Should Suzuki Bring the V-Strom 250 to the U.S.?

2018 Suzuki V-Strom 250
The 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 250 is available in Europe and other markets. Should it come to the U.S.?

We’ve seen and ridden the latest versions of Suzuki’s V-Strom 650 and V-Strom 1000 “sport adventure tourers,” and both won our recent comparison tests. At the same time the 2017 V-Strom 650 and 2018 V-Strom 1000 were introduced, at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, last November 2016, Suzuki also announced a new small-displacement version, the V-Strom 250, but it wasn’t slated for the U.S. market.

Read our 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650 review

Read our 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 review

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2018 Suzuki V-Strom 250
On display at AIMExpo 2017 in Columbus, Ohio, Suzuki is gauging U.S. interest in the V-Strom 250.

Suzuki decided to bring a V-Strom 250 to the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) in Columbus, Ohio, which is on display at the company’s booth. Next to the bike is a tablet where dealers, industry and media folks, and consumers can complete a survey to gauge their interest in the V-Strom 250.

2018 Suzuki V-Strom 250
The V-Strom 250’s biggest styling departure from its 650cc and 1000cc siblings is the single round headlight.

Styled to look like its middleweight and liter-class siblings, the V-Strom 250 has an ADV-style beak, upright seating with a wide handlebar, a windscreen and a luggage rack with integrated passenger grab handles. Optional accessories include hand guards, a center stand and hard luggage.

2018 Suzuki V-Strom 250 engine
Powering the Suzuki V-Strom 250 is the same liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, SOHC 248cc parallel twin found in the GSX250R sportbike.

It’s powered by the same liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, SOHC 248cc parallel twin that’s found in the 2018 GSX250R, with a 6-speed transmission and chain final drive. It rolls on 17-inch cast wheels with dual disc brakes, seat height is 31.5 inches and claimed curb weight is 414.5 pounds (for the UK model).

2018 Suzuki V-Strom 250
Standard equipment on the Suzuki V-Strom 250 is a rider/passenger seat and a luggage rack with integrated grab handles.

I filled out the survey and said “hell yea, bring it here!” If you’re interested in the V-Strom 250 but can’t make it to AIMExpo this year, talk to your local Suzuki dealer.

 

24 COMMENTS

  1. This would be a great beginner bike. Look at the Versys 300 and the Honda 250 versions. How are sales on those? It would also appeal to riders that are getting older and don’t want the weight of the 650. It would be even better if it could be less than 400 pounds, however.

  2. Why? (bring it here). Unless they are going to put a remotely competitive engine in it who wants it. We have the Honda 250 rally, *KAWASAKI 300* & hopefully BMW 300GS.

    • Why not bring it here they already have a 250 gsxr this would be a great affordable beginner adventure bike granted a 300 or 409 would be much nicer but it’s a start I’m sick of seeing bikes like this in Europe and we get none of them here

      • I agree bring these small 250’s and 300’s here there very affordable and easy to maintain and make great commuter bikes and can easily go 65-75 mph I have one now that can go on the highway ….like to see more of them and have more choices

  3. Please don’t bring it here (Colorado): We already have more than enough underpowered bikes and scooters on the road. It’s dangerous for them, and dangerous for us. Between the hills (mountains) and the altitude and the relative lack of speed-crippling traffic you can’t safely ride anything less than about 500cc here even on secondary roads, let alone highways, let alone freeways.

    • Then slow down. It’s only dangerous if you’re running up on people’ a**. Remember. They’re in FRONT of you. Time we in the US quit the d*** swinging and draw a line. I remember when the Japanese came up with a gentleman’s agreement that they would limit bikes to 300km/h. Because someone stupid in CA outran cops on a ‘busa and almost killed tens of people. ‘Merica and our horsepower needs. Not to say I don’t have a de-limited B-King in the garage. Time and place. If I run up some 250s a** it’s my problem. Not their’s. So the question. Yes bring it here. Maybe it will insert some civility on the roads. It WILL do 80mph. And compared to a 300 or 400, it’s not like you’re that much faster compared to the gamut of 100+ hp bikes already here. This motor and platform can be ridden all day. Instead of a 300 or 400 Kawi squirt bike that numbs your hands in 20 minutes. Remember, stupid choices mean more regulations. And honestly, where can you LEGALLY run out anything more than a 500? On the track. Sorry. Grow up

    • No we don’t have enough of those small affordable cc bikes here what we have is plenty of over priced sport bikes and tour bikes that most people can’t afford and I don’t want a scooter I want a small cc bike like a Honda crf150 that’s a lot more affordable than a $16000 dollar sport bike ….I say we need those bikes here and more people can afford to ride

  4. Too heavy, too little power compared to currently available machines. Would only bring it in if it costs significantly less than the Versys-X 300.

    • Many supersports in the hands of organ donors. Haven’t met one person in 40 years of riding that can handle much more that 70 HP to its potential. But it’s cool until the rear tire comes around and then it’s a parts bike. See them all week

  5. Fit it with the DRZ400 engine and make it weight in close to the DRZ SM (300 lbs) and it would be a winner. Otherwise a twin that small carries too much weight and is just a tarted up parts bin special. No one would be fooled by it.
    I am part of the Vstrom legend so screwing it up with something like that isn’t a good thing.

    • That 400 idea sounds so good. I’m riding a V-Strom 650, but when I get old (I’m only 76), I might like a 400 V-Strom, and would be fine if it was under 400 wet.

  6. Americans won’t ride 250s, no matter how practical or fun they might be. If it ain’t a liter-size sportbike or tarted-up chrome butt-rattler, it ain’t a ‘real motorcycle’…

  7. My wife is looking for an adventure bike and wants one of these in the worst way. The seat height is almost an inch lower than the Versys 300 X, and that is important for my wife, who is 5′ 3″. She has a 250 Nighthawk which has 17 horsepower, so 25 HP (fuel injected) is a fine step up. We live in the Sierras, and have endless curvy twin lanes and unpaved forest roads. My wife doesn’t need a liter bike to haul luggage down the interstate at 70 mph, that sounds boring as hell anyway. Please bring this bike to the U.S. NOW Suzuki, if it was available at our dealership we would already have it in our garage!

    BTW, I have ridden everything and raced MX for many years. The little bikes are very fun, don’t laugh until you try one.

  8. Believe it or not there are 3X more of people who are inseam challenged (1X men under 6ft and 2X women). This bike would be a winner (and the one and only) for having a 800 mm seat height (~31 inches). Don’t know why all the ADV bikes are competing for the tiny and crowded market of 1X of 6ft tall people. However, I do agree that it is a little heavy for 250 cc. Just lose some weights, Suzuki.

  9. Absolutely love the V strom style bike, I thi k it would be a great idea to have it in the us. I’ve been looking for a v strom bike for my son and a 250 would be perfect!!!

    • Really? Sooo. Seems to me several models have been icons in the market: hayabusa
      Vstrom
      SV650
      DR650
      DRZ400
      LTR450

      Seems to me Honda and Yamaha have been failing with launches for years. And Kawasaki was the low rung alternative up until the early 2000s and now their resale is ALOMOST where Suzuki is at. C’mon lol

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