Easy access to loans and quick disbursals are making pre-owned cars popular. The pandemic has also caused a spike in demand for personal vehicles as people prefer to have their vehicles over public transport to keep potential health risks at bay. Buying a used car also makes sense for first-time buyers as iSuzuki has finally entered the quarter-litre ADV segment in India with the launch of the V-Strom SX. Although the company’s foray into this particular displacement segment was bound to happen at some point in time, the launch was not predicted and surprised a good lot of us. Anyway, it has happened, so here’s what the bike is all about – on paper at least.
The Suzuki V-Strom SX is priced at Rs. 2,11,600 (ex-showroom) and will take on the likes of the KTM 250 Adventure. The 250cc SX takes its styling cues from its larger sibling the V-Strom 650 with a familiar octagonal LED headlamp, beak and windscreen layout. One should note that the quarter-litre V-Strom SX we have here isn’t the same as the motorcycle that’s sold abroad – rather, this one’s based on the Gixxer 250 that is already on sale in the country. The SX features an all-digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity that displays a load of information, including turn-by-turn navigation, call, SMS alerts and there’s even a USB charging port.
While the V-Strom 250 that’s sold abroad comes powered by a 248cc parallel twin, the V-Strom SX here comes powered by a 249cc, single-cyl SOHC oil-cooled motor that produces 26.5PS at 9,300rpm and 22.2Nm at 7,300rpm – the same configuration and output figures as the Gixxer 250 – and comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The ADV bike also gets the same 12-litre tank as the Gixxer, its their overall dimensions (which also alter ergonomics) that really set the pair apart. The V-Strom 250 is longer, wider and taller – with 95mm of additional wheelbase, its seat is 35mm higher (835mm) and offers more ground clearance (205mm) than the bike that’s sold abroad. Unlike the Gixxer 250 that comes with 17-inch wheels on both ends, the V-Strom SX comes with a 19-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear. The bike comes equipped with telescopic fork at the front with a monoshock at the rear and is equipped with disc brakes at both ends. Is the V-Strom SX a good fit for a market like ours? Does it even make any sense? We’ll find out soon enough when we get our hands on it. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
