Suzuki Gixxer 250 Review: Just New Colors or Worth Buying?

Let’s cut to the chase. The 250cc segment in India is brutal. You have the aggressive KTMs on one side and the heavy-duty Bajaj Dominars on the other. Caught in the middle is the Suzuki Gixxer 250.

Suzuki has just refreshed the lineup for 2026 (announced January 2026). But here is the burning question: Is it a brand new bike? No. It is the same reliable mechanical beast with a fresh coat of paint. But—and this is a big “but”—Suzuki has kept the price unchanged.

With the 2026 Suzuki Gixxer 250 price starting at ₹1,81,517 (Ex-Showroom, Delhi), it is now significantly cheaper than its primary rivals. In a market where bike prices are hiking every three months, is this price freeze enough to make it the winner?

I spent a week with the new Pearl Glacier White variant, riding it through the choked streets of Mumbai and the open highways of Lonavala. Here is the unfiltered truth.

1. Quick Specs: What You Get For ₹1.81 Lakh

Suzuki loves their engineering quirks, and the standout here is the SOCS (Suzuki Oil Cooling System). It’s not Liquid Cooled, it’s not Air Cooled. It uses the engine oil itself to cool the engine, saving weight and maintenance costs.

2. Exterior Design & Road Presence

The 2026 update is primarily cosmetic. The bike now comes in two fresh options: Glass Sparkle Black and the stunning Pearl Glacier White with Metallic Mat Platinum Silver.

The Good:

The bike looks muscular without being overly plastic. The tank shrouds are sharp, and the twin-pod exhaust (chrome-tipped) gives it a big-bike feel. The LED headlamp is sleek and aggressive.

The Bad:

It is starting to look a bit dated compared to the alien-looking KTM Duke 250 Gen-3. It doesn’t scream “I have arrived” as loudly as a Husqvarna or a Duke. It’s subtle—a gentleman’s sports bike.

3. Interior, Comfort & Features

This is where Suzuki plays it safe—perhaps too safe.

The Dashboard:

You get a fully digital negative LCD instrument cluster. It is Bluetooth enabled with Suzuki Ride Connect (Turn-by-turn navigation, Call/SMS alerts).

• My Gripe: It looks old school. The font is small, and in direct sunlight, it can be slightly hard to read compared to the TFT screens on the TVS Apache series.

Comfort & Ergonomics:

The seating posture is the Gixxer’s biggest weapon. It is slightly committed but not back-breaking like the R15.

• For the Rider: The tank is sculpted perfectly for your knees. The handlebar is wide and upright enough for city traffic.
• For the Pillion: The rear seat is… existant. It’s better than the Duke or R15, but for long tours, your pillion will complain. It’s strictly for city hops.

Missing Features:

• No Slip-and-Assist Clutch (The clutch is light, but this is a miss for 2026).
• No Traction Control.
• No Upside Down (USD) Forks.

4. Engine Performance & Driving Dynamics

I have always said this: Don’t judge a bike by its spec sheet. The Gixxer makes “only” 26.5 PS, which is less than the Duke 250 (31 PS). But on the road, the story is different.

City Drive (0-60 kmph):

The torque is available very early. You don’t need to wring the throttle to get moving. In 3rd gear, you can comfortably potter around at 30 kmph and then accelerate to 70 kmph without shifting down. It is surprisingly tractable.

Highway Drive (100 kmph+):

I cruised at 110 kmph on the Mumbai-Pune highway, and the engine felt buttery smooth. The Oil Cooling system works. Even after a 200km non-stop run, the engine heat didn’t roast my legs (unlike the KTMs).

• Vibrations: Minimal vibrations creep in only after 7,500 rpm on the footpegs.

Handling & Suspension:

The suspension is tuned slightly on the stiffer side. You will feel the sharp potholes in your spine. However, this stiffness makes it a joy around corners. It holds its line perfectly.

5. Safety & Build Quality

Suzuki build quality is typically Japanese—bulletproof. The panels don’t rattle, and the switchgear feels tactile and clicky.

• Braking: Dual-Channel ABS is standard. The bite from the ByBre calipers is progressive and strong. It stops without drama.
• Tires: It runs on wide radial tires (150-section at the rear). Grip levels are excellent on dry tarmac, though average on wet surfaces.

6. Real World Mileage: The Truth

Suzuki claims an ARAI mileage of roughly 38 kmpl. But we don’t care about lab tests. Here is what I got:

• City Traffic (Bumper to Bumper): 32 – 34 kmpl.
• Highway Cruising (80-90 kmph): 38 – 40 kmpl.
• Aggressive Riding: 28 kmpl.

Tank Range: With a 12-litre tank, expect a real-world range of about 400-420 km on a full tank. That is decent for touring.

7. The Competition: Gixxer vs The World

Auto-detecting the strongest 250cc rivals:

1. KTM 250 Duke (The Performance King)
2. Bajaj Dominar 250 (The Touring King)

The Comparison:

• Vs KTM: The KTM is ₹50,000+ more expensive now. The performance gap exists, but for city usage, is the Duke worth 50k extra? I don’t think so.
• Vs Dominar: The Dominar is heavy (180kg). If you have to reverse it in a parking lot, you will sweat. The Gixxer (156kg) feels like a toy in comparison.

Winner: Suzuki Gixxer 250 wins purely on Value For Money. It gives you 90% of the fun for significantly less money.

8. Final Verdict

The 2026 Suzuki Gixxer 250 is not the most exciting bike on the market. It doesn’t have a TFT screen, it doesn’t have traction control, and it doesn’t do wheelies in 3rd gear.

But, it is a sensible, mature, and fast motorcycle. It is for the rider who wants to commute to work on weekdays and hit the highway on weekends without worrying about service bills or overheating.

Score: 8/10

BUY IT IF:

• You want VFM: At ₹1.81 Lakh, it is a steal compared to the inflated prices of rivals.
• You ride in the city: The light clutch and low weight make it the best 250cc city bike.
• You hate heating issues: The SOCS engine runs cooler than any Liquid-Cooled engine in traffic.

SKIP IT IF:

• You are a Tech Geek: The dashboard feels dated compared to the TVS Apache or KTM.
• You want Touring Comfort: The suspension is stiff; the Dominar is more comfortable for long straight roads.
• You want Road Presence: It blends in. If you want attention, buy the Duke.

9. FAQs (People Also Ask)