How's it owning a Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX: 6 months & 3000 km later

As an errands machine, the 250 SX just ducks under the ‘manageable size’ for the job, any larger bike would probably have been a weekend-only machine.

BHPian GeeTee TSI recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

6 months after my first ever ride (motorcycle) marked its second scheduled service at Advaith Suzuki. 2910 km on the odometer included rides to the office, some errands as well weekend rides outside the city.

While it is part of a free service package, the engine oil is however chargeable. The oil was changed last time and the leftover oil got left behind at home (why can’t the SKU size be suitable for the vehicle capacity without having to deal with the leftover contents?). So I might need to buy again for the third whereas the leftover might have sufficed

Received the Suzuki Riding jacket more than a month after delivery

As an errands machine, the 250 SX just ducks under the ‘manageable size’ for the job, any larger bike would probably have been a weekend-only machine. For the office rides, the seat is backpack friendly and I wear the (Suzuki) riding jacket which was received a full month after delivery. In crowded streets with kerb side parking, the bike is certainly long (and tall!) amidst the sea of Activas but is reasonably under the radar (my black shade especially)

The turning radius is quite wide and a U-turn on a narrow street might end up in an ungainly correction manoeuvre. I have by now mastered carrying the sling bags/backpacks for the odd grocery run.

Bangalore urban roads have poor surface quality with potholes, connection joints, marked and unmarked speed breakers as well as unpaved (trail?) roads. In all of these, the V Strom rises to the occasion, with the suspension’s ability to take considerable abuse. The front suspension is just outstanding including occasions where I missed spotting a bad patch. The rear suspension (in the factory preload setting still) is fairly stiff but has never been unpredictable or wallowy. Rising slightly from the seat (on the foot pegs) makes light work on any speed breakers one might encounter. As someone used to hatchbacks and sedans gingerly taking bad roads, the 250 SX feels like that agile off-roader (that I never had!).

I can feel the engine heat at times during city crawls but did not affect the ride in any way

I had been on a few weekend rides, including some all-day round trips of 8 hours/250km. Absolutely no riding fatigue on the body, thanks to a nice upright posture. The (damned) foot pegs did hit my ankle/shin while paddling my way in reverse but after a few initial ouch! moments, not any more. Vibrations are very well contained, having experienced hours of cruising at 85 km/h. The odd overtaking did take me past 100 km/h quite easily.

With my preference for winding country roads to vast open highways, the engine exhibited a strong pull through the gears for an enjoyable ride.

I had never been to a trail but ended up in one – the stretch between Muttatti and Sangama. Completely a dirt track with some gravel thrown in where road works were in progress, there were also steep stretches where the torque as well as the grip from the knobby rear tyres hauled me up without fuss.

No OE bike cover is available yet, got one from Amazon which was listed for the Duke 390 Adventure

Other noteworthy points:

• Brilliant headlights (once you get the alignment perfectly)
• Turn-by-turn navigation works well without having to whip out your phone by the roadside
• Suzuki app mandatorily asks for feedback and without cancelling that screen, the app does not automatically connect to the bike next time (much to my annoyance with gloves donned!)
• The saree guard is simply hideous, missed getting that removed (yet again) during the service
• I had some older family members clamber aboard the pillion seat for a trial they just about managed it (fairly certain they would not want to try again)
• The documents nestle in a recess under the rear seat (in a pouch), as a car driver it feels incomplete to not have these in the vehicle!
• I fervently wish for an upgrade to LED indicators (being the only bulbs in the bike)

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