2018 Suzuki GSX250R Review

New for the 2018 model year, Suzuki has released its quarter-liter sportbike, the GSX250R. Some may say Suzuki is a bit late to the game and ask: Why not a 300? In fact, everywhere I have ridden the GSX250R, fellow motorcycle enthusiasts have asked that question. Suzuki reps tiptoed around that elephant in the room and were quick to mention performance isn’t the main selling point with 250cc motorcycles, even to the point of not providing horsepower or torque numbers. They insisted price, style, practicality, and ease of ownership are where customers are making decisions when purchasing these bikes.

2014 Suzuki GW250 Review – First Ride

In my opinion, Suzuki has done a great job hitting their intended marks. The new $4,499 GSX250R is a looker. From the GSX-R-derived headlight and taillight to the sweeping aerodynamic lines of the fairings, the little Suzuki carries styling reminiscent of a much bigger and more expensive motorcycle. The 17-inch, 10-spoke rims look great, and the LCD display makes the GSX250R feel a step ahead of the class in terms of finish detailing.

Those who have had kept eye on Suzuki’s smaller motorcycles may notice the engine is very similar to what was used in the GW250. You would be absolutely correct. According to Suzuki officials there are three main changes from the engine found in the GW250: the addition of roller rocker arms on the camshaft to decrease friction and raise the rev ceiling, a special finish on the combustion chamber allowing for better oil retention and better sealing (which Suzuki claims should allow for more power), and the valve stems are now waisted to allow more flow into the combustion chamber. There are also different throttle bodies and fuel injectors. With all of these changes, the engine produces power nicely spread across its rev range.

Around town, the seating position and 31.1-inch seat height provide all-day comfort and are confidence inspiring for riders of all sizes. There were no complaints from riders of varying height on our press ride.

If you find yourself needing to spend much time on the freeway, however, you may not want to do it on this motorcycle. At 65 mph with my 160-pound frame, engine revs were right around 8,000 rpm. Push that a little higher to match the 80-mph freeway speed of traffic in L.A., and the engine was spinning close to 10,000 rpm, just 500 revs shy of the indicated redline. Wind protection isn’t great, but the slots on the windshield do a good job of reducing buffeting at speed.

While the Suzuki does have the fit and finish of a more expensive bike, it also is, in fact, a bigger bike. The GSX250R carries a 56.3-inch wheelbase, which puts it more than 3 inches longer than many other bikes in the class. This coupled with a 25.6 degree rake lends to the steering feeling a bit slow during quick maneuvers. There is also approximately a 30-lb weight difference between the portly GSX at a purported 392.4 lbs wet versus the rest of the current offering in the 250/300cc class. Sure, those things add to the stability of the bike to a certain extent, however, these characteristics will no doubt be made more apparent once we have the chance to test the Suzuki back-to-back with other bikes in the category. For reference, consider we weighed the CBR300R at 360 lbs; Yamaha’s R3 at 368 lbs; Ninja 300 at 385 lbs.

New riders or riders not looking to make too much of an investment into motorcycling will be happy with the Suzuki’s relatively low price point (due to the motorcycle being manufactured in China) and ease of ownership. Suzuki has made working on the GSX250R easy and convenient with the inclusion of things like screw-and-nut adjusters on the valves, making valve adjustments unintimidating.

Say you don’t want to get elbows deep into your 250’s motor? The LCD display also includes a service interval indicator which alerts you when a service is due and which service is required. These things along with a claimed 76 mpg and 4.0-gallon tank should make Suzuki’s 250 a stress-free and relatively low-cost option for those looking to add motorcycling to their list of hobbies.