Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX: The Day I Took it for a Spin (long review)

I’ve been a Meteor 350 rider for almost a year now, racking up close to 18,000 km in a year, on city commutes and weekend highway rides. The Meteor has been my trusty companion—planted on highways and manageable in Hyderabad’s relentless traffic. But let’s be real, once you get into ADVs, it’s hard not to fantasize about them. The Himalayan 450 had me drooling, and while I’ve taken a few test rides, I haven’t been able to rent one to really explore it. So there I was, scrolling through Royal Brothers, killing time. And there it was—the Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX. I’d heard about it but hadn’t given it much thought. "Why not?" I figured. Booked it, grabbed my helmet and balaclava (forgot my gloves, rookie mistake), and headed to the rental shop. First Look When I saw the V-Strom 250 SX in person, it struck me as tall and rugged. I hopped on, and at 5'8", I could only tiptoe on both sides(830mm seat height). But the bike felt incredibly light. That initial tiptoeing unease vanished as soon as I moved it around. The seating position felt slightly committed—leaning forward a bit more than I’m used to on my Meteor—but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. I fired up the engine, and the sound was refreshingly different from the Meteor’s thump. It had a sporty growl that made me eager to ride. I was skeptical about the 250cc engine—would it feel underpowered coming from a 350? The Ride Begins I eased out the clutch, and the V-Strom surprised me immediately. I expected a sluggish low end, but this thing pulled like a champ in 1st gear. My apprehensions about it being underpowered started fading fast. Riding it home through Hyderabad traffic, I noticed some buzz on the handlebars and footpegs, but nothing unbearable. Once I geared up properly (gloves, jacket, boots), the vibrations practically disappeared. City Traffic: Easy Peasy Hyderabad’s traffic is the usual stop-and-go nightmare, but the V-Strom handled it with ease. The bike’s lightweight nature and agility shone here. I was weaving through traffic effortlessly, something I can’t say about my Meteor, which feels like a tank in tight spots. Surprisingly, the V-Strom didn’t demand constant downshifts either. At one point, I was in 4th gear doing around 29 km/h—fully expecting the bike to stall. But when I opened the throttle, it just picked up without a fuss. That’s when I knew this engine was something special. The Highway Experience Later in the day, I took it out on the highway, where the real fun began. Cruising at 80–100 km/h felt effortless. And unlike my Meteor, which takes its time climbing beyond 80, the V-Strom had no problem pulling even at higher speeds. I briefly touched 120 km/h, and there was still more juice left if I needed it. Overtaking felt like second nature—I didn’t have to plan ahead or downshift unnecessarily. This bike loves to rev, and it’s ridiculously fun when you do. It’s a stark contrast to my long-stroke Meteor, which is all about relaxed cruising. Corners and Comfort I took the bike to some twisty roads to see how it handled corners. At around 60–70 km/h, it felt stable and confident. I’m no hardcore corner carver, but the bike gave me enough confidence to lean into turns without hesitation. Despite the slightly forward-leaning posture, I didn’t feel any discomfort, even after riding for hour. The suspension, while not Himalayan-level plush, soaked up most bumps and did the job well. A Few Quirks Not everything was perfect. The rear brake felt weak—almost nonexistent on this rental unit. Thankfully, the front brake was solid, and I rely on engine braking most of the time anyway. Also, the clutch was noticeably hard compared to my Meteor, and the toe-only gear shifter took some getting used to. But these were minor nitpicks in what turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Final Thoughts I didn’t expect to fall for the V-Strom 250 SX, but here I am, singing its praises. It’s not just a "budget ADV" or a "beginner bike." It’s a genuinely capable machine that can handle city commutes, highway rides, and even some off-road fun if needed. If you’re an RE or Honda 350 owner like me, don’t let the 250cc badge fool you. It’s an upgrade where it counts—performance, agility, and sheer fun. Give it a test ride, and you might just find yourself as surprised as I was.