Suzuki V-Strom SX 250 vs KTM 250 Adventure vs Benelli TRK 251: Spec Comparison

Indian roads are quite like off-road trails without the fun. Be it in urban areas or a town still climbing the ropes of development. No wonder then manufacturers are launching adventure sport-tourers, especially in the mass-market space to combat bad roads with better ride quality, adventure-ish design, and an engine developed for the urban environment. The newly launched Suzuki V-Strom SX 250 is the latest entrant in this space and the surprise launch is grabbing a lot of attention. But how does it compete against existing offerings in the quarter-litre segment - KTM 250 Adventure and the Benelli TRK 251? Let's take a look at how these bikes compare against each other on paper.

Also Read: Suzuki V-Strom SX Launched In India; Prices Begin At Rs. 2.11 Lakh

Dimensions

The Suzuki V-Strom SX 250 is based on the standard Gixxer 250 and borrows quite a few bits including the 12-litre fuel tank. The frame too is borrowed from the Gixxer but the subframe and swingarm are all-new on the motorcycle. Compared to the Gixxer 250, the V-Strom SX gets a longer wheelbase by 100 mm while the ground clearance is a generous 205 mm and the seat height higher at 835 mm.

Motorcycle	Suzuki V-Strom SX	KTM 250 Adventure	Benelli TRK 251
Length	2180 mm	2154 mm	2070 mm
Width	880 mm	900 mm	840 mm
Height	1355 mm	1263 mm	1300 mm
Wheelbase	1440 mm	1430 mm	1390 mm
Kerb Weight	167 kg	177 kg	164 kg (Dry)
Fuel Tank Capacity	12 Litres	14.5 Litres	18 Litres
Ground Clearance	205 mm	200 mm	170 mm
Seat Height	835 mm	855 mm	800 mm

Also Read: KTM 250 Adventure Review: Take It Easy

In contrast, the KTM 250 Adventure uses the 250 Duke's trellis frame with a different subframe. The bike gets a higher seat height at 855 mm, a good 20 mm more than the V-Strom SX while the fuel tank is larger at 14.5 litres. The ground clearance stands at 200 mm, while the wheelbase is shorter by 10 mm. The KTM 250 Adventure is also the heavier motorcycle here at 177 kg (kerb) as against the Suzuki's 167 kg kerb weight.

When it comes to weighing up against rivals, the Benelli TRK 251 is the heaviest motorcycle with an unladen weight of 164 kg. This should put the kerb weight around 185 kg. However, the additional weight comes from the significantly larger 18-litre fuel tank. The TRK 251 though gets the lowest seat height here at 800 mm but it also gets the least ground clearance at 170 mm. The wheelbase too is shorter at 1390 mm.

Engine Output

All three engines get an identical setup with a 249 cc four-valve motor in place, paired with a 6-speed transmission. The big difference is oil cooling on the Suzuki V-Strom SX as against the liquid-cooled engine on the TRK 251 and the 250 Adventure. The difference is also visible in terms of power output. The V-Strom makes do with 26 bhp and 22 Nm, while the KTM is more performance-oriented with 29 bhp and 24 Nm on offer.

Specifications	Suzuki V-Strom SX	KTM 250 Adventure	Benelli TRK 251
Displacement	249 cc oil-cooled	248.8 cc liquid-cooled	249 cc liquid-cooled
Max Power	26 bhp @ 9300 rpm	29 bhp @ 9000 rpm	25 bhp @ 9250 rpm
Peak Torque	22 Nm @ 7300 rpm	24 Nm @ 7500 rpm	21.1 Nm @ 8000 rpm
Transmission	6-Speed	6-Speed	6-Speed

The Benelli TRK 251 belts out 25 bhp and 21.1 Nm, making it the least powered offering in this comparison. In real-world performance, the Suzuki and KTM should come close with the latter having a certain advantage, while the Benelli is likely going to be much slower in comparison. Something, we do plan to test out when we ride these motorcycles.

Also Read: Suzuki V-Strom SX: All You Need To Know

Suspension & Brakes

Cycle Parts	Suzuki V-Strom SX	KTM 250 Adventure	Benelli TRK 251
Front Suspension	Telescopic Forks, 120 mm travel	USD Forks, 170 mm travel	Telescopic Forks, 135 mm travel
Rear Suspension	Monoshock	Monoshock, 177 mm travel	Monoshock, 51 mm travel
Brakes	Discs with ABS	320 mm Disc (F), 230 mm Disc (R)	280 mm Disc (F), 240 mm Disc (R)
Tyres	19-inch (F), 17-inch (R)	19-inch (F), 17-inch (R)	17-inch (Front & Rear)

The Suzuki V-Strom SX is a sports adventure tourer but firmly built for city rides and the occasional weekend excursion. If you are looking at a proper adventure motorcycle, the Hero XPulse 200 4V, Royal Enfield Himalayan and the Yezdi Adventure are the better picks. That's because the Suzuki gets a road-biased suspension. The telescopic front forks come with 120 mm of travel. The KTM manages to do better with 170 mm of travel from its USD front forks, whereas the Benelli TRK 251 sits in the middle with 135 mm of travel from the telescopic forks. The V-Strom SX and 250 Adventure ride on 19-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels. The TRK 251 uses 17-inch alloys at either end. Concerning brakes, all three bikes get disc brakes with dual-channel ABS but only the KTM gets the ability to turn ABS for the rear wheel, making it more off-road biased than its rivals.

Price

Price	Suzuki V-Strom SX	KTM 250 Adventure	Benelli TRK 251
Ex-Showroom	Rs. 2.12 Lakh	Rs. 2.35 Lakh	Rs. 2.64 Lakh

The Suzuki V-Strom is priced at Rs. 2.12 lakh, which makes it about Rs. 20,000 more affordable than the KTM 250 Adventure priced at Rs. 2.35 lakh. The Benelli TRK 251 is the most expensive here at Rs. 2.64 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom), which makes it a good Rs. 52,000 pricier than the Suzuki. For those looking at an adventure sport-tourer, the V-Strom SX 250 retains the best value while the 250 Adventure promises the best of both worlds at a slight premium. It's difficult to justify the premium on the TRK 251. Read our detailed price comparison here.