Suzuki’s new Gixxer can run on biofuel

Suzuki will be exhibiting an interesting new bike at the Japan Mobility Show, as its Gixxer SF 250 FFV (Flex Fuel Version) will be taking centre stage.

The bike, which has already been on sale in India for some time, is being shown for the first time in what Suzuki claims to be an “Overseas specification model”. Whether that relates to the model leaving Asia and making its way to Europe or the USA remains to be seen. It could also be that the model is currently available in India but not in Japan.

Either way, it’s an interesting model, and set up to run on fuel created from 85 per cent ethanol and just 15 per cent petrol. To enable the 249cc single-cylinder engine to run on the more sustainable fuel, modifications are required to the injector, fuel pump, and ECU. It’s also likely that some of the plastic parts that come into contact with the fuel will also have been adapted - high ethanol content fuels can play havoc with rubber and plastic parts such as fuel lines.

One promising piece of information regarding the model is its engine performance, which is claimed to be the same regardless of the fuel used. Suzuki claims the Gixxer SF 250 FFV makes 26 bhp at 9,300 rpm, irrespective of whether it is using E85 or E20 grade fuel. For reference, the standard Gixxer SF 250 (non FFV) is claimed to also make 26 bhp, meaning there seems to be no discernible difference between the two models.

Alongside the new Gixxer SF FFV will be a reimagined version of the cult classic VanVan, although this model might be slightly less interesting to most Visordown readers. The e-VanVan is, as the name suggests, battery powered, and as it is classed as a “Reference Exhibit” (a concept), we don’t expect that bike to be hitting the streets any time soon. It could, though, shine a light on Suzuki’s future design direction, if/when it decides to jump more heavily into the electric segment.

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