2018 Suzuki GSX250R Announced for US
Suzuki unsheathes a Katana 250
Suzuki Motor of America announced it will bring the new GSX250R sportbike to the U.S. as a 2018 model. First introduced in China last month before again appearing at EICMA, the Suzuki GSX250R will arrive in showrooms in April 2017.
The powerplant is the based on the one used on the Suzuki GW250, only refined for low- to mid-range torque. The camshaft profiles were designed to optimized performance at speeds between 15 to 55 mph. New intake valves have a slimmer stem profile near the heads to improve airflow into the combustion chamber while new rocker arms reduce mechanical losses from manipulating the valves. Further frictional losses were reduced by using a new oil pump design and using reshaped low-tension piston rings.
Though it maintains the GSX name (with the R tucked away at the end) Suzuki Motor of America sees the GSX250R as a modern interpretation of the Katana spirit, offering a more practical ride rather than a high performance supersport. Perhaps to further distance the GSX250R from the sportier Gixxers, Suzuki Motor of America opted against offering the MotoGP-inspired Triton Blue livery available in other markets.
The fairing takes its cues from several current and historic Suzuki sportbikes. The gaps in the bodywork are designed to draw cooling air toward the radiator while blowing hot air away from the rider. The headlight retains the familiar GSXR shape with a halogen bulb bookended by a pair of LED position lights. LEDs also illuminate the taillight.
The chassis consists of a semi double-cradle frame with a telescopic fork and seven-way preload-adjustable rear shock handles suspension duties. The ten-spoke 17-inch aluminum wheels come equipped with IRC tubeless tires. Nissin supplies the two-piston front brake caliper and the single-piston rear caliper. ABS is absent.
Clip-on handlebars afford a sporty riding posture but the overall ergonomics are designed for comfort. The seat is 31.1 inches off the ground with a separate rear seat giving passengers a higher vantage point.
The GSX250R uses a reverse-lit multi-function LCD display with bar graph tach and gear position indicator. Other features include a 392 claimed curb mass and 4.0-gallon fuel tank. American consumers get a choice of Pearl Nebular Black or Pearl Glacier White No. 2. color schemes.
2018 Suzuki GSX250R Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Engine | Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, SOHC, parallel-twin |
| Displacement | 248 cm3 (15.13 cubic in.) |
| Bore x Stroke | 53.5 x 55.2 mm (2.10 x 2.17 in.) |
| Compression Ratio | 11.5: 1 |
| Fuel System | Suzuki Fuel Injection |
| Starter | Electric |
| Lubrication | Wet sump |
| Transmission | 6-speed constant mesh |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate type |
| Final Drive | Chain, Sealed O-ring type |
| Front Suspension | Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped |
| Front Brakes | Single disc, Nissin 2-piston caliper |
| Rear Brakes | Single-disc, Nissin 1-piston caliper |
| Front Tire | 110/80-17M/C 57H tubeless |
| Rear Tire | 140/55-17M/C 66H tubeless |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 4.0 US gal. (15 L) |
| Ignition | Electronic ignition (Transistorized) |
| Headlight | 12V 55/60W (H4 halogen) & LED position lights |
| Taillight | LED |
| Overall Length | 82.08 in. (2,085 mm) |
| Overall width | 29.13 in. (740 mm) |
| Overall height | 43.7 in. (1,110 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 56.29 in. (1,430 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 6.29 in. (160 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.1 in. (790 mm) |
| Curb mass | 392.4 lbs. (178 kg.) |
| Colors | Pearl Glacier White No. 2 or Pearl Nebular Black |
| Warranty | 12 month unlimited mileage limited warranty |
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
More by Dennis Chung
Comments
Join the conversation
The last hog to the trough finds no dinner. And I bet this little pig finds no, or few, buyers. If they had the triton blue Suzuki color scheme they might have a few more. Again where's my 4 or 3 cylinder?
Everybody's whining about displacement, for what? I actually kinda like smaller engines, you can wring them out for a whole ride and never break the speed limit! I'm gonna hop my 290 pounds on one and see what it does for the money, since idiots want a bunch of power they can't use.