Branded as the Inazuma 250 outside of the US market, the GW250 took its sweet time arriving in the States. Having debuted at the company’s dealer show last year, the 2013 model is just now hitting the sales floor as Suzuki finally settled on its $3999 MSRP.
Watch Suzuki's latest entry-level bike in action in the 2013 Suzuki GW250 First Ride video review.
A liquid-cooled Parallel Twin powers the GW, with a single overhead cam actuating the two-valve cylinder heads. The undersquare engine incorporates a 53.5mm bore and 55.2mm stroke to displace 248cc. Suzuki claims 24 horsepower from its little GW mill, with peak torque 16.2 lb-ft. Neither stat gets the better of its 250 rivals from Honda and Kawasaki – with Suzuki’s own data rating the CBR250 at 26 hp/16.89 lb-ft and Ninja 250 at 32.1 hp/16.2 lb-ft (the Ninja 300 claiming an even bigger advantage).
Off the bottom there ain’t a whole lot of beans on tap, but the Suzuki revs quick and throttles up to speed just fine. I topped out on the freeway at 81 mph – and could have gone faster with more open space, but not much more. Freeway performance is capable enough, though passing power above 70 mph takes some time.
A gear-driven balancer shaft does an effective job keeping the GW’s Twin from getting too buzzy. At the higher rpm that it prefers the vibrations do manifest – but nothing egregious. In our estimation it’s on par with the CBR250R in this regard.
For novice riders, the engine’s best feature is its forgiving throttle and smooth fueling. Even purposely hamfisted inputs saw the fuel-injected GW meter out a drama-free linear power delivery. It’s a completely unintimidating engine package.
The six-speed transmission is another highlight for the GW. The clutch engages with reassuring feel at the lever and the bike is mindlessly easy to launch. A well-sorted gearbox ensures confident shifts, and neutral is super easy to find – a trait that more expensive and refined bikes would have trouble replicating. Oh, and the GW always lets riders know what gear they are in thanks to the handy gear position indicator on the dash (more on this later).
As far as handling goes, our best corners in Orlando were preceded by Exit # signage, so it’s difficult to say how the GW250 will perform during spirited backroad jaunts. The few turns I did encounter, and later simulated in the convention center parking lot, saw the Suzuki turn-in reasonably quick – perhaps not as fast as its quick-turning CBR and Ninja rivals, but maybe less twitchy too. In motion the bike doesn’t feel particularly heavy, but the GW’s 403 pound curb weight is somehow about 20 to 40 pounds more than its fully-faired 250/300 rivals.
The GW fares better for city use where its non-adjustable fork and seven-step preload adjustable shock, both from Kayaba, suck up the pavement. The settings are soft and springy but made for a comfortable and steady ride over poor and pristine surfaces alike during our sightseeing tour of Orlando metro sprawl – making the GW an ideal commuting platform.
A single-disc front brake pinched by two-piston Nissin calipers brings things to a halt with a stern squeeze on the lever. The rear brake plays its part too, though the IRC tire breaks loose with even a moderate stomp on the pedal (ABS not available even as an option). The underwhelming components get the job done, and I’ll cut the front brake some slack for the nice five-position lever adjustment.
This new Suzuki is manufactured in China, carrying all the baggage such a designation implies. That said, fit and finish on the GW impressed. I found the controls and bodywork solid and sturdy. It doesn’t feel like a cheap, flimsy knockoff – instead it presents itself as a well-made machine. The instrument console is the highlight in this regard – with an analog speedo offset by several idiot lights on the left and an LCD display on the right. The latter incorporates a digital speedo and fuel gauge. Inset within the tach is another small LCD housing the gear position indicator, one of our personal favorites in a dashboard display and a real boon for novice riders too.
Some riders will not find it in themselves to stomach the GW’s styling. Suzuki claims the short-lived B-King inspired the GW250 lines, particularly evident in the headlight assembly. I’d say the little 250 is more an amalgam of the B-King and Gladius naked. Sure, the massive beak of a fender appears determined to wrap entirely around the front tire and don't do the GW any favors, but overall I’d say the looks ain’t half bad. Then again, I liked the B-King too...
After a couple hours on the GW250 it showed true promise as an affordable entry-level platform and commuter bike. Whether it will outperform the CBR250R head to head is another matter, but it definitely fills a niche as the lone standard naked of the quarter-liter ranks in the US. Talking with a handful of the gathered Suzuki dealers in Orlando, they all seemed eager to have the GW, at last, as a counter against the affordable price-of-entries to Honda and Kawasaki.
The entry-level motorcycle class continues to grow and Suzuki has contributed a solid addition. While performance isn’t overwhelming, the GW250 is an inviting user-friendly platform to coax new riders into the Suzuki ranks. Add its lowest-in-class price point at $3999 and the GW could very well be a new staple for Hamamatsu.
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