[SoumenD]

Originally Posted by RohitJames

Low seat will cost approx Rs 1700/- and is available on order.

Good. I will straightaway go for this if its comfortable enough. Am sure will get to see few people opting for it as 5'6/5'7 is a pretty common height among Indians.

Originally Posted by RohitJames

Engine response is crisp. 90-110 will be the sweet spot.

Sweet. Will this be sustainable with a pillion?

Originally Posted by RohitJames

In all i think the bike seems "jack of all master of none".

Exactly what the doctor ordered for. This should sell well. Supply chain seems to be sorted looking at the fast deliveries even before mainstream reviews are out.

Originally Posted by TheHelix0202

10. 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.

Understandable due to the added weight.

[Black_Star]

Originally Posted by Sebring

Thanks to your pertinent questions they opened the service manual, and what was revealed is reassuring.

The service manual itself is pretty interesting, internally the SX is called DS250.

Whereas the Suzuki V-Strom 250 is called DL250.

[sukiwa]

Originally Posted by Sebring

Meet 'YALLA', my biking spirit (Means 'Let's Go' in Arabic).

Congrats! Your list of new set of 2-wheels is ever growing, quite tasteful too.

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

I have some thoughts on a few points that you mentioned, but I have to wait for a couple of days to share it

Wow, were you part of media drives?

Originally Posted by drt_rdr

Could you post the chain and sprocket specs?

Chain: DID 520VF3, 114 links

Check other specs from owner manual.

Originally Posted by KedarB

Secondly, I saw a crack on some plastic part in these two images. May not be an issue as it looks like it is in the same approximate location on the two sides of the bike. But still wanted to point it out for what its worth.

This isn't a crack, it is part of bolt positioning meant for tyre hugger.

I also have a few queries[*]Does this bike have pannier mount provisions? Or a locations to install saddle stays?

Some third-party needs to create custom saddle stays and use mount points currently used by top/rear rack.

[*]Do these hand guards have metal frames inside them? Asking from the point of view of protection it would offer to levers in the event of a crash

These are only plastic and many off-roaders prefer not to have metal frames on light bikes as that metal can hurt in case of drop.

[*]On the subject of crash protection, did you get a chance to see the official crash guard?

Official accessories are still reaching dealers, mostly another week.

[*]Any possible mounting location you can see for a phone near the digital instrumentation display?

Couldn't check this.

[*]How robust/well made is the beak and its plastics?

It's as hard as tyre mudguard. I am of the opinion that some forum members may remove mudguard or extend it for using full knobby tyres.

Originally Posted by Sebring

Thanks to your pertinent questions they opened the service manual, and what was revealed is reassuring. FORK TRAVEL IS OVER 300mm.

Please don't confuse suspension length with suspension travel.
I have a feeling that fork oil weight is higher than normal and hence front suspension feels adequate for city or partially broken roads. Front doesn't nosedive upon hard braking, some may prefer plush suspension feel of GS310 whereas others may find it soft in GS310.

Visited local Suzuki dealer for a small ride.
Riding impressions: Bike felt easier to move it in tight city spaces. Braking feels good as bike weight being less. I couldn't go beyond 4k rpm and didn't notice any buzz anywhere. I also didn't rev it too much being a first test ride. Gear shifts in both directions were smooth. It has enough torque in city riding. Some will feel it as mature whereas big bike owners will find it boring.

For highway touring, this will be better than Xpulse 200. Some bikers will feel this to be better alternative to GS310 due to lower price and servicing costs.

Here are some photos.


2 bikes that have reached this dealer today, one was made ready for test rides.


Engine and casing in dual tone similar to Gixxer 250.


ABS unit just below tank on right side


Rear brake reservoir neatly placed, no need for separate protection cover


Rear tyre, perhaps better suited for our pothole filled city roads.


Console, odo had only 12 Kms


Windscreen could be adequate for medium height riders, tall riders will find it inadequate on highways.


Tyre hugger quite short, monsoons will give different kind of shower.


Bybre braking system


Beak and headlight from top


Side profile


Windscreen sideview


Seats. Soft to my liking, wonder if these would be comfortable on long tours.


mount point for knuckle guards on mirror for one side


and on end weight for other side


Another view of 2 bike colours


Front tyre


Such a long name for a tyre

[GeeTee TSI]

A sort of a yawning gap exists around the front apron through which the ground below is visible (in some angles). Is it an odd/distracting sight from riding position?

[SoumenD]

First ride review from a relatively mainstream media.

Wasn’t there an embargo? Hows this one out?

https://youtu.be/Y6WGYB9_RL4

[VijayAnand1]

Finally and in style! I've been mustering my senses to fill the void created by the Himalayan which I've disposed off last year. Though we shared some good times together, incidentally there existed a sense of disconnect which was either psychologically or physiologically not blending well within.

Cut to the chase..

Having gone through the ADV Blues, biting every now and then, the V-STROM seems to fit the bill perfectly. Great stance, DR series subtly blended with STROM form factor, wonderful seat, fantastic ground clearance, excellent and tractable motor (during test ride of the SF250) hands down best 250 Mill after the CBR 250 which, I hesitatingly sold last year. The CBR had to be spanked around city, and with short and tall gear ratios it was a pain the butt, but with the S250, open the throttle slotted on any gear and it just lunges forward such urgency it'd always put you ahead irrespective of the traffic. Such a fantastic and smooth motor.

Now Suzuki should pull its sleeves and make sure it's SVCs folks are up to scratch. The 250 series flop saga was primarily due to the dud attitude and incompetent technicians. Suzuki was partially to be blamed for their flop story, but hope they curtail their own incompetencies regarding training, service back up and spares downtime for good. They have a winner on their hands, play it right and they can cash their coffers in no time.

Now, this leads to my story, will I end up buying one? Tell you what, if something is giving you sleepless nights, something's got to be done either for better or for worse! Perhaps, it's only about time, aloha!

Cheers!
VJ

[Sebring]

Service impression is good, like AnAnt explained before. I had grazed the R-handlebar weight against the rocks and they replaced it immediately. I realized that Suzuki has come to the battle fully prepared. They have bike stocks/spares etc. Accessories are in transit. The chain is not adjusted fully as they need me to run the bike for 800 Kms before doing final adjustment. What's happening is that when I sit on the bike the assembly moves up and it's getting bit tight. I wanted the lightweight windscreen on the top position, it can be done and is stable but looks really bad

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

Now Suzuki should pull its sleeves and make sure it's SVCs folks are up to scratch. The 250 series flop saga was primarily due to the dud attitude and incompetent technicians. Suzuki was partially to be blamed for their flop story, but hope they curtail their own incompetencies regarding training, service back up and spares downtime for good. They have a winner on their hands, play it right and they can cash their coffers in no time

[AnAntinspired]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

The 250 series flop saga was primarily due to the dud attitude and incompetent technicians

Service experiences involve dealing with people so I wouldn't generalize given my own experience over 3 Suzuki's owned across 10 years has been flawless. But hey, iv even had the sparse and deserted by kinetic Hyosung service and spare supply be exemplary across the 2 (aquila and comet) that I owned back in 2003-2007. So, service reputations really vary place to place, person to person.
To my observation, Suzuki has really had only one motorcycle platform prior to this, the 155cc gixxers, which have achieved good sale and fan following. This 250 platform is work in progress that I see lining up pretty well. Their parts sharing ensures they are really only selling you essentially one platform, giving you the benefit of easy spare availability at great pricing. So if the intruder flops it doesn't matter, there were enough intruders sold as gixxers (essentially the same except for look) to ensure you have spares availability and service knowledge. Yet, their engineering prowess has ensured each product has its own USP. They filter down their big bike legacy very well, the gixxers even being faired and wind tunnel tested the Hayabusa way.

If anything Suzuki has a bit of a Kamal hassan vs Rajnikant issue in its sales success vs Honda, with strong capability not fetching the returns that mass hysteria does. However, the accolades are certainly not lacking from those who view up close.

The owners of most Suzuki's have always had great things to say irrespective of the sales numbers and even the duds of Suzuki (Inazuma Or GS150R) have had appreciation when owned and desirability once discontinued. Their superbikes have never been called over rated or over priced, and they are sold out each year pretty quickly. Which is more than what even a Honda or BMW can claim to have as reputation. In fact, I see the mutual lessons learnt as TVS and Suzuki serving both manufacturers very well post their split than Hero and Honda's.

I'm fairly brand agnostic having put my money on over 35 motorcycles from 11 brands across 28 years of riding, but I can assure anyone reading this post in the consideration of owning a Suzuki/Vstrom - step in, the water's fine!

[AnAntinspired]

Originally Posted by Sebring

Service impression is good, like AnAnt explained before. I had grazed the R-handlebar weight against the rocks and they replaced it immediately. I realized that Suzuki has come to the battle fully prepared.

Exactly how many hours do you have in your day? Buying, riding, repair, replacement...all getting done and dusted in hours! At this rate, would a resell be around the corner? The only thing better than a new Vstrom would be the price of a sparingly used one. 😃

Also, could I know if the strom indicators are those fantastic flex ones that my intruder/gixxers have, that are virtually unbreakable when twisted in any angle? How they manage the rubber casing to be so rigid and yet so collapsible is a trick that never fails to impress.

[Sebring]

Revisiting biking since my RX 100 days and the bug has bitten well and truly. I'm managing an entire Division/Vertical so really busy, but I get up at 4.30 AM so have lots of time in the morning actually. The indicators do flex and pardon my ignorance about Gixxers but I wouldn't know. It's fantastic the way you explain it and the materials used. After reading your post I have requested someone for an Inazuma TD (Hope my dream is realized). Looking for a GPS mount to fit the windscreen bracket right now (Any suggestions?), and engine guard/crash guard. It's available in Japan for the VSTROM 250. We, 'Bangalore South Boys', should catch up over Coffee and Dosay! What say Saar (TheHelix is also from thereabouts if I'm not mistaken)

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

Also, could I know if the strom indicators are those fantastic flex ones that my intruder/gixxers have, that are virtually unbreakable when twisted in any angle? How they manage the rubber casing to be so rigid and yet so collapsible is a trick that never fails to impress.

[AnAntinspired]

Originally Posted by Sebring

I'm managing an entire Division/Vertical so I'm really busy, but I get up at 4.30 AM so have lots of time in the morning actually. After reading your post I have requested someone for an Inazuma TD (Hope my dream is realized)

Speaking of managing verticals, biking is making you vertical at a time most are horizontal! And I realise you are also prolifically contributing to Highness and Aerox ownerships.

Inazuma - I would caution from keeping my inputs as expectations. Maybe you should wait and take this experience abroad, where it sold for far longer and in many variations. Given the vintage of it's sale in India, most Inazuma's are past multiple owners, and have fallen into a price territory that allows ownership to be uncaring. I hope what you realise is not a nightmare! ��

Regarding crash guards and assorted metal bits, I believe local brands like Zana need to get their hands on the motorcycle before making them, which should flood the market from more than a few competitors in a few months. The Japanese Vstrom may not have the same mounting points, differ as it does in chassis and styling. I've noticed Hyperrider in Bangalore to be amongst the quickest to come up with a crash protection/luggage mounting solution and possibly the only ones in the country to mass manufacture for Suzuki's in the past (Gixxer 250's). Quality is only average, but their team compliance and support is high. Sahayadri motors in Maharashtra or ArtofMotorcycling in Bangalore are motorcycle metal work options if you want to fashion a custom solution pronto.

To conclude - the coffee catch up sounds great, and the South bangalore angle convenient! Since you are a senior bhpian and I'm barely a newbie, I leave it to your networking in organizing who and when. There seem to be some Mysore residents here too (drt rdr?), which is always a good excuse and direction to ride, sorry, Strom out of bangalore - a pun needed to justify being on the Strom topic?

[Sebring]

All points noted. One pic I forgot to attach is of the wheel weight from factory (I think this is significant)

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

Inazuma - maybe you should wait and take this experience abroad, where it sold for far longer and in many variations

[RohitJames]

[quote=SoumenD;5323955]

Sweet. Will this be sustainable with a pillion?



Did not do these speeds with a pillion but i assume will be doable.
My wife sat with me for a few km's and was very impressed by the seating comfort and overall feel.

[TheHelix0202]

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

Also, could I know if the strom indicators are those fantastic flex ones that my intruder/gixxers have, that are virtually unbreakable when twisted in any angle? How they manage the rubber casing to be so rigid and yet so collapsible is a trick that never fails to impress.

Somehow, the right side indicator on my SF has been knocked off at least thrice, with the wire from inside the fairing holding the dangling blob of a bulb housing. Would’ve really preferred Suzuki giving smaller ones, but these are tough and take the impact well when the bike is dropped on its side, so I’m not complaining. Looks horribly out of place on the V-Strom though.

[neil.jericho]

A few questions for TBHPians who are checking out the VStrom 250
- Have you identified any mounting points for aux lights?
- What top box can go on the rear plate? Will it need a Givi mount and Givi top box combination? Or is it designed to take some box as a plug and play solution? I'm not too well versed in this.
- Are the stickers on the tank under the clear coat?