The Suzuki V-Strom SX has made adventure touring more accessible with the launch of a 250cc version at a price point starting at ₹2.11 lakh. The V-Strom SX draws a lot of design and styling cues from the bigger 650cc V-Strom. Here are all the details you need to know about the baby V-Strom.
As mentioned, the V-Strom SX takes a lot of styling cues from its bigger brother, but it also has taken inspiration from the Gixxer 250. The single LED headlight seems to be shared with the naked Gixxer 250, while the rear also gets LED tail lights. The front shares the same beak design as the V-Strom 650. Being an adventure tourer, the bike is tall and has a split-seat configuration with an 835mm seat height and an option to lower it by 25mm, which should be good for newer or shorter riders. The engine also gets a cowling to protect it from damage. The V-Strom SX comes in three colour options, with one of them, the Champion Yellow No. 2, shared with the bigger V-Strom. The other two colour options include a black and orange with contrasting stickers.
The 249cc single is shared with the Gixxer 250 twins, and so it makes 26bhp of power at 9300rpm and 22.2Nm of torque at 7300rpm. The bike gets Suzuki’s oil-cooling technology which Suzuki claims warms the engine faster for more brisk start ups and riding comfort. The smaller engine and frame derived from the Gixxer allows the bike to be much lighter, tipping the scales at 167kg, which is allied to a chassis which Suzuki claims is slimmer than its competitors, allowing for more comfortable riding and better handling at speed. The big 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels give the V-Strom SX a healthy ride height at 205mm, which is still lower than the Himalayan’s 220mm, but more than the KTM 250 Adventure’s 200mm. It gets telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear which is adjustable for preload. There are single disc brakes at both the front and the rear with dual-channel ABS.
The V-Strom SX gets a digital instrument cluster with several bluetooth-connected features such as Suzuki’s proprietary Ride Connect system, which like any other connected system allows for turn-by-turn navigation, call alerts, and WhatsApp and SMS alerts. There is also a USB port present near the instrument cluster, which is very accessible and required for an adventure tourer. The V-Strom’s other features include ABS and a full accessory suite including fuel tank protection, a lower seat option and wheel decals.
Commenting on the launch, Satoshi Uchida, managing director of Suzuki Motorcycle India said, “We feel delighted to announce our entry in the 250cc adventure sports segment with the launch of V-Strom SX. The All-New V-Strom SX has been manufactured to cater to the needs of the riders who like a versatile sports adventure tourer. V-Strom SX will be perfectly suitable for city and highway riding as well as to explore various kinds of adventure terrains on a Motorcycle.”
The Suzuki V-Strom SX 250 is priced at ₹2.11 lakh for all three colour options. Suzuki is aiming the bike not only as an adventure tourer or a lifestyle vehicle, but an option that it hopes riders will use for daily riding such as commutes. The V-strom SX will compete with the Royal Enfield Himalayan, KTM 250 Adventure, Yezdi Adventure and the Hero Xpulse 200 at the lower end of the spectrum. Seeing the popularity of the Gixxer, it is not unwise to put your bets on the baby V-Strom. The new Suzuki V-Strom SX is already in dealerships across India.