V-Strom 250 SX brief ownership review after 5000 km: Likes & dislikes

The on-board fuel efficiency calculator is quite accurate to the tank-to-tank readings.

BHPian KeepTraction recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Dear Friends, here is my brief ownership review of the VStrom 250 SX after clocking 5000 km.

1. Purchased on: March 2023
2. Manufacturing date: Dec 2022
3. Previous motorcycles owned: Suzuki GS 150R, Honda CBR 250R
4. Purchase decision criteria: Ample pillion seat space, simple maintenance for the engine, and at least the same power and weight as the CBR250R
5. Others shortlisted: Honda CB350, RE Meteor 350, Bajaj F250

I must thank the ownership reviews by Sebring and VijayAnand1 which encouraged my decision to buy Vstrom 250 SX based on my criteria.

Delights:

• Engine has sufficient torque for low-speed commutes and sufficient power for cruising at 90~100 KMPH
• Oil cooling is splendid and the radiator fans kick in only after being stuck in crawling traffic for 30mins or more (depending on ambient temperature, of course)
• Gearshifts are quick and precise but need a confident heel/toe flick
• Upright seating is comfortable and spacious for both rider and pillion
• Stock tyres are great for city roads, broken roads, and rough/loose surfaces
• Sturdy material quality of metals and plastics. A case in point: I had to replace the rear mudguard/fender parts because a scooter bumped into the rear number plate area. The interior mudguard (facing the rear wheel) cracked near the mounting point but did not break into pieces. So, I could keep using the motorcycle till the spare parts arrived for replacement.

Flies in the ointment:

• A slightly heavy clutch (compared to my previous CBR250R which had a light clutch). Perhaps other motorcycle enthusiasts can tell me how two 250cc engines with the same output powers can end up with such different clutch designs
• Stiff suspension. In stock settings, the suspension feels moderately pliant only when I was riding with a pillion and 14 kgs of luggage (saddle bags and top box).
• Headlight intensity is fit for city use only
• Stock MRF tyres’ block pattern makes a buzzing sound when cruising on smooth highway roads. On the flip side, this block pattern works very well when traversing broken roads, and crossing sandy/muddy/gravel patches.
• Longer wait for spares

Delivery, Initial Ownership experience and hiccups:

1. Took the extensive PDI checklist and checked out the motorcycle on the previous day to the delivery date. Everything was OK.
2. The delivery experience was good and happened after the registration and High-Security Number Plates arrived. I was not in a hurry for temporary number plates.
3. The next day, I checked the engine oil level and noticed that the oil was filled to the top of the sight glass. I asked the mechanic, but he said that an excessive oil level is when the oil appears in the sight glass while the motorcycle is parked on the sidestand. Since this oil level was set at the factory and the performance during run-in was normal, I did not pursue any further. I did not notice any unexpected engine/gearshift/noise behaviour during the run-in period.
4. When I took the VStrom 250 for a short highway ride, I noticed that the handlebars were shaking in an up-down rhythm at speeds of 50kmph and above (I did not go beyond 70kmph since the run-in was still in effect). It was as if the front wheel was gently bouncing up and down while spinning. I did a few observations at different speeds/tarmacs over the next week and the bouncy behaviour persisted. I guessed that the front wheel was not balanced properly and decided to rule this out before investigating the front bearing, tyre wear, and front suspension alignment. I gave the motorcycle to the SVC to check the front wheel's balance. They did a static wheel balance test and re-positioned the wheel weight. But this made no difference when I tested the motorcycle again over city/highway roads. After reading through multiple forum posts, I understood that I must try a computerized wheel balancing test before revisiting the SVC. I zeroed in on the 'Madhus Tyre Center' at Lalbagh, Bengaluru. On an early morning visit, they did a computerized wheel balance test and stuck a new heavier weight strip on the front wheel rim ( I have attached an image below to illustrate the weight strip positions). I took the motorcycle out for a highway spin and immediately noticed an improvement in handlebar stability above 50kmph. The bouncing was reduced to a barely noticeable amplitude. I would say that the problem is resolved to 99% satisfaction, and it does not cause any uneven tyre wear or destabilize my steering actions.
5. Fuel Economy: I did a few tank full-empty calculations during city commutes (used to get ~35 KMPL) and found that the on-board calculator is quite accurate. I had not reset the Trip B meter since purchase, and it shows 39KMPL over the past 5000 km (consisting of 30% highway trips and 70% city commutes). I have tried sedate city commuting but I have not achieved above 36KMPL. Highway rides at 70-80 KMPH give 40KMPL.
6. When in idle rpm, the console LCD display backlight flickers at the same frequency. As soon I rev the engine above 2000 rpm, the flickering stops. This does not happen when the ignition key is kept ON and the engine is OFF.

Some related problems that I noted from other user reviews:

• Vibrations in the Gixxer 250 engine reported by <neil.jericho> after 6000kms: For me, the engine is running smooth, as of now. I shall keep an eye on this since I am approaching the 6000 km mark soon. In related news, I saw other posts in the VStrom 250 SX thread about a recall for the camshaft replacement. I checked with the SVC and they confirmed that my batch is not affected but they are replacing the camshafts in other Vstrom 250s that come for servicing. Apparently, the job card cannot be closed without replacing the camshaft when those affected bikes come for routine service/repair.
• Electrical malfunction and water ingress in the headlight unit after water wash: I have not experienced any problems in the ignition switch or water ingress in the headlight after the water wash.
• Suspension noise and engine noise reported by <drt_rdr>: No, the suspension operates normally in my VStrom 250. I hope <drt_rdr> can resolve their motorcycle's issues and give us an update.

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