The new Suzuki DL250 V-Strom was revealed as a ‘concept’ in China last week but is set to reach European markets as a production model.
We won’t have to wait long to find out more, as Suzuki will bring the bike to the EICMA show in Milan in early November for a fuller launch. However, it’s already clear that, like the new GSX-250R, it’s a derivative of the existing Inazuma 250/GW250.
The bike’s specification includes the same 53.5mm bore and 55.2mm stroke as the Inazuma, giving an identical 248cc capacity from the parallel twin engine. The compression ratio, at a mild 11.5:1, is also unchanged, as is the 18.4kW (25hp) power output.
The limited specs available show a 17 litre fuel tank and a weight of 192kg.
While the performance isn’t going to be spectacular, the figures – which are near-identical to those of the GSX-250R – aren’t as disappointing as on the sportier machine. As a city-bound commuter bike in the mould of the existing Inazuma, the DL250 V-Strom has much more appealing styling and fits the current trend for adventure machines. It’s a good illustration of how to take existing components and turn them into something much more interesting.
The frame appears unaltered from the original Inazuma’s, as do the forks, but the DL250 gets new wheels. It’s also given the ABS and Euro4 emissions restrictions needed to go on sale in Europe after the start of next year.
