Suzuki has now entered the 250cc naked space with the launch of the Gixxer 250 at Rs 1.60 lakh. Where does it stand with respect to competitors like the KTM 250 Duke and the Yamaha FZ 25?
Gone are the days when motorcycles in the 150-180cc space were the entry-point into the world of performance motorcycling. Products in this space no long hold that aspirational value. That need is now fulfilled by relatively larger 250cc offerings. For those looking for something in this class, Yamaha has the FZ 25 on offer and the KTM has the 250 Duke. But now Suzuki has entered the segment with the Gixxer 250 as well. Let’s take a closer look at where each one stands.
Engine: All three motorcycles displace a similar 249cc but it’s the power that the motors make that set them apart. At nearly 30bhp, the KTM’s motor pushes out the maximum power of the three. In fact, it is also the torquiest motor of the lot making 24Nm. The newly launched Gixxer makes 26.1bhp and 22.6Nm, while the FZ 25 is the least powerful of the lot at 20.3bhp and 20Nm. But when you consider the weight of each of these motorcycles, the difference in output figures is somewhat negated. The Duke – surprisingly – is the heaviest of the lot, tipping the scales at 161kg. The Gixxer 250 ranks second at 156kg and the FZ 25 is the lightest at 148kg. The Duke and the Gixxer 250 come are paired with a 6-speed transmission while the FZ, sadly, only comes with a 5-speed unit.
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| Gixxer 250 | 250 Duke | FZ 25 |
| Engine: | 249cc single-cylinder | 248.76cc single-cylinder | 249cc single-cylinder |
| Power: | 26.1bhp@9,000rpm | 29.6bhp@9,000rpm | 20.3bhp@8,000rpm |
| Torque: | 22.6Nm@7,500rpm | 24Nm@7,500rpm | 20Nm@6,000rpm |
| Transmission: | 6-speed | 6-speed | 5-speed |
Braking and Tyres:
The Duke as well as the Gixxer come with a 300mm disc up front. At 282mm, the FZ 25 has the smallest front disc of the three. At the rear, however, the Gixxer has been fitted with a 220mm disc, same as the FZ 25 – the Duke gets a marginally larger 230mm. The Duke and the Gixxer 250 also come with identical tyre sizes – 110/70 at the front and 150/60 at the rear. The FZ 25 gets relatively narrower tyres – 100/80 and 140/70 at the front and rear respectively. It must be noted that the narrower tyres of the FZ 25 is also one of the causes of the reduced weight.
Dimensions:
| (in mm) | Gixxer 250 | 250 Duke | FZ 25 |
| Length: | 2,010 | N/A | 2,015 |
| Width: | 805 | N/A | 770 |
| Height: | 1,035 | N/A | 1,075 |
| Wheelbase: | 1,340 | N/A | 1,360 |
| Ground Clearance: | 165 | 175 | 160 |
| Seat Height: | 800 | 820 | 795 |
Price:
Although all three motorcycles are in the same 250cc class and are equipped with a dual-channel ABS, they are priced poles apart. The cheapest of the lot is the Yamaha, at Rs 1.34 lakh. The Suzuki carries a sticker price of Rs 1.60 lakh while the KTM is the most expensive at Rs 1.97 lakh. For the additional price you pay for the Duke, you not only get more power and torque but also liquid-cooling, superior upside down forks and slipper clutch. Taking that into consideration, all three motorcycles are pretty evenly matched, and only a real-world test will give us a winner. Stay tuned for that!
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