KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Gixxer SF 250 is available in five different variants.
- The flex-fuel variant is the range-topping one, priced at Rs 2.16 lakh (ex-showroom).
- The flex-fuel variant can run on E85 fuel.
- Performance is best described as 'balanced.'
- It packs in just about enough features for convenience.
The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 has been around for a long time, chugging along with minor updates since its introduction. Back at the Bharat Mobility Expo in January, the Japanese bikemaker added the Gixxer SF 250 flex-fuel variant to the lineup, and given the chaos around flex fuel in the market currently, it seems as if Suzuki has played the long game.
That said, the Gixxer SF 250 still has a rather difficult task ahead of itself, and the main question is, should you be buying it in 2025? We will answer that question, but before diving into the details, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and automotive updates.
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Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 Flex Fuel Design
The Gixxer SF 250 is the only fully-faired motorcycle in the 250cc segment today, with the Honda CBR 250R having left the game many years ago. The design of this motorcycle remains unchanged since its introduction in 2019. It gets the typical sportsbike silhouette, with a sharp front-end and a compact tail section. There are traces of the bigger GSX models in the 250's design, which shouldn't come as a surprise, given that the Gixxer is literally is a nickname for the GSX series motorcycles in Suzuki's lineup.
Our test motorcycle, the flex-fuel variant, is available with two paint options. We had the Metallic Matte Black No.2 with us, which works fairly well and suits the sporty nature of the motorcycle. However, keeping matte shades clean is quite a handful, especially in the monsoon season. Even with the sharp silhouette, the motorcycle looks and feels rather simple and understated, which does have its own charm. Given that its competition consists of the Bajaj Dominar 250 and the KTM 250 Duke, we feel that the Gixxer SF 250 sits somewhere in the middle; offering a sharp, aggressive-looking motorcycle but with a slightly dialed-down approach.
Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 Flex Fuel Powertrain
The flex fuel variant of the Gixxer SF 250 comes with the same single-cylinder, oil-cooled 249cc engine, but the power figures are marginally higher when compared to the regular Gixxer SF 250. For reference, the regular SF 250 produces 26.1bhp at 9300rpm and 22.2Nm of torque at 7300rpm, compliant with E20 fuel.
The flex-fuel variant comes with 27.5bhp at 9300rpm and 22.5Nm of torque at 7500rpm, paired to a 6-speed gearbox, and as mentioned before, this engine is compliant with E85 fuel. This basically means that the engine can run on a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% fuel.
The engine is fairly refined, but there are vibrations that can be felt on the footpegs and the handlebars at higher speeds. For city usage, however, the bike feels fairly refined. There is a good amount of bottom-end torque, which makes it easy to trundle around in the city, and when the road opens up, it has decent mid-range too. However, whacking the throttle open will not really do much, as the power delivery is linear. It's not slow by any standards, but reaching triple digits does take some time. It is certainly not frantic; rather it offers a balanced approach to performance, and we suspect this might go well with more mature audiences.
The gearbox, surprisingly, felt rather clunky at times, especially at lower revs. In fact there were times when it malfunctioned, and did not slot into any particular gear. This could possibly an issue on our test motorcycle. That said, the bike allows you to move around in the city even in fifth gear without much hassle, and the clutch action also feels fairly light. The absence of a slipper clutch does not really hurt the riding experience, but there are buyers who may be put off by this fact.
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Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 Flex Fuel Ride And Handling
This is going to be a difficult one. The ergonomics, honestly, are not the most ideal for daily usage. Sure, the clip-on handlebars are not as aggressive as something like an R15, but it still feels fairly committed. It could be a matter of getting used to the posture, but then the seat does not help matters. The cushioning could have been a lot better, because it simply feels too hard as of now.
The suspension setup on the bike is fairly compliant by sportsbike standards. Do not expect it to be overly plush, but it is fairly manageable for the most part. We had to slow down completely when approaching a speedbreaker, and your back will feel the brunt when going over a bad patch. That said, over regular smooth roads there isn't much to complain about, but perhaps the windscreen could have been slightly taller, as the current one does not offer much protection from wind blast even when tucked in fully.
Give it a set of corners and the Gixxer reponds fairly well. However, the stock tyres do not really hold up, and you will feel the need for grippier rubber in order to truly enjoy its capabilities. It is not the sharpest handler, but it leans decently, and it can potentially carry good speeds through corners without needing much correction. It just needs the right set of rubber.
Suzuki Gixxer Flex Fuel Equipment And Features
The Gixxer SF 250 Flex Fuel comes with the same LCD instrument cluster, with bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, ETA updates, call/SMS alerts, phone battery/signal levels, and dual-channel ABS, to name a few things. The connected features can be accessed via Suzuki's app, which is easy to setup and does not take much time. The navigation and ETA updates work well enough and are very useful in daily applications.
One thing though; the fonts on the LCD screen could have been slightly darker, as the current setup is not the easiest to read when on the go, especially during daylight. I felt the navigation arrows were too light even without the dark visor on my helmet. That said, this is a small issue on what works nicely otherwise.
Closing Notes
Given all the chaos around ethanol blended fuel these days, we think the Gixxer's E85-compliant powertrain might just work in Suzuki's favour. Ethanol-blended fuel needs more energy to burn, which in turn leads to more fuel consumption. With its balanced approach to performance and the uncertainty of government norms around ethanol-blended fuel, the Gixxer SF 250 flex fuel suddenly becomes a candidate you should be paying close attention to.
Verdict
The Gixxer SF 250 Flex Fuel offers a rather interesting approach to things. It could potentially cater to a slightly mature audience who want the look and feel of a sportsbike, and performance that is manageable for daily usage without compromising on fuel efficiency.
It is not as frantic as a 250 Duke, nor as highway-friendly as a Dominar 250, and you might feel shortchanged if you judge all three motorcycles simply by their equipment list and price tags. This is something Suzuki could work on in the next update of this bike. That said, we will reiterate our point, that the SF 250 is a candidate worth checking out given all the chaos around ethanol-blended fuel; something that is likely to stay for a while.
