Suzuki has had an interesting approach with the V-Strom over the years—it’s continuously downsized the flagship adventure bike.
It’s not news to the industry, as fellow Japanese manufacturers have done it before; most recently are Honda with the ADV150 and Yamaha with the XSR155. But in the case of Suzuki, it’s built two different mini V-Stroms—the 250 and the 160.
Previously, I was able to test out the V-Strom 250 and was thoroughly impressed. This was why I agreed—almost automatically—to try out the all-new V-Strom 160 when I was given the offer. Did Suzuki once again do right by the V-Strom by making it even smaller?
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Styling
There’s really not much to say about the looks, other than the fact that if you like the original V-Strom, you’ll definitely like this one. It’s a proper miniature version of Suzuki’s popular ADV, with the signature colorway to boot. Interestingly, the bigger V-Strom 250 has a front end more akin to the 1050, while this 160 appears more similar to the 800. Whether or not that was intentional, it’s a nice touch.
The 160 has this split headlight design, albeit I think with a little too much gray plastic up front. There’s a separate beak underneath in true off-road-ready ADV fashion, and a small windscreen up top to protect the instrument cluster. It doesn’t really do much for the rider, but it does complete the look. No handguards here, though. There is a grab bar as well as a tire hugger out back, but I think the taillight design has room for improvement.
Admittedly, it does look a lot less macho than the bigger 250 SX, as the 150 has fewer fairings and a less muscular-looking fuel tank. The 160 also has that single-seat design, whereas the 250 has split seats for the rider and the pillion. Overall, however, the styling makes the V-Strom look bigger than it actually is. You won’t immediately think it’s a 160cc motorcycle when you see it on the road.
The saddle
That bigger-than-it-seems look can also be credited to the commanding riding position that the V-Strom 160 warrants. It has 160mm of ground clearance and a seat height of 795mm or 31.3 inches, which is just about the same as the Burgman 15’s, but the handlebar positioning in the V-Strom 160 will have the rider in a more upright posture.
It actually makes for a more comfortable stance, which is a good thing. Add that to the seat that’s decently cushioned, and you have a bike that won’t be too tiring on long rides. For city riding, it isn’t a chore, either. It’s easy to straddle given its thin frame, so crawling through traffic shouldn’t be an issue, even for shorter riders. I’m about 5’6”, and I had no problems whatsoever with handling this bike. It also helps, perhaps, that it weighs just 148kg when wet.
Engine performance
This mini V-Strom comes with a rather lively 162cc air-cooled, single-cylinder, two-valve engine. It churns out 14.7hp and 14Nm of torque and is paired with a five-speed manual. It’s not a lot, but with the V-Strom’s light frame, the powertrain has no issues propelling the bike.
It won’t be as peppy as a Raider R150, but it’s certainly quick off the line. You’ll feel the strain on the engine when you get to near triple digits and might feel that five gears are lacking, but then again, you wouldn’t be able to ride this fast that often given the speed limits on our highways. This isn’t expressway-legal, in case you forgot, so you’ll mostly be limited to 60kph.
Given its target market, the V-Strom 160 will mostly be used as a workhorse or a commuter bike within the city, and either way, it will excel. It’s quite efficient, as I netted 42-43km/L with a heavy hand on the throttle. I’m sure 50km/L or more will be easily achievable with this bike.
Ride and handling
Speaking of using the V-Strom in urban settings, it’s effortless to filter through traffic with this bike. As I mentioned, it’s not a chore to straddle, so even for beginners, duck walking this should be fairly easy. The clutch is also forgiving, so if you do get stuck in a gridlock, at the very least, the bike won’t punish your left hand. Suffice to say, low-speed maneuvers are also a cinch to do with the V-Strom 160.
If you do decide to bring the bike through more open roads, you’ll find that it’s also a very enjoyable ‘commuter’ on long trips. The ride is very comfortable, and the suspension makes quick work of everyday road imperfections. Even through twisties, the bike feels obedient and is nimble through corners. Stopping power is also solid, and it helps that there’s dual-channel ABS available to add confidence when braking.
The ABS isn’t switchable, however, which might be a bummer for experienced off-roaders who are eyeing this bike. That said, it should still be more than capable on light trails, as it also sits on dual-sport tires as standard. For more intense adventures, though, you might want to upgrade to spoke wheels (if they’re available) and add a bash plate while you’re at it. Heck, get some hand guards and off-road mirrors, too, since you’re already there.
Extra features
Amenities aren’t aplenty, but at least the V-Strom 160 has the aforementioned dual-channel ABS. There’s a round LCD instrument cluster with a gear indicator and separate trip meters, and above it is a small panel that displays the warning lights, and that’s about it. No Suzuki Ride Connect features here, unfortunately. There is a center stand, if that’s something of concern to you.
Verdict
It may lack some toys here and there, but for its main purpose—which is to serve as a reliable steed for daily rides—the V-Strom 160 does the job well. At P146,000 you’re basically getting something similar to a small maxi scooter, only it promises better fuel efficiency and offers what is arguably a more lively riding experience.
Apart from its value proposition, though, what I think makes this a good product from Suzuki is that it’s a proper mini V-Strom that’s more ideal for the target market. The 250 SX was supposed to be the pang-masa V-Strom, but north of P200,000 just won’t cut it for buyers with a limited budget. At least for the V-Strom 160, it’s a more hand-in-glove fit for the intended customers.
SPECS: 2027 Suzuki V-Strom 160
Price: P146,000
Engine: 162cc air-cooled, single-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Power: 14.7hp @ 8,000rpm
Torque: 14Nm @ 6,500rpm
Wet weight: 148kg
Seat height: 795mm (31.3 inches)
Fuel-tank capacity: 13 liters
Score: 9/10
More photos of the Suzuki V-Strom 160 2027:
