Suzuki Inazuma 250F: Real World Road Test

The 250 sector used to be one of the areas that dominated manufacturers’ line ups but those days have long gone. So, why have Suzuki created the Inazuma? Scott Redmond borrowed this example from Wheels Motorcycles in Peterborough and stuck in £15 of unleaded to find out first-hand what it is all about.

There are three versions of this bike to choose from. This one with the full fairing, one with a half fairing and an all singing and dancing one with luggage attached. It’s clear from the start that with only 24 horses beating away at its heart, this isn’t a machine to get your juices flowing like a sports bike can, but forget the mph this bike is all about the mpg. 

For many people a motorcycle is their sole form of transport. They ride because it offers them convenience and value for money. List price for this fully fairing model is £3,499 which includes a two year warranty. Running costs are going to be low as the engine is a two cylinder four stroke unit and the Suzuki blurb indicates that 80mpg can be achieved. For those doing things on a budget, it’s facts like these that matter.

Having fed the tank on the Inazuma with 13 litres of petrol I set off from Peterborough. My rough maths showed me I would have around 200 miles to get to know the baby Bandit until the tank was dry. I headed out of Peterborough and pointed the Inazuma towards London. Life in the suburbs is where this bike would shine. The only downside to my route was I would have to endure 60 miles of the A1 before getting my wheels inside the M25.

After a mile I pulled over. A few stop starts had me convinced that the clutch was not adjusted properly, but after checking the cable adjustment I realised it was perfectly fine. It was my mind set that needed adjusting; first gear is quickly dispatched with and second goes pretty much the same way, delivering me to around 30 mph. 

Out on the A1, I quickly get accustomed to the bike. For a small bike it actually feels big, which is a good thing. The seat is plush with plenty of padding and a decent size. The bars are nice and wide, and I really liked the dash with a nice simple rev counter dominating the binnacle. Sometimes less sometimes is more, and on this occasion it most definitely is. The twin silencers will add weight but they look fab and add to the big bike look.

From where I’m sat it doesn’t feel like I’m riding a bike built on a budget. The shine from the black paint reveals a metallic fleck when the sunshine dances upon it. I had plenty of time to get used to the bike. We sat at 70mph for a while, but the Inazuma was really working to do so. There’s a six speed gearbox but the last cog acts more like an overdrive. Every time I clicked it I had to admit defeat and go for fifth again if I wanted to accelerate. Once I’d got to grips with this it made my ride south easier. Stability was also more in keeping with a bigger bike. The steel tube chassis keeps everything in order, even when side winds attack.