Suzuki V-Strom SX review: performance, price, details

It’s  accurate that the Indian bike purchaser in today’s moments is spoilt for alternative. There is a range of bikes available across numerous rate details and formats. And in this vast motorcycle oasis, Suzuki has taken its very first stage in the quarter-litre adventure touring phase by ultimately launching the V-Strom SX. 

They contact it a ‘sport experience tourer’ and the rationale why we are so intrigued to ride this motorcycle is simply because it is based mostly on the interesting and proven Gixxer 250 system. The problem that desires answering: is it deserving of a Suzuki V-Strom badge?

V-Strom SX, Gixxer 250: similar but unique

Let’s dive straight in and see what are the similarities and differences in between the V-Strom SX and its street-naked sibling, the Gixxer 250. 

First of all, what Suzuki has accomplished is taken the Gixxer 250’s key body and produced a couple modifications to the mounting factors for accommodating the new bodywork. The subframe, having said that, is all-new. Along with no alterations to the chassis, the gasoline tank ability also continues to be the same at 12 litres, which is a instead little sizing for an experience touring bike. Likewise, the headlight and indicators are identical to the Gixxer 250’s, when the tail light appears to be to be taken off the former, 155cc Gixxer.

Shifting on, the suspension, whether it is the entrance fork or the preload adjustable monoshock, is the identical as the Gixxer, down the internals and total of vacation at equally finishes. The swingarm, even so, is new and lengthier. You will also notice that the issue the place the front axle attaches to the base of the fork is off-set to make it less difficult to accommodate the 19-inch entrance wheel. These tweaks have extra a 100mm to the wheelbase, getting it up to 1,440mm.

As is the case with most of the chassis, Suzuki hasn’t completed anything to the 249cc, oil-cooled engine as nicely and it is in the exact state of tune as the Gixxer 250. Even the interior gearing and the dimension of the closing travel sprockets is accurately the similar.

The significant improve is viewed in the ergonomics the seat top has long gone up by 35mm to 835mm, which is tall but continue to not as a lot as the 855mm perch of the KTM 250 Experience. While, the handlebar is all-new and the footpegs have been moved a bit forward. 

And due to the fact this motorcycle is manufactured for touring, you have obtained a decently sized aluminium top rated box rack as perfectly as bungee hooks on the pillion footrest hanger to strap your luggage to the bicycle.

To sum up, this is accurately what value-conscious platform sharing in the automotive house looks like. Suzuki, in simple fact, have performed a commendable task in reworking a road bare bicycle into an journey bike, specially when you observe the style and design. 

V-Strom SX style: new appear, characteristic packed

The V-Strom SX’s styling normally takes obvious inspiration from the V-Strom 1050 marketed in worldwide marketplaces and which is a great area to start off with.The condition of the bodywork is generally flat surfaces with a number of creases, be it the beak beneath the headlight, the fuel tank or the plastic extensions hooked up below it. It is a similar tale with the form of the tail panels. 

There is a non-adjustable windscreen that sits over the headlight and it does a decent occupation of deflecting head on wind up to the upper body spot. All of these style and design elements appear alongside one another to give the V-Strom SX its personal identity in the Indian adventure bike sector. 

USB charger is a nifty attribute

The other facet about the bike that strikes you is its sizing and highway existence. Not to mention the shiny yellow paint perform on our check bike. As significantly as quality of components and suit and end is anxious, they are upto standard Suzuki standards, which is fantastic. 

I also favored the layout of the Liquid crystal display screen and the way it has been positioned, making it easy to read even when the sun is overhead. The device capabilities Bluetooth connectivity with the expected amenities these kinds of as call and message alerts or transform-by-convert navigation. A different nifty feature is the USB charger that is offered as normal, but I would have liked to see a superior cover for the port as the existing one is a small flimsy to use.

V-Strom SX motor: smooth and elegant

The Gixxer 250’s engine is without doubt one particular of its strongest attributes and it is the similar in the situation of the V-Strom SX. What amazed me the most is its fantastic refinement and tractability that makes it possible for you to ride the bike lazily in the town, with no the need to have to modify gears far too normally. However, you have to keep in mind that this engine is in the exact same state of tune as the Gixxer 250 and that means you have to rev it to accessibility all of its general performance even though using on the highways at a rapid pace. The superior news is you may under no circumstances tire of accomplishing so mainly because of how easy and composed the motor feels at large speeds. This ought to attraction to people today who are wanting for a sporty streak in their quarter-litre journey touring bike.

Crucially, this engine is quite relaxed at 80kph with the gearbox slotted in sixth. There are future to no vibrations at those speeds and even a regular 100-120kph does not appear to be to induce as well much pressure on the engine. On the other hand, go anything beyond that pace and you are going to really feel the efficiency get started to taper off.

That becoming stated, just one has to take into account that this engine has to transfer a bike that is 11kg heavier than the Gixxer 250. Also, it’ll be interesting to see how it performs when you have got a pillion on board and with panniers as effectively as a prime box hooked up. That is a tale for some other working day. 

For now, and from what we knowledgeable so far, this engine continues to lend itself pretty nicely to the V-Strom SX’s sport adventure motorcycle application. And so do the ergonomics of this motorbike.

V-Strom SX rideability: consolation course

Suzuki has managed to nail the rider’s triangle on this motorbike, in preserving with the commuting and touring application. The seat, to start with, is flat, huge and very spacious, even for a tall rider. The new handlebar is positioned at a at ease achieve from the seat and even the footpegs are not way too rearset. The using place is so relaxed that even soon after paying shut to a day in the saddle, I felt no exhaustion or backaches.  

As for
the ergonomics, when you are standing on the pegs and riding offroad, you’ll observe that the handlebar is placed a little lessen than suitable, specifically if you are a tall rider. That forces you to bend more than what’s cozy, to reach the handlebar.

That said, there are other bits like the 19-inch entrance wheel and MRF Mogrip Meteor tyres that give this bicycle the demanded means and grip to trip down a mild mud path. In simple fact, with 205mm of ground clearance, realized by installing the larger, 19-inch entrance wheel and going the swingarm pivot issue higher, you’d imagine that the V-Strom SX need to be able to tackle a lot more of the tough things. Even so, the limiting variable is the suspension. It is established up for highway use and with only a 120mm of travel at the entrance, you’d rather stay absent from leaping this bike off mounds or climb around rocks and what have you. That apart you can however have a good time driving above delicate off-highway trails. The bottomline is that the V-Strom is a great road-biased equipment and the way it rides and handles is proof of that.

V-Strom SX chassis: steady and predictable

Suzuki usually gets the chassis established-up right on its bikes and which is accurate in the scenario of the V-Strom SX as nicely. The bicycle feels reassuringly planted when driving on straights at high speeds as well as when it is leaned into a corner. The best section is that the experience from the entrance finish isn’t as numb as you’d anticipate of a bike running a 19-inch entrance wheel. Also, though there is ample amount of money of grip from the tyres as properly, the greater street sounds caused by the tyre pattern is what you will have to set up with.

As for the trip high-quality, it feels stiff at very low speeds but increases as you have extra rate more than bumpy streets. The brakes, once more currently being taken off the Gixxer 250, go away almost absolutely nothing to complain about as bite and feedback is offered in generous amounts. 

V-Strom SX verdict: eye of the Strom

The V-Strom SX carries all the powerful virtues of the Gixxer 250 and bundles them with a far more roomy, upright and relaxed riding posture. As a road tourer, the V-Strom SX is, possibly, a single of the most completed choices that you will uncover at this rate position. But as considerably as off-road, ADV ability goes, the 19-inch entrance wheel and 205mm ground clearance is about all it receives. This is not an off-road completely ready motorcycle and it’s primarily a Gixxer 250 on stilts. That makes for a very good commute as effectively as highway machine, albeit at a Rs 30,000 quality more than the avenue naked equipment. The better price tag, on the other hand, is accounted for in the additional bodywork, even bigger wheel, tyres, Bluetooth connectivity, and many others.

In actuality, at Rs 2.11 lakh, it undercuts the KTM 250 Journey, its principal rival, by Rs 25,000, even although it unquestionably isn’t as able off-road as the Austrian bike. So, to reply the problem, is this deserving of the V-Strom badge? Very well, not truly.  What it is, is a good tarmac-biased touring bicycle with all the high-quality and dependability that you’d affiliate with a Japanese motorcycle.