V-Strom 250 and Versys 250 rumoured
Are baby adventure bikes the next niche?
SEPARATE rumours have recently suggested that both Suzuki and Kawasaki are developing parallel twin 250cc adventure tourers to provide new entry-level additions to their dual-sport ranges.
In Japan, the sometimes-accurate Young Machine reckons that the Strom 250 (described as a G-Strom 250 rather than a V-Strom, presumably due to the parallel rather than V-twin engine) is on the cards. Built up around the bargain-basement Inazuma 250, it seems a rational expansion of the range, providing an adventure-styled (if not truly off-road capable) machine at a price well below the V-Strom 650.
And the same logic applies to rumours making the rounds in India that Kawasaki will build a Versys 250 around the engine and frame of the Z250/Ninja 250 (sold as a 300 over here).
While there’s no solid evidence for either machine in terms of spy pictures, the idea of smaller-engined, cheaper bikes with the stance and look of ‘big’ adventure-style machines makes a fair bit of sense. Just as small sports bikes made sense back when superbikes were the aspirational be-all and end-all, presumably new riders who currently dream of big trailies would be the target for the speculative new models.
And if Suzuki and Kawasaki do it, how long before there’s a CB300X (something Honda has already hinted at with its CX-01 concept bike) or a Yamaha R3-based XTZ320 Tenere?
