In the Asian market, small displacement adventure bikes are proliferating like crazy. Honda’s CB150X has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, and of course, models like the Kawasaki Versys X300 and KTM 390 Adventure have made their presence felt even in the U.S. and Europe. Indeed, bikes like these prove that you don’t really need big power and displacement to have a good time both on and off road.
The latest to join in on the small-capacity ADV game is none other than Suzuki, who has just unveiled the V-Strom 250 in the Philippines. Unlike what has become customary for the ‘Strom, the 250 doesn’t get a V-twin engine, but rather, an oil-cooled single-cylinder engine. Displacing 249 cubes, this robust powerplant churns out a respectable 29 horsepower, making it more than punchy enough to deliver confidence-inspiring acceleration. According to Suzuki, the “V” in V-Strom stands for Versatile, although those of us who have been familiar with the moniker would say it’s representative of the bike’s V-twin engine.
