Suzuki DL 250 V-STROM 2020 — Specifications

What is the price of a Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom? Exactly 5,749 euros. A sum that places this little adventurer in the mini adventure-touring segment, a category Suzuki decided to enter after firmly establishing its 650 and 1000 models in the landscape. The recipe is well known: take the mechanical basis of an in-house sportbike, dress it up with a beak fairing and a windscreen, then promise adventure on a small scale. The result is this quirky, stocky machine that looks nothing like its bigger sisters. The silhouette lacks refinement, the front headlight unit is imposing, almost disproportionate, and the lines waver between deliberate ruggedness and youthful clumsiness. It's a far cry from the elegance of the larger-displacement V-Stroms. But this peculiar face ends up winning you over, much like a tool you appreciate more for its sturdiness than its looks.

Beneath the 17-litre tank beats a 248 cc parallel twin, inherited from the GSX-R 250 and the Inazuma before it. Four valves per cylinder, fuel injection, liquid cooling, all producing 25 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 22.9 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. Nobody is going to burn their fingers with those figures. The power is enough for the daily urban grind, commuting and the occasional solo weekend getaway. The 6-speed gearbox is well spaced to keep the little twin in its comfort zone. On the other hand, loading the bike up with a passenger and luggage for a multi-day trip borders on wishful thinking. What is the top speed of the Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom? Expect around 140 km/h indicated, enough to hold your own on the motorway but with no room to spare. The real asset of this engine lies in its frugality: Suzuki claims a theoretical range of 500 km on a full tank. Even in real-world conditions, with normal riding, covering over 350 km before looking for a petrol station remains feasible. For an A2 licence holder or daily use, that's a compelling argument.

Speaking of which, let's talk weight. At 188 kg wet, the Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom is heavy for a two-fifty. That's a fact. The Kawasaki Versys-X 300, a direct competitor, carries a similar bulk but has a few extra horsepower on tap. The Benelli TRK 251 plays in the same waters. This extra weight is noticeable at low speed and during manoeuvres, although the 800 mm seat height allows most riders to put their feet flat on the ground without concern. The chassis remains simple and functional: tubular steel frame, telescopic hydraulic fork, rear monoshock, twin petal discs with ABS. Nothing spectacular, nothing lacking either. The braking does its job with modest calipers, twin-piston at the front, single-piston at the rear.

On the equipment front, Suzuki has made an effort not always found on its own higher-displacement models. A 12V socket comes as standard, along with a rear rack rated for 8.5 kg and mounting points designed for side cases. The LCD dashboard, shared with the GSX-S and GSX-R 125/250, displays the selected gear, a bar graph and trip meters. Decent instrumentation, no frills. The windscreen offers respectable protection for average-sized riders.

If you're looking for a used Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom, the market is starting to offer examples at attractive prices. The Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom test reveals an unpretentious motorcycle that fulfils a precise set of requirements: carrying a rider, preferably solo, over long distances at low cost, with a minimum of comfort and mechanical reliability inherited from proven engines. It is neither an adventurer capable of tackling dirt tracks, nor a tourer capable of devouring motorways with ease. It is a small urban and suburban workhorse, enduring and frugal, built for new licence holders and tight budgets that want the adventure-bike look without the price tag that comes with it.