Rumours of Suzuki’s GSX-R250 have been rife for years and now it looks like the bike is finally on the verge of an official release. But those hoping for a rip-snorting baby sportsbike to evoke memories of the RGV250 might be disappointed.
These images are from Suzuki’s official design patent for the new bike, and as such show it in exact detail. At a glance the signs are positive, with styling that has hints of the forthcoming 2017 GSX-R1000 in its shapes and details. Closer inspection, however, reveals that the engine is a development of the gutless parallel twin used in the GW250 Inazuma. The bottom end and cases appear near-identical, which suggests the bike’s performance will be a rung below two-cylinder rivals like the Yamaha R3. It would also struggle to match the soon-to-be-facelifted Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the future Honda CBR350RR, a planned development of the newly-released Asian-market CBR250RR.
If Suzuki has left the single overhead cam top end and the capacity of the GW250’s engine unaltered, the new GSX-R250 could be lagging behind the field with a mere 24bhp on offer.
The upper part of the engine can’t be seen in these pictures, leaving a possibility that the firm has reengineered the motor to accommodate a DOHC head. Allied to a suitable capacity increase to 300-350cc as befits the European version of this class of bike, it could then prove closer to its rivals, but such a development seems unlikely at this stage.
Instead, the GSX-R250’s intention is likely to be to undercut the more exotic opposition in price, offering superbike looks for little more than scooter money. The simple, unbraced steel swingarm looks much like the GW250’s unit, and the bike lacks the radial brakes or upside down forks that some of its rivals sport. The frame is steel but it appears to be a new design rather than simply sharing the GW250’s double-cradle chassis.
It’s likely that the bike will initially be targeting the Asian, Indian and Indonesian markets. There’s a strong chance that a version will also appear in Europe shortly after it goes on sale in those areas.
