The rear top box mount feels premium & very well-finished. It looks better than the one on the Hero Xpulse 200.
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Took a look at the bike and rode it a few kilometres. Here are my initial few impressions.
- The bike looks surprisingly colourful in flesh. Pictures don’t do justice. My pick is the orange.
- Exhaust note is quiet and refined, but twist the throttle and it’ll make heads turn in traffic. Has a nice meaty grunt to it.
- Seat height was perfect for me, at 6’2”. I could also flick about the bike while parking, thanks to the good weight distribution. The heft could be felt when you let the bike tilt too much, but it’s nothing that a taller rider can’t manage. Shorter riders would need to use boots and maybe opt for the lowered seat.
- Information console was surprisingly big, it was bigger than the Gixxer’s. Easy to read too, even when straddling. The indicators are very, very ugly and do not belong on this bike. They’ve been lifted off straight from the Gixxer.
- Being tall, I thought saddling the bike would be a bit of a problem with the lean angle. I was right. I was instantly disappointed when the bike didn’t feel at home. The tank doesn’t foul with my knees when seated – which is a good thing – but while saddling, you have nothing to hold on to, and it felt super awkward. Even my Gixxer SF feels better while saddling. This also causes a problem when throttling it. Braking isn’t intuitive while saddling either, but luckily, the rear brakes have a good feel and feedback, bite is decently strong.
- I felt the need for 1.5-2 inch risers for the bars. In no other bike have I ever felt the need for those.
- The front isn’t prone to diving like the GS 310, especially upon braking. Loved that. The front suspension was decent-ish in the flat stretch of road and slight pavement bumps I rode the V-Strom over.
- Build quality, for the most part, is good, typical Suzuki characteristic. But the tank recesses (if I can even call them that) flex slightly. Expect squeaky panels over extended use.
- Seats are soft and supple, yet firm enough to not cause discomfort over long tours. Much better than the Gixxer in this regard. I easily see myself doing double the distance.
- Peppy engine, but it’s slightly behind the Gixxer in terms of outright acceleration and throttle response, but it’s got plenty of juice to keep newbs happy. Experienced riders will enjoy the fuss-free attitude of the bike when it comes to cruising on the freeway or managing bumper to bumper traffic scenarios.
- Cool arrowhead design air vents on the side fender.
- Useless underbelly protection. Exposed pipe underneath made me wonder how long it’ll last. Ground clearance is alright for the bike. It’s a decently tall motorcycle. Good road presence, even though it’s not very wide. The SA claimed that the underbelly pan would be coming as an accessory soon. For whatever that’s worth.
- Under seat storage is large, very useful. Props to Suzuki for that. But the keyhole to access this is placed at an inconvenient and annoying place, similar to the Gixxer. You have to bend down and look for it, lest you scratch the fender.
- Rear top box mount looks premium and is very well finished. Looks better than the one on the Xpulse, which does come with rubber covers which are a thoughtful touch in my opinion.
- Lastly, I find the design of the motorcycle to be rather conservative in nature, save for the flashy colours. I don’t like how they’ve used a ten-year-old light assembly for the rear (it’s taken from the previous generation Gixxer). The front is a direct lift from the Gixxer as well, though it has an added beak.
Overall, it’s a very good bike for anyone who’s interested in touring and is in the market for an Adventure Tourer under 3 lakhs. Though I do feel that the price is a little steep. It could’ve had more features like a switchable ABS, Slipper Clutch, larger front wheel etc. Fork gaiters and LED indicators, at least as an option, would have been very welcomed. Alas!
Would I buy it, personally? Nope, as good as the V-Strom SX 250 is, I need something that’s got a little more character and makes a unique case for itself. Adv 250 >> V-Strom 250.
Keyword: Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX test ride impressions by a Suzuki Gixxer SF owner