Hyosung GT250R Review
Over-priced but Powerful and Stylish
Tuesday, February 12, 2013Overview of Hyosung GT250R
Hyosung have finally entered our Indian bike market and to start off, they have launched their entry level sports bike. Its GT250R which will be directly competing with already established bikes like Kawasaki Ninja250R and newly launched Honda CBR250R. Let’s try to know what to expect from this Korean racer.
Hyosung GT250R Exterior
Hyosung GT250R is a full fairing bike and takes most of the styling cues from its elder sibling GT650R. It’s a full size bike with sporty and aggressive looks. Its vertically aligned twin projector lamps forms the headlight of this bike which makes it looks sharp with edgy lines on its front cowl. Its black colored rear view mirrors are also mounted on its cowl while its transparent visor sits right on the top of its headlight. The fatty front forks along with its mudguard and twin disc plates add visual bulk to this bike.
Move to the side of this bike and you will notice the dual tone color on this bike with lots of bolts fitted in its fairing. Its side decals and air inlets make it look aerodynamic. It features integrated side panel and rear cowl with black colored split grab rail which makes it an attention seeker. The bike sports a neatly designed upraised fuel tank with decal of Hyosung on it. Moreover to add sporty feel to the bike, the makers have opted for full size split seat which looks cool with its shiny sleek, up-swept silencer. The bike looks more naked at the back with wide rear tyre, short fender and small LED tail light. The rear fender also features clear lens side indicators and number plate on it.
Instrument Console of Hyosung GT250R
Hyosung have opted for a combined analogue-digital instrument console and it looks better than its rivals. It features a round shaped analogue Tachometer on the left side while it sports a LCD on the right side for its digital speedometer, 2-tripmeter, odometer and fuel gauge. The bike allows you to adjust the brightness of this LCD for clear vision all the time.
Engine and Gearbox
The bike uses V-twin 250cc engine. This 8 valve, DOHC engine pumps out a power output of 27.6 bhp at 10000 rpm. Its maximum torque output of 22 Nm arrives at 8000 rpm. GT250R comes equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox with a gear shift pattern of one gear down and four gears up.
Acceleration and Performance
To be exact, this Hyosung bike stands somewhere between Honda CBR250R and Kawasaki Ninja250R in terms of acceleration and performance. By saying that we mean its high end performance is surely better and impressive than Honda but it can’t go pass Ninja250R if it’s about high speed cruising. In order to maintain good fuel economy, the bike uses five gears rather than six and the gear ratios are also on the taller side. Certainly, you can’t complain about the refinement as it’s a DOHC engine and the power delivery is also very linear but after 8000rpm we feel this bike breathes hard for power and throttle response is also disappointing. The bike isn’t as responsive as others in city traffic thanks to its less power to weight ratio and taller gears. You have to rev this bike hard to keep the momentum as it does 0-100km/hr in around 9 seconds. The bike can easily cross the speed of 150km/hr but it may take more time than Ninja. The performance of this bike would have been better if it had the much needed sixth gear.
Hyosung GT250R Mileage
This bike can return a fuel economy of around 20-22km/ltr in city conditions and expect these figures to increase up to 5km/ltr on highways.
Comfort while Driving Hyosung GT250R
Hyosung GT250R offers a very convenient yet sporty riding posture. It has bend forward type riding posture which enhances the aerodynamics of this bike. The rear seat is height adjustable which further increases your comfort. The seat has been well padded and you find a nice space for your knees around its fatty fuel tank. It has a vibration free handle bar which offers a nice palm grip and the hand levers are also light and easy to use. Most importantly, the road visibility is quite clear which is quite effective in city traffic.
Storage Space and Safety Features
No, there is no storage space in this bike although it has twin front brake callipers to enhance your safety while driving.
Hyosung GT250R Suspension and Braking
Hyosung have equipped this bike with non-adjustable 41mm inverted front forks. The rear suspension features gas filled mono shock absorber. The braking system of GT250R sports twin front discs of 300mm with twin piston callipers and it has a single disc of 230mm at its back. There is no optional ABS in this bike.
Ride and Handling
The bike is really a gem in this department. It feels better than its competitors when it’s about ride and handling. Its broad tyres and solid suspension provides it good grip of road and it feels quite confident at high speeds. Its steel frame also improves its handling and it shows around corners. In fact in city also, the steer response is quite accurate and it feels nimble in traffic. It has the best in class wheelbase of 1435mm which provides it tremendous stability. Moreover, the low ground clearance of 130mm improves its aerodynamics and stability on highways.
Shades Available in Hyosung GT250R
Hyosung GT250R is available in three attractive shades:
- Silver Fox
- Red Raven
- Flaming Snow
Verdict
Hyosung have priced GT250R at INR 2.75lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi (approx., may vary)). We don’t think it’s a good move from Hyosung as this bike is costlier than its both competitors and we feel it’s been overpriced. We agree it looks stylish and has all the modern features but for a brand which is almost unknown in India; it’s too much to ask for. Moreover, the bike lacks the high speed grunt and for all these reasons we don’t think it’s a complete value for money bike.