2018 Hyosung GT250R ABS has been launched and can be booked from dealerships. A long forgotten motorcycle will work today?
DSK Hyosung India has been facing tough times. With the launch of new bikes like the Yamaha R3, the KTM RC and Duke twins, the very recent Apache 310 RR and DSK’s own Benelli Tnt 300, the Hyosung GT250R was overlooked. Furthermore, the GT was underpowered and its high asking price didn’t help either. What finally gave a blow was the omission of ABS which was necessary for safety.
DSK Hyosung plans to refresh the GT. The update comes in the form of a much needed ABS system. The 2018 GT250R now comes with dual-channel ABS. The older non-ABS variant of the GT is officially discontinued. The new GT is priced at 3.48 lacs ex-showroom Mumbai which is still on the higher side, but now it is the only bike in the 250cc segment to be equipped with a dual-channel ABS.
The 2018 Hyosung GT250R can now be booked at an amount of INR 50,000, however, this price may vary from dealer to dealer. The new bike is virtually unchanged except for the addition of the ABS. The bike still oozes with that ‘big bike’ feel which we Indians love so much. The bad boy appeal of the motorcycle with the neat looking twin-projector, vertically stacked headlights, the low stance and its wide fairing is still there. The high set but flat in profile tail features cushy pillion seat with split grab handles to hold onto. The GT comes with the steel canister exhaust which now looks very much outdated.
Doing duty in the GT is the same old 249cc DOHC equipped, air and oil cooled V-twin motor which pumps out 28 horses at 10,000 rpm and produces a spinning force of 22.07Nm at 8,000 rpm. The bike gets a big 17-litre fuel tank. Suspension duties are handled by a pair of USD non-adjustable forks at the front and a mono-shock at the rear. The now ABS equipped dual 300mm discs and a single disc at the rear handle braking duties and the bike tips the scale at a lofty 188 kgs.