The sales numbers might not reflect it, but the Gixxer 150s are impressive motorcycles — they have captivated enthusiasts with a sporty and affordable package. And now, the company has launched its first 250cc offering in a while, in the form of the all-new Gixxer SF 250. Will it leave as significant a mark as its younger sibling? We rode it at the Buddh International Circuit to try and find out.
The first thing you’ll notice about the motorcycle is the design. The styling isn’t what you’d consider revolutionary, but there’s no denying it’s attractive. While most entry-level Japanese motorcycles look like scaled-down versions of their litre-class flagships, the new Gixxer SF 250 takes more hints from the last-gen GSX-R1000 than the current one. This is particularly evident when you look at it from the front — an all-new LED headlight is certainly the most conspicuous design element.
The main fairing is now considerably wider than it was on the previous SF 150 and the visual enlargement is because a part of it now extends from the headlight to the tank. The 12-litre tank features deep indents along the side that allow you to grip it better. Another interesting bit is the use of body-coloured panels in place of blacked-out bits for the space between the tank and the main fairing. The SF 250 is available in two colour schemes — cloudy silver and matte-black.
While the rear wasn’t subject to as monumental a change as the front end, it has been reworked and now sports an LED tail-light. Also new is a split seat that adds to the whole sports appeal. The finish quality of the chrome bits on the exhaust has also been improved. The SF 250 comes with a fully-digital LCD backlit display.
Suzuki is pitching the SF 250 as a sports-tourer and so it hasn’t been engineered to produce the same numbers as, say, the KTM 250 Duke, which has a similar capacity engine. Mounted to the frame is an all-new 249cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled fuel-injected engine that uses a four-valve SOHC head. With a peak power figure of 26.5hp produced at 9,000rpm and a maximum torque output of 22.6Nm at 7,500rpm, the numbers are nearly double of the Suzuki’s current 150s. Still, they aren’t extremely impressive and are on par with the likes of the Honda CBR250R, while being significantly higher than the Yamaha Fazer 25’s 20.9hp and 20Nm of torque.
The SF 250 comes equipped with a smooth 6-speed gearbox, and the lack of a slipper-clutch isn’t something that will put you off, as it takes some very hard downshifting to unsettle the rear. We were a bit apprehensive about whether the bike would run out of breath down the 1.2km-odd back straight at the Buddh International Circuit. The Gixxer, however, wasn’t as sceptical as we were and pulled to a speedo-indicated top speed of 154kph effortlessly. Any attempt at going faster was rejected by the rev limiter kicking in at 10,000rpm.
It doesn’t take long to realise that the SF 250 is a very ‘neutral’ handling motorcycle. It isn’t very aggressive with its turn-ins, but it’s not hard to get the bike to lean over. The Gixxer SF 250 (and the new Gixxer SF 150) use essentially the same frame as the outgoing Gixxer models, with the most significant alterations coming in the form of a thicker central tube and reinforcements in the steering head and suspension mounts. The larger engine and alterations to the frame result in a kerb weight of 161kg.
The SF 250 also borrows its 41mm telescopic fork from older Gixxers, but has new fork springs. Suspension feel from the front fork is progressive, and is also competent when braking hard and during quick changes in direction. The rear monoshock, on the other hand, is a bit on the stiffer side, and while we could only test its competency by intentionally running the bike on the kerbs, a full road test should allow for much better insight. The feedback from the front brake is also rather gradual, and lacks an immediate bite. The SF 250 comes equipped with MRF Revz radial tyres at either end, 110/70 at the front and 150/60 at the rear. It also gets clip-on handlebars that don’t have you lean as forward as you’d expect.
At the track, the SF 250 was rather impressive. Having said that, the foot pegs sit low and scrape easily at aggressive lean angles.
So, does the motorcycle live up to its tag line of being the ‘Dawn of Greatness’? The Gixxer SF 250 is a little late to the party, but it could end up being the manufacturer’s new talisman, just as the R15 V3 is doing for Yamaha. At ₹1.71 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), it’s about ₹23,000 less than the Honda CBR250R and a whole ₹27,000 more than the much simpler Yamaha Fazer 25.
It does seem like a promising motorcycle from what it has on offer. However, the brief period we got to experience it at the track leaves us with many questions that can only be answered once we ride it on the street.
