Suzuki DL 250 V-STROM 2019 — Specifications

Can you really go adventure riding on a quarter-liter? Suzuki answers with a resounding yes through the DL 250 V-Strom, a miniaturized version of its adventure-touring lineup. Where the 650 borrows the punchy twin from the SV and the 1000 uses the aggressive engine from the TL, the baby of the family dips into the in-house catalog with a 248 cc parallel twin derived from the Inazuma, which meanwhile passed through the GSX-R 250. The result is a compact road-oriented adventure bike stepping into the ring on the fiercely contested 250/300 segment, squaring off against the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 and the Benelli TRK 251.

Looks-wise, the Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom doesn't beat around the bush. You'll find the family's signature beak, the single headlight, and the dual-purpose silhouette, but the overall design lacks fluidity. The lines seem to be searching for direction, and the oversized front light cluster visually weighs down the nose. The bike doesn't have the refinement of its bigger sisters. Instead, it gives off an impression of raw solidity, an unapologetically utilitarian character that will appeal to those who want a workhorse before a showpiece. The seat, perched at 800 mm, remains accessible to average-sized riders and makes putting feet down in the city easy.

The four-stroke twin produces 25 horsepower at 8,000 rpm with 22.9 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. Nothing blistering, and the top speed of the 2019 Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom caps out at 140 km/h. Solo, on back roads or in town, the engine proves willing and flexible thanks to its well-spaced six-speed gearbox. The shoe pinches when riding two-up or loaded, where the 188 kg wet weight becomes a real burden for a small adventure bike. That's a genuine handicap against rivals that are a good ten kilos lighter. On the other hand, range is the knockout argument for this frugal powertrain: the 17-liter tank allows for substantial legs between fuel stops, with Suzuki claiming a figure of 500 km on a full tank. In real-world conditions, expect a little less, but fuel consumption remains remarkably restrained.

The equipment plays the pragmatism card. The LCD dashboard, shared with the GSX-S and GSX-R 125/250, displays the selected gear, a rev counter bar graph, and a dual trip meter. A stock windscreen provides decent wind protection, a rear rack handles 8.5 kg of load, a 12V outlet is fitted on the left side of the cockpit, and mounting points for side cases come standard. A level of touring preparedness that even the 650 and 1000 V-Strom don't offer without dipping into the accessories catalog. For a real-world Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom test, these details make all the difference in daily use.

The chassis remains conventional: tubular steel frame, telescopic hydraulic fork, rear monoshock, and two petal discs with ABS. Nothing to set a supermoto track on fire, but more than adequate for the intended use. What is the price of a Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom? Count on 5,749 euros new, a fair price point for this segment. For tighter budgets, used Suzuki DL 250 V-Strom models are starting to appear at attractive prices on the second-hand market. This little adventurer is clearly aimed at A2 license holders, urban and suburban commutes, and riders looking for a reliable first adventure bike without breaking the bank. Don't ask it to swallow Alpine passes two-up with a full luggage set — that's not its game. But for daily use and unpretentious Sunday rides, it fulfills its promise with the mechanical honesty you expect from Suzuki.