Inazuma showcase

The Suzuki Inazuma 250—"Inazuma" meaning lightning in Japanese—might just be the slowest bolt to ever strike.

Launched in 2012, this humble commuter bike wasn’t built to set pulses racing but rather to get you reliably from A to B without a fuss. With its 248cc parallel-twin engine producing a modest 24 horsepower, it had all the electrifying excitement of a light drizzle.

Yet, that’s precisely what made it charming: it was affordable, practical, and rock-solid reliable—ideal for learners and commuters who valued function over flash. For a bike named after a thunderbolt, it delivered more of a quiet hum, but in the world of everyday riders, sometimes that’s just what you need.

One of our customers is such a fan of these qualities that they decided that their particular Zoomie needed a refresh; whilst the GW250 might not have been a firecracker in performance, its styling certainly tried to punch above its weight.

Suzuki borrowed cues from its larger, more thrilling siblings like the GSX-R and the hulking B-King, giving the Inazuma a muscular tank, angular headlight, and twin exhausts, it was a bit like a sheep in a wolf’s leather jacket, but for a commuter bike, that wasn’t a bad thing.

After all, looking like a mini-superbike while quietly chugging along at 60mph was part of the charm. We just needed to give it some of our signature touches to make it something to be truly proud of.

This little 250 has been elevated far beyond its utilitarian origins, reimagined with a clean black and gold aesthetic that balances function and flair. The frame received a durable powder-coated finish in gloss black, setting the stage for a series of golden accents applied with precision.

The valve cover, brake calipers, intake trumpets, and brake disc centres have been treated with gold Cerakote—not just for looks, but for a finish that will last longer than the factory paint job ever could. Custom paintwork on the tank nods to the "Inazuma" name, introducing just enough visual drama without veering into showy territory.

A bikini fairing up front frames the headlight perfectly, while Highsider rear light units, a Koso speedometer, and a custom tail tidy ensure a clean, modern finish throughout. The bike was also completely serviced, with every component either rebuilt or replaced to ensure it rides as well as it looks—a proper transformation for this once-humble commuter.