Direct ACCESS to your Heart! Dear readers, SUZUKI (No.3 worldwide in two-wheelers) had made a rather simple 2nd beginning on our shores with some value-for-money products which should give full satisfaction.
Unlike in the U.K., where they have a beginner catageory; here in India, there is no "L" (learner 125cc class) As a result, the most inexperienced riders aim for the top of the class; whereas the other (experienced) riders may well choose to settle for the 125cc class.
Enter. A brand new scooter which has a blend of characteristics which would suit both the new rider as well as the old. I was fortunate to sample one at the nearby dealer.
The LOOKS : They are cute and proportionate. You could say they had a retro touch. Scooters had a glorious past and many different body styles had evolved earlier. This one takes clues from the past and blends it with up-to-date features. The key is typical Suzuki (long) but on the other end (plastic head) there was an unusual hexagonal shape. This I was told is part of the security feature on the scooter. It operates in a space next to the keyhole. This opens a sliding diaphragm, which exposes the keyhole. Neat. In other words, if the diaphragm is closed, the would-be thief / tamperer would not have any ACCESS to start the vehicle. In the rains, this feature would also double up to keep unwanted moisture at bay. Nice touch I would say. Just one of the many features which show that they CARE.
A simple touch on the brake and a tap on the starter switch and we were ready to move. The idling pulse was noticeable and I could feel the throb of the engine indicating that good things were in store. The throb is also typical of a four-stroke engine.
The first thing I noticed which was different from my bike; was the seating position. I felt that my legs had to be perched slightly higher and a little differently from my usual stance on the bike. This difference was felt just for a moment and very soon I got used to my new position. The seat was supremely comfortable and the handlebar, which felt narrow compared to my bike, also gave me a responsive feel.
Just a small twist and the vehicle started to move with gusto. Now I started thinking; this scooter is moving with more zest than even my own bike. Well, well I must temper my throttle opening with more care. Before I could think further, the scooter was in the thick of fast moving traffic and doing quite well for itself; I must say. It could dart in and out of the vehicles with a response that was almost telepathic. In short no great effort was required to make me look like an expert in the riding department. This should be quite reassuring to the new riders who will have ample power on tap to make for a safe and exciting ride.
The braking was taken care of by drums on both the wheels. The rear brake seemed to be more responsive as compared to the front and together they managed to haul down the vehicle pretty rapidly. So no issues here. The vehicle when in motion was quite silent and no vibration could be felt anywhere. Not from the footboard, nor from the seat or from the handlebar. This means that this scooter is extremely well engineered and designed to give you an enjoyable ride without the hassles that normally accompany the ride.
I asked to see the under-seat storage space and saw a nicely shaped round compartment, which was abundant enough to put most of your belongings. Behind it was the fuel tank with a nice and prominent lid. When the seat was closed, everything is nicely concealed. The front fork is built tough like a motorcycle and utilized telescopic tubes, which slide in an out. So no bushes to wear out.
Big headlamp in the front should make your evening ride a safe one and the tail lamps were most beautifully shaped; which should make the owners quite proud of them. The pillion footrests, made a lovely click, click sound when they were opened and had a very distinctive appearance. I was told that these were among the items, which were imported directly for this vehicle. Overall fit and finish of the vehicle was very tight and good which really made you feel you were driving a very fast imported scooter rather than one of domestic origin.
Its fuel consumption too is supposed to be in the region of 48 to 50 Kms. with the lowest supposed to be 45 Km. This feature itself puts it at least 5 km ahead of the best selling scooter from Honda. That too, with more power at your disposal. Its like eating the cake and having it too!
It is more expensive than the competition. A fully loaded (all accessories) scooter will set you back by about Rs.47, 750/- in Mumbai. AND there is a waiting list. All the scooters (60 in all for the 1st lot) were sold out in an incredibly short period of time and now you have to wait from anywhere between 1 month and upwards to get your baby !
Something tells me Suzuki is going to get lucky this time, by giving people just what they want.