The quarter-litre motorcycle market in India has been reignited with the launch of the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250. The single-cylinder motorcycle boasts several weight and friction reduction technologies which can be traced back to their MotoGP machine! But how does it stand in front of the likes of Honda CBR 250R, Bajaj Pulsar RS200, KTM RC 200 and Yamaha Fazer 25? Here’s a specifications comparison to answer just that.
| Specification | Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 | Honda CBR 250R | Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 | KTM RC 200 | Yamaha Fazer 25 |
| Engine | 249 cc oil-cooled SOHC | 249.6 cc liquid-cooled, DOHC | 199.5 cc liquid-cooled, SOHC | 199.5 cc liquid-cooled, DOHC | 249 cc oil-cooled, SOHC |
| Power | 26.5 PS at 9,000 rpm | 26.5 PS at 8,500 rpm | 24.5 PS at 9,750 rpm | 25.83 PS at 10,000 rpm | 20.9 PS at 8,000 rpm |
| Torque | 22.6 Nm at 7,500 rpm | 22.9 Nm at 7,000 rpm | 18.6 Nm at 8,000 rpm | 19.2 Nm at 8,000 rpm | 20 Nm at 6,000 rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed | 5-speed |
| Kerb Weight | 161 kg | 167 kg | 164 kg | 137.5 kg (dry) | 157 kg |
| LxBxH (in mm) | 2,010 x 740 x 1,035 | 2,030 x 720 x 1,127 | 1,999 x 765 x 1,114 | NA | 2,015 x 775 x 1,115 |
| Wheelbase | 1,345 mm | 1,369 mm | 1,355 mm | 1,340 mm | 1,360 mm |
| Seat Height | 800 mm | 784 mm | N/A | 820 mm | 795 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 165 mm | 145 mm | 157 mm | 178.5 mm | 160 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 12 litre | 13 litre | 13 litre | 10 litre | 14 litre |
| Front Tyre | 110/70R-17 | 110/70-17 | 100/80-17 | 110/70-17 | 100/80-17 |
| Rear Tyre | 150/60R-17 | 140/70-17 | 130/70-17 | 150/60-17 | 140/70-17 |
| Front Brake | Disc | 296 mm disc | 300 mm disc | 300 mm disc | 282 mm disc |
| Rear Brake | Disc | 220 mm disc | 230 mm disc | 230 mm disc | 220 mm disc |
| Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | INR 170,655 | INR 194,932 | INR 139,635 | INR 189,990 | INR 143,680 |
Design
The designers at Suzuki have chosen a conservative, yet sharp design language for the Gixxer SF 250. They call this a European trend where young riders demand performance and style at the same time. The muscular lines in the fairing, the sharp as ever LED headlamp and the edgy dual port muffler adds oomph to the motorcycle. Lack of colour options though is surprising. Suzuki has limited the Gixxer SF 250 to just two colours, Silver (Metallic Mat Platinum Silver) and Black (Metallic Mat Black). Hopefully, they will introduce a MotoGP-inspired livery in the future.
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In comparison, the Honda CBR 250R carries dated looks and hasn’t changed much since it was introduced almost a decade back! The sticker updates have left the enthusiasts wanting for more (both in terms of performance and looks). The bike is offered in eye-grabbing four colour options, though.
House of Bajaj-KTM have two contrasting things to offer. KTM RC 200 has a sharp style which will give you a backache for sure if you ride it on Indian roads regularly. But the bike is sure to make you become a chic magnet. However, you will have a hard time convincing anyone to sit pillion in that seat more than once. The colour choice is limited to a lone option. The twin projector headlamps, though, will get your heart racing. The underseat exhaust unit adds to the charm. The Bajaj Pulsar RS 200, on the other hand, has a much more usable riding posture. The twin projector headlamps are less on the aggressive side but still leaves a lasting impression. The fairing design may seem overdone to an extent but the biker surely sports the funkiest looking taillamp. The three colour options include Racing Red, Racing Blue and Graphite Black. This motorcycle boasts body coloured front alloy wheel as well.
The Yamaha Fazer 25 remains true to its naked variant but gains an odd yet pleasing looking fairing. The single LED headlamp unit is well accentuated with LED DRLs. However, the spacing between the two is seen as an eyesore for many. The split seat offers one of the most comfortable pillion seat in the segment. The minimal sticker usage adds to the charm. Colour options are limited to Metallic Black and Dark Matt Blue but the clean finish makes the bike pretty attractive.
Cycle Parts
The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 keeps things simple in this front and utilises a standard telescopic unit which is stiffer than on the 155 cc Suzuki Gixxer SF. At the rear, there's a monoshock unit with adjustable preload, just as the rest of the competition. The KTM RC 200 is the only bike in this comparo to feature 43 mm upside-down fork up front sourced from WP suspension. The rear monoshock is also sourced from the same maker.
Safety has been kept a priority in the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 and the bike gets a dual channel ABS setup just as the Honda CBR 250R and Yamaha Fazer 25. Both the KTM RC 200 and Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 get a single channel ABS to keep costs under check.
The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250, KTM RC 200 and Honda CBR 250R are shod with 110 section 17-inch front wheel up front. The Pulsar RS 200 and Fazer 25 get a 100-section rubber. Suzuki and KTM have given their bikes a wider, 150 section rear tyre (17-inch), while the Yamaha and Honda models utilise a 140-section rear tyre. The Pulsar RS 200 gets an even thinner, 130 section rear tyre.
Also Read: Suzuki Gixxer250 naked roadster confirmed to be launched this year
Features
While KTM RC200 is the most features laden product in the segment with high levels of tech wizardry and possibly the most exhaustive instrumentation console, its LCD unit with orange backlight though falls short of impressing in the present age. The CBR 250R and Pulsar RS 200 get a mix of digital and analogue instrumentation and still manage to look radically exciting while riding.
The Fazer 25 has a tiny LCD instrumentation console which, although legible while riding, is no match to the ones seen in the competition. Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 gets a reverse backlit console with blue colouring which is inspired by that of the Suzuki GSX 250R. Information readouts are large and legible.
Suzuki Gixxer SF 250, just as the competition gets a clip-on handlebar but Yamaha’s Fazer 25 gets a standard handlebar to keeps costs under check.
Engine
Powering the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 is a 249 cc SOHC, oil-cooled mill. The engineers at Suzuki claim that the new Suzuki Oil Cooling System (SOCS) keeps the engine weight under check, allowing better handling at high speeds. Coupled to a 6-speed gearbox, the engine is capable of producing 26.5 PS of power and 22.6 Nm of torque. That’s almost in the range of the Honda CBR 250R.
The CBR 250R’s liquid-cooled, DOHC engine produces the same power output but a slightly higher 22.9 Nm of torque. In comparison, the high revving, liquid cooled 199.5 cc mill produces 25.83 PS of power and 19.5 Nm of torque in KTM RC 200. Bajaj Auto has used the same powerplant with modifications in RS 200 to produce 24.5 PS of power and 18.6 Nm of torque. Fazer 25’s oil-cooled SOHC mill though is the least powerful, producing just 20.9 PS of power and 20 Nm of torque.
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Price (all ex-showroom, Delhi)
Here comes the meat of the matter. Suzuki has priced the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 at INR 170,655 which is significantly cheaper than Honda CBR 250R’s price tag of INR 194,932. The premium KTM RC 200 is priced at INR 189,990, giving more bang for bucks than the Honda. Yamaha cut a lot of corners to keep the price accessible and the Fazer 25 will set you back by INR 143,680. The Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 is the cheapest motorcycle in this comparo. With a price tag of INR 139,635, it offers a well-balanced package.
