Spec comparo: Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 vs Bajaj Dominar 250 vs Suzuki Gixxer SF 250
Currently, we are in the middle of a global crisis and a worldwide lockdown, the Coronavirus pandemic has affected everything critically and right now manufactures have joined government and health forces to flatten the spread curve of the Covid-19 virus. Just a few weeks before the lockdown the Bajaj Dominar 250, Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250 were launched in India and I could not wait to get my hands on these bikes but then the shutdown was initiated and here we are.
The 250cc segment is a sweet spot, enough power to keep you entertained, sporty styling that accents the performance and at the same time, it is safe enough that parents won't fret much about the thought of buying a 250cc motorcycle. And the best part, the price bracket of this segment will not slit the bottom of your pockets. At the moment, bikers are spoiled for choices in the 250cc segment, courtesy goes to the bike manufacturers in India. You have supersports, streetfighters, tourers and whatnot, arriving late to the party is the scrambler from the Husqvarna- Svartpilen 250. So without any further delay, let's get right to it.
Styling
Everyone likes newness, something that is fresh and has never been seen before, and such is the Husqvarna Svartpilen 250. Even the name is a little different and it creates the curiosity to know more about the bike. This one stands out on the streets like it is straight from the future. It commands road presence with its naked styling and compact design. And the grey finish only adds to the style quotient of the bike. The bike evidently boasts its off-road capability with its wide handlebar, triple clamp setup on the tank and the round headlamp unit gives it a rugged and classic look.
Another lady who slays in grey is the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250, this one is all about tracks, corners and all that jazz. One look at the bike will convey what it is meant for, to handle those mean curves. The sharp lines and forward biased ergonomic setup shows off the aggressive stance of the bike. Â And it is accented by the sharp LED headlamp and tail lamp along with the twin-muffler exhaust setup.
The hyper tourer from Bajaj now comes with a 250cc engine and the styling cues are borrowed from the Dominar 400. The beefy conventional forks add to the beefy look of the bike. And the twin-barrel exhaust adds to the butch look of the bike.
Features
All three bikes have LED setup for the front and rear section. The Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 and the Dominar 250 rides on 17-inch alloy wheels whereas the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 rides on cast wheels of the same size and they all have disc brakes for both tyres with dual-channel ABS.
Digital instrument cluster is standard on all three bikes, only the Dominar 250 gets a two-part unit with one on the tank and the other on the handlebar. This may add styling points for the Dominar 250 but I would prefer all the info at one place than to turn head at different places and it would be better if you won't have to take eyes off the road.
Engine
The Husqvarna Svartpilen houses a 248.8cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine mated to a 6-speed gearbox that makes a power of 30PS and 24Nm of torque and it is also the highest output number in the class.
The Bajaj Dominar 250 is powered by a 248.8cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine paired with a 6-speed gearbox that makes a power of 27PS and a torque of 23.5Nm.
And lastly, the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 comes with a 249cc single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine mated to a 6-speed gearbox that churns a max power of 26PS and pulls 23Nm of torque. The Gixxer SF 250 has come as the least powerful in the class on paper. And if we take into consideration, all the above mention bikes serve a different purpose.
Dimension
The Husqvarna Svartpilen's tank can hold up to 9.5l of fuel and it weighs only 154kg, which is the lightest bike in the class. The Dominar 250 has a capacity of 13l of fuel and it weighs 180kg which is heaviest and the Suzuki GIxxer SF 250 has a tank that can carry 12l of fuel and it weighs 161kg.
The Dominar 250 has a wheelbase of 1453mm, which is the largest and the shortest is the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 with 1345mm. The Svartpilen 250 has a wheelbase of 135mm.
Price
The Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 is worth Rs 1.80 lakh, ex-showroom and it is the costliest in the batch. The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 is for Rs 1.70 lakh, ex-showroom and the Bajaj Dominar 250 is priced at Rs. 1.60 lakh, ex-showroom which is the least expensive.
Verdict
Again, thanks to the manufacturers who have presented such a variety of options in the 250cc segment and that too at a lucrative price. If you are more about tracks and sporty riding, you can consider the Suzuki Gixxer SF 250. It definitely has a sexy style quotient that will head turns, it can take on the city and those tricky bends easily and should you feel the need for more, the Gixxer SF 250 will surely bring a smirk on your face while you are on the track.
If you are into trail riding and that dirt is not a concern for you, then the new and fresh Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 should check all the boxes for you. It certainly has the power to keep you engaged, tackling the city will be child's play and an incentive is a new and unique design with the scrambler style silhouette.
And if long-distance tours are your thing and that too on a budget, then you have the Dominar 250. The large 13l tank makes the bike capable of doing those non-stop long rides, the relaxed rider triangle will keep you at ease and fatigue won't get to you as quickly.
All three bikes fared almost equally on paper and it was a pretty close fight. The results can only be determined when we get these bikes for a proper face-off. But that has to wait.