Inazuma-based Suzuki GSX-R300 patent leaked

There's no doubting how important the 250-300cc sportsbike segment is today, be it in the Indian context or globally. And the Suzuki GSX-R300 could be the newest entrant into the segment, going by a patent application filed by the Japanese manufacturer. According to Bennetts UK, Suzuki has applied for a patent for an all-new premium sportsbike that is touted to replace the Suzuki GSX250R. The GSX250R is based on the ageing GW-250 or Inazuma platform which is not as sporty in intent as a lot of the bikes on offer in the segment currently. The list includes parallel-twin engine equipped motorcycles like the Yamaha YZF-R3 and Kawasaki Ninja 400 in India, as also the KTM RC 390 that is powered by a single cylinder engine, while internationally there's more bikes like the Honda CBR250RR and Honda CBR300R on offer as well.

According to Bennetts UK, Suzuki has filed a patent application for an all-new premium sportsbike that could very well be called the Suzuki GSX-R300 to take on parallel-twin engine powered motorcycles like the Yamaha YZF-R3, Kawasaki Ninja 400 and the like

Suzuki's new bike in the segment could very well be called the GSX-R300 and is expected to be more performance oriented to take on these bikes better, going by the details of the patent application that have been leaked. The GSX250R uses the same 248cc, parallel-twin engine as the Inazuma and manages to produce 24.7PS, which is a lot lower than the aforementioned motorcycles, all of which offer in excess of 35PS. Not just that, the Suzuki GSX250R also comes across as a softer machine in comparison to most bikes in the segment and lacks the aggression of its competitors, therby leaving room for Suzuki to try its hand at developing a more focused offering for the segment.

The Inazuma-based engine's long stroke design is a deterrent to the bike's performance, as is its old architecture in comparison to the more modern architecture used by other manufacturers including the employment of four-valve heads. Images from the patent suggest the engine will be a high-revving, twin cylinder motor as is the norm in the class, held in a sportier looking frame, thereby hinting at sportier handling than currently offered by the Inazuma platform. The images also tell us the bike could sport upside-down forks at the front, further indicating the bike's sportier, more aggressive nature.

The engine powering Suzuki's new premium sportsbike (possibly the GSX-R300) is expected to be a high-revving liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine using modern architecture including a four-valve head

Suzuki India tells us that the GSX-R300 is most likely to not make it to our country despite the rising demand for premium sportsbikes. The reason behind the same we're told is the fact that most of the bikes mentioned above are brought in as CKD units for assembly, though the parallel-twin engines powering them come in as fully-built up units directly. To make the prospect of selling a parallel-twin engine equipped, premium sportsbike in India feasible, Suzuki feels it will need to manufacture the engine locally so as to be able to price the bike affordably, which does not seem possible in the immediate future.

There's another reason why the Suzuki GSX-R300 is unlikely to make to India, in the near future at least. While Suzuki India is clear about focusing on enthusiast-centric segments in the country, as seen at the 2018 Auto Expo the manufacturer has enough products in the pipeline to help it strengthen its position in the market further, thereby eliminating the need to focus energies on the GSX-R300, immediately at least. However, we cannot deny the fact that the prospect of a refined and sporty premium sportsbike using Suzuki's famed GSX-R nomenclature sounds like an interesting prospect to us!