Suzuki GW250

Suzuki GW250

Motorcycle manufacturer Suzuki is set to launch its 250cc bike GW250 in India in the second half of 2011. The company is bullish on the growing power bike segment of the Indian bike industry. The motorcycle may be priced around Rs. 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh. The 250cc 4-stroke liquid-cooled engine of Suzuki GW250 offers 26 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 24Nm torque at 7,000 rpm. The Suzuki GW250 will most probably sport naked looks. With the GW250, Suzuki will aim at rivaling the Honda CBR250R and the Kawasaki Ninja 250R.

Suzuki has a long history of operation in India. It started with a joint venture along with TVS company of India in the 1980s. The joint venture had launched a 100cc bike for the Indian market. However, soon another joint venture Hero Honda overtook sales of Suzuki-TVS. At last, the joint venture of TVS and Suzuki came to an end in 2001, and later both players came out with their own products. Suzuki launched 125cc bikes Zeus and Heat in 2006.

As of now Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited sells its two-wheelers GSX-R1000, Bandit 1250S, Hayabusa 1300, Intruder M1800R, GS150R, SlingShot and SlingShot Plus, besides the scooter Access 125 in India.

Suzuki India, currently working with just three localized products and three imports, is now gearing up to launch another product in its portfolio with the GW250 – a 250cc single cylinder motorcycle with its styling based on Suzuki’s 1,300cc naked monster, the B-King. With the 250cc market in the country heating up like never before, Suzuki too wants a piece of the pie and it is sufficiently armored to take on the competition with the smart-looking GW250. Pricing will be a key factor in determining how well this Suzuki performs in the Indian space, however considering the fact that there is going to be a lot of players in this category, Suzuki will be forced to price the GW250 competitively. Expect the new Suzuki to be in the dealerships by late 2012.