Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX Review - Adventure-ready Or A Comfortable Tourer?

At lower revs, the engine feels a bit peppy and the first two gears are short, while the tall third gear means you can trundle at city speeds easily. But there is a flat spot in the mid-range and overtakes will require you to downshift. This flat spot also means that mid-range performance is poor and you will have to work the engine a lot if you have a heavy wrist.

The 250cc engine is very composed by nature, so one will have to be a bit patient for it to gather momentum. While this easy-going nature will not be appreciated by all, it actually works well for touring and it reminded me a bit of the new Royal Enfield Classic 350. The air feels serene while cruising and this chill nature makes munching miles effortless and enjoyable. So if you want thrilling performance, this 250cc engine will not impress you, but as a tourer it does a good job.

We hardly encountered any starights, so I can’t comment about its touring capability, but you could feel a bit of vibes at 100kmph. The 6-speed gearbox is slick and the clutch action is light.

Matter Of Comfort

There are two aspects that help the V-Strom 250 nail the experience as a tourer - first, the seat. Not only is it spacious, it is also very well padded. We rode the bike for almost 8hrs and not even once did my derrière feel numb. Secondly, the ergonomics. The other bit that adds to the comfort factor is the upright riding posture courtesy the flat and wide handlebar and the pegs that are almost centre-set, which means you can munch miles effortlessly. Also, the rider feels a part of the bike owing to the sculpted fuel tank. Owing to this, despite its size, the rider doesn’t feel intimidated as is the case with most other ADV offerings.

What isn’t comfortable, though, is the seat height, at 835mm. I am 5ft 10’ tall and while it didn’t bother me all the time, on inclined surfaces and while dabbing my foot in traffic, it did make me feel a bit nervous. So we will suggest shorter riders to go for the optional 810mm low seat accessory.

Let’s Adventure

To give it off-road cred, Suzuki engineers have given it a 19-inch front wheel and off-road centric tyres, while the suspension travel remains identical.

So can you realise your Dakar dreams? Nope, don’t even think about it. The V-Strom 250 SX is at best suited for trails and does a good job on broken roads. The front suspension is a bit compliant, but the rear is firm, so on sharp bumps, potholes and rocks, it feels nervous. So if I had plans to head to Ladakh, I wouldn’t be too excited. This is disappointing given the V-Strom moniker. So if you were looking for a pukka off-roader, look elsewhere.

Time To Twisty

Where the V-Strom 250 doesn’t feel nervous is the handling department. It feels predictable and confident, and I had a wonderful time on the mountain twisties enroute to Manali.

Wheelbase	1,440mm
Kerb weight	167kg
Fuel tank capacity	12-litres

What makes this experience even more impressive is that despite running a 19-inch wheel, there is so much communication from the front-end and it feels as if you’re riding a bike with a 17-inch wheel. I must also give credit to the tyres–despite the off-road pattern, they offer loads of grip, thereby enabling you to extract more from the bike. Braking too is on point, there is a slight fork dive, but the brakes offer you positive bite and feedback. The Suzuki V-Strom 250 misses out on switchable ABS, but given its limited off-road ability, I don’t think the rider will miss it much.

Final Call

The one number which is hard to digest is the price as it commands a massive premium over its 250cc siblings.

Suzuki Gixxer 250	Rs 1,79,700
Suzuki Gixxer SF 250	Rs 1,90,400
Suzuki V-Strom SX	Rs 2,11,600

*Prices are ex-showroom-Delhi

The V-Strom 250 SX isn’t a perfect bike, it doesn’t have proper off-road cred or outright performance, the seat height can be worrisome for shorter riders, and the flat spot is irksome. But despite its flaws, the V-Strom 250 has that magical Suzuki element, which in its case is its friendly and approachable nature.

It kind of reminds me of the hatchback-based pseudo SUVs–enthusiasts were furious, but the masses thronged to buy them. As such, the V-Strom is honest about its intent as a tourer, barring its name, quite ironic. So if you want a friendly and comfortable tourer which has visual appeal, good quality, enjoyable handling and don’t mind spending the premium, the V-Strom 250 SX can be your next bike. On a personal note, I enjoyed the V-Strom 250 and even after spending eight hours on mountain roads there was hardly any fatigue. A good bike, but at the wrong price.