Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 launching today: everything we know so far

It's interesting to see the quarter-litre space heating up once again. It's just about three weeks since the Hero Xtreme 200S was launched, a successor of sorts to the uber-popular Hero Karizma. And the next launch in the segment comes up in the form of Suzuki's first proper quarter-litre sportsbike, the Gixxer SF 250. The bike will be showcased for the first time and launched in New Delhi today and needless to say, there's a lot of curiosity about the motorcycle. Here's what we can tell you, for now at least, before ride the motorcycle tomorrow.

The Suzuki 250 is the Japanese bike maker's first ever proper, fully-faired, quarter-litre sportsbike

The Gixxer SF 250 is Suzuki's second small capacity sportsbike in the country, after the Gixxer SF and also its second product in the 250cc space. The first was the Inazuma 250 which was a likeable motorcycle – it was powered by a parallel-twin cylinder engine and was a comfortable, easy-going naked streetbike. Its styling, inspired by the ginormous Suzuki B-King, didn't really impress buyers in the country though, not to mention, the bike's high sticker price. Suzuki did reduce prices by a significant Rs 1 lakh later and in fact it even refunded the amount to those who bought the motorcycle at the higher price!

Coming back to the Gixxer SF 250, it is the first – in the 250cc segment, for Suzuki – of what seems to have now become a fixed formula for manufacturers. Develop one powertrain and chassis, and use it to create multiple formats like a naked streetbike, fully-faired sportsbike and possibly a cruiser, as we have seen with the Gixxer 150 platform. There's no confirmation on the other formats yet, for the 250, but unlike the last time where Suzuki launched the naked first and then the faired sportsbike, this time the Japanese bike maker has decided to launched the fully-faired sportsbike first.

The Suzuki's brochure has been leaked online and has revealed its technical specifications

The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 will be powered by a brand-new 250cc, single cylinder engine. If the brochure leaked online is to be believed, the Gixxer SF 250 will use liquid-cooling and fuel injection, and the engine will offer 26.5PS produced at 9,000rpm along with 22.6Nm produced at 7,500rpm. Now, some might want to say the numbers are only par for the course, but going by the example of the Gixxer 150, you can assume that the Gixxer SF 250 will not be a focused, hardcore sportsbike (like say, the Yamaha YZF-R15 or the KTM RC200), but will be slightly more relaxed, yet sporty. Peak power being produced at 9,000rpm does hint at the engine's higher revving nature though, especially as compared to the Gixxer SF 150.

Another aspect hinting at the Gixxer SF 250 not being a highly committed supersport machine are the right-side-up telescopic forks upfront. That said, the bike does use a set of slightly low-set two-piece handlebars that should make for a sporty riding posture. The bike also uses split seats for the rider and pillion, to the same effect. The latest set of leaked images of the Gixxer SF 250 confirm that the bike uses an all-LED headlight setup, along with LED tail lights at the rear. The end can for the exhaust uses a dual-barrel design, something Suzuki started with the Gixxer 150. The Gixxer SF 250 will thus take on the likes of the Honda CBR250R and Yamaha Fazer 25, as also the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 and KTM RC200 and not to forget, the Hero Xtreme 200S. Only thing remaining now is the price of the Suzuki Gixxer SF250, which we will confirm in a few hours.

Also see: Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 and 2019 Suzuki Gixxer SF First Ride Review Video