that offers good highway manners, mild-offroading and good quality)
There is no doubt about the fact that there are a lot of takers for motorcycles like the V-Strom SX. Popping colours, tall stance, mini-ADV looks, decent capability and not super heavy on the pocket. It does have a lot of capability, great highway manners and for a motorcycle that costs less than two and a half lakh rupees, it makes great sense even in a segment that is loaded with options.
