The Korean manufacturer has been really trying hard with having a success in our market for a long time. All their success stories, if any, have been very short-lived, and with ten models in the country, none of them have a great one to share. Blame their marketing department for not creating the hype.

But without giving up on their standing chance, Hyosung has been undergoing a rescue mission and developed a new platform for their smaller capacity motorcycles. And the first iteration from them is the GD250R. It features a single-cylinder motor and is aimed at a full faired sports segment.

We all had seen the GD250R at the EICMA in Milan a couple of years back, but we couldn’t figure out why it could not generate a considerable interest back then. Then, it was on display at the Long Beach IMS, and looking at the motorcycle in its flesh, faith seems to have gotten restored.

2017 - 2018 Hyosung GD250R

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2017 - 2018 Hyosung GD250R
  • Horsepower: 25
  • Torque: 18
  • Transmission: 6
Pros
Cons

STYLING

The GD250R brings in a fresh outlook to the rather dud designs attributed to other models in the line-up. The sharp and aggressive lines carry the motorcycle’s features really well. Made to compete against the quarter-liters, it definitely smacks the competition right out of the ball park in terms of styling.

The front houses projection lens with uplink and downlink splitting-type headlights and LED sidelights. It looks like a merger between the Yamaha Fazer and Triumph Daytona 675. Above it is the large wind deflector, and rear view mirrors mounted onto the front panel. 5.8” LCD with adjustable brightness instrumentation is a pretty decent affair.

The side panels are well chiseled and have got a unique textured shape that gives the motorcycle a fighting attitude. The bodywork is quite stylishly designed, and it also gives us a peek at the red trellis frame which beautifully contrasts with the color palette. Trying to show off its prowess, the rear suspension unit is completely exposed and so it the stainless steel underbelly muffler. A nice visually appealing touch according to me.

Large and towering fuel tank gives it a big-bike feel to it. It allows easy access to the air cleaner box for easy serviceability and the fuel tank is made of reinforced plastic material to reduce the weight. As a matter of fact, the fuel tank located much below near the cog to improve weight centralization.

Dual tone two-up split seats look really plush and one of the best in the segment. At the rear, you will find a full LED light cluster that integrates into the curve to finish an aggressive design. The all-digital instrument console having a wide panel with the added feature of a gear shift indicator and a digital clock.

Overall Dimension

Make Model

Hyosung GD250R

Yamaha YZF R3

Kawasaki Ninja 300

Length

76.2 in

82.3 in

79.3 in

Width

27.5 in

28.3 in

28.1 in

Height

43.3 in

44.7 in

43.7 in

Wheelbase

52.9 in

54.3 in

55.3 in

Seat height

31.1 in

30.7 in

30.9 in

Wet weight

352 lb

368 lb

383.7 lb

Fuel Tank

2.9 gal

3.7 gal

4.5 gal


POWERTRAIN

This motorcycle will feature the same motor showcased in the GD250N. A 250cc single-cylinder, water-cooled, engine with electronic fuel injection that provides improved fuel efficiency. An entirely new architecture far away from the V-twin that powers the Gt250R, the brand’s previous quarter-liter.

The new Single is oversquare and revvable to 10,700 rpm. The motor punches a healthy 28.4 hp @ 9500 rpm and torques at a maximum 17.8 lb-ft @ 7000 rpm. One more horsepower than the twin cylinder brother, the GT250R. Power will be transmitted through a six-speed gearbox and a wet-multi plate clutch action. Refinement levels and responsiveness are said to be better than the V-Twin GT.

The bike will weigh in at 352 pounds, wet, 72 less than the GT. This simply means that this motorcycle will eat up the GT figures with ease and produce better power to weight ratio and ride dynamics than its predecessor. Expect a unique throaty exhaust note from the underbelly unit.

Engine Specification

Make Model

Hyosung GD250R

Yamaha YZF R3

Kawasaki Ninja 300

Capacity cc

249

321

296

Bore / Stroke mm

73 / 59.6

68 / 44.1

62 / 49

Output

28.4 hp @ 9500 rpm

41.4 hp @ 10750 rpm

39 hp @ 11000 rpm

Torque

17.8 lb-ft @ 7000 rpm

20 lb-ft @ 9000 rpm

20.6 lb-ft @ 10000 rpm

Type

Liquid cooled DOHC 4-valve Single cylinde

2-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valves

Parallel twin engine, liquid-cooled, DOHC

Clutch type

Wet- Multiplate

Multi-plate wet

Slipper multi-plate wet

Transmission

6-speed

6-speed

6-speed


RIDE AND HANDLING

Given the sporty figure of this motorcycle, you get wide clip-on handlebars for that sport riding position with a bend recess. Position adjustable cast aluminum footpeg sets allow for varying leg positions. Your legs can wrap around the contour of the tank pretty well and can give you sufficient confidence to ride the motorcycle aggressively. The tall 31.1 in saddle will favor taller riders.

The fuel tank is tilted towards the swingarm pivot so that the fuel always gathers around for a better center of gravity. This provides natural steering character by reducing the amount of front and rear weight transfer. The silencer too is purposefully located below the swingarm pivot which improves mass centralization. All of these provide the motorcycle better active handling capabilities.

Suspension duties are handled by 37mm USD Telescopic forks at the front, and a pre-load adjustable dual side aluminum swing arm with a gas-charged hydraulic shock absorber at the rear. The lateral shock absorber is pivoted directly on the swingarm, and this frees up space to the centrally located fuel tank and eventually allows perfectly symmetrical weight distribution.

High-efficiency steel braided brake lines are made use for constant efficient braking performances. Four-piston caliper with 300 mm and twin caliper 230 mm petal disc brakes are installed on both the front and rear for adequate control and greater stopping power. ABS is missing on this motorcycle, and we hope Hyosung provides it as an optional. The low-profile MRF REVZ radials feel up to the task.

Chassis Specifications

Make Model

Hyosung GD250R

Yamaha YZF R3

Kawasaki Ninja 300

Frame

Steel tubular trellis perimeter main frame & Steel tubular assembly sub frame

Tubular steel Trellis frame

Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel

Suspension / Front

37 mm upside-down forks

41mm KYB telescopic fork; 130 mm travel

37mm hydraulic telescopic fork; 119 mm

Suspension / Rear

Dual side Aluminum Swing arm with Gas charged Hydraulic shock absorber (Nonstep Preload adjustable)

KYB single shock; 124 mm travel

Uni-Trak 5-way adjustable preload; 132

Brakes / Front

300 mm Petal shaped spoke mounted single disc, 4 opposed pistons caliper, Stainless mesh hose

290mm petal-type disc with 2-piston hydraulic caliper, ABS

298mm hydraulic disc

Brakes / Rear

230 mm Petal shaped single disc, 2 opposed pistons caliper, Stainless mesh hose

220mm hydraulic disc

220mm petal-type disc with 2-piston hydraulic caliper, ABS

Tires / Front

110/70 R17

110/70 R17

110/70 R17

Tires / Rear

150/60 R17

140/70 R17

140/70 R17


PRICE

This is the only department where probably it takes away the limelight from its competition. At $4,099, it retails 10 to 20% less than its competitors. But this also justifies considering just about how not-as-good it actually is.

You can avail this in three color options. Black, White and Grey/Silver and all of them come with black inserts and the EXIV R decals.

Make Model

Hyosung GD250R

Yamaha YZF R3

Kawasaki Ninja 300

MSRP

$ 4,099

$ 4,999

$ 4,999


COMPETITION

Yamaha YZF-R3

Yamaha believes in leaning into corners and coming out of it smoothly and also going fast. The Japanese two-wheeler giant has manufactured some of the World’s fastest and sweetest handling bikes, but the latest offering from their stable is the new YZF-R3 which the manufacturer is calling one light and practical everyday useable motorcycle.

The R3 too looks similar to the R25, and its styling has been heavily borrowed from the other motorcycle and perhaps this the new styling DNA of the YZF series which consists of some significant motorcycles including the recently added R3.

Powered by a 2-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves 321 cc engine this motorcycle produces more power than the R25. The engine mated to a sequential 6-speed gearbox produces about 42 bhp of peak power at 10750 rpm and 20 lb-ft of torque at 9000 rpm. This motorcycle also has electronic fuel injected engine which will send the exact amount of oil to the engine making sure that the motorcycle receives the right amount of power and without any wastage of oil.

A set of 41 mm, KYB front forks provides a plush ride with monoshock on the swingarm. A two-pot, piston-and-anvil caliper bites a single, 298 mm front disc, and a one-pot caliper binds the 220 mm rear disc.

Kawasaki Ninja 300

The 300 had replaced the undisputed quarter-liter king back in 2013, and the new bike was sportier, more aggressive and more fun to ride than the lesser cubed 250 cc Ninja. The bike was also packed with enough alphabet-soup tech acronyms that were scarce in other motorcycles in the segment at that time, and this made it very entertaining and accessible to new riders.

Having remodeled to keep pace with modern superbikes, it very much looks like it carries a four pot in its belly. The styling curves and lines have remained the same since the 2013 model because why will you change something that is already good?

The 2017 model will feature the same four-stroke, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled, 296cc engine that has been running since 2013. The digital fuel injected unit is capable of churning out a healthy 38.5bhp at 11000rpm, with peak torque 20.6 lb-ft delivered at 10000rpm. This is a high revving engine which can max at an astonishing 13000 rpm tuned to deliver strong low- and mid-range torque. It is a highly responsive and a reactive power mill that rewards the rider into being very engaging to extract every ounce of power from it.

Kawasaki’s Uni-Trak monoshock system tends to the swingarm and comes with adjustable preload and the 37 mm forks push the wheelbase out to a compact, 55.3 inches long, and the entire bike measures out at only 79.3-inches overall. The single, 290 mm front brake disc and 220 mm rear come cut in a wave-pattern that dissipates heat more rapidly than a straight cut rotor. Discs at both ends of the bike get pinched by twin-pot calipers, and the Ninja is available with or without ABS protection.

VERDICT

2017, the year the GD250R made its entry onto our shores, ran hot on the quarter-liter segment with many manufacturers coming up with low displacement products at cut-throat pricing making it a tough challenge for the GD. The market was basically ruled by the Hondas', Yamahas' and the Kawasakis'. Then came the Austrian KTMs’ that took everyone’s sales away to their stride and made a racket out of it.

The launch of this GD250R is like a breather for the poor performing Hyosung in the country. It looks like many liter-class bikes and runs a refined and raunchy engine. Only if it as good as it looked, it would have been the talk of the town. But unfortunately, it rakes much less that in its competition pretty much everywhere.

I am sorry Hyosung, but you need to fare much better. Pull out the stops and build one really good motorcycle someday.