Is this the best value Adventure bike in NZ? I am an average, middle-aged motorcycle enthusiast who’ s owned many bikes over the years. I have ridden most competitive disciplines, even scooter racing in the Manawatu and miniature road racing around the houses at Ohakea Air Base and achieved an NZ MX title in 2016. Adventure riding has always been a passion involving my wife Janice as pillion, having ridden together on over 60 organised, and not so organised, rides. Some of these rides have been in out back stations particularly in the South Island( incl. Mt Buster, Napolean Hill, Omarama Saddle, Macetown, Black Forest, Piano Flat, plus dozens of others). I decided recently that I would try a new small capacity adv bike, as I now mostly ride solo. After some research I decided to buy a Suzuki V-Strom 250 from Phil Turnbull at Courtesy Motorcycles. Some of the reasons for choosing this model were the bullet proof 250 Gixxer engine, the fact that I could pick it up if dropped and, most of all, the price compared with other lightweight adventure bikes. The bike was a bit lacking in the air filter department, so I contacted Phil and Suzuki NZ, and came up with a mod to make it a washable foam type, more suited to NZ conditions. Other than the filter, the only change I made to the wee‘ Strom was to fit an exhaust system, removing the cat which weighed 4.5kg. The bike has mainly done hardcore adventure rides, as I go to the South Island twice a year with 20 other riders. This is the smallest capacity bike on the trips and has never let me down or caused an inconvenience( we never come home with the same number of bikes …). Sure, the bike is not a flier on the highway but holds its own on metal and off-road the engine is happy running at 10,000rpm and 120km / h all day. The bike has now travelled 16,000km and is the same as when it was new. Its strength and reliability cannot be questioned. I hear riders say you must have a 21-inch front wheel, yes, it helps, but it’ s not the‘ be all and end all’. A 19- inch front will do the job as well. I am prepared to say that the new Suzuki 250 V-Strom is the best lightweight adventure bike in New Zealand. Why? 250cc of proven four-stroke, oil-cooled engine, tubeless tyres, non-adjustable suspension means there’ s no fiddling( I’ ve not touched mine- I’ m 6’/ 184cm and 90kg). But the biggest plus is the price at $ 6999 with a two-year warranty. Other sub-400cc adventure bikes have their pluses but are considerably more expensive. Comparing the V-Strom on value for money I would be happy to purchase another.