Can anyone remember which was the last exciting motorcycle made by suzuki in india? You would probably have to go back a long time to the TVS-Suzuki days when they gave us the shogun and the Fiero. Over the past decade, Suzuki have tried and successfully managed to get into the scooter market, but have mostly neglected their motorcycle segment. But all that changed at the 2014 Auto expo when they showcased the Suzuki Gixxer. Named after the iconic Suzuki GSXR, the Gixxer has some big standards to uphold and I was a bit skeptical about this bike but that was before I had a chance to ride this bike.I had initially planned to write a review a few weeks back, when I had taken a test ride but decided to wait until I had the chance to give it a thorough ride. On Saturday I took a trip to the Salim ali Bird sanctuary at Thattekad, a round trip of 200kms. If I get the time, I shall write a review regarding the sanctuary.
The first thing that came to my mind when I sat on the Gixxer and took it round a few curves was that it was a motorcycle with excellent handling. The second thing that came to mind was that it felt almost exactly like the Yamaha FZ.
LOOKS:
The resemblance between the Gixxer and the new FZ is striking and you will need to glance a bit longer than you usually would to confirm which bike you are looking at. The bike is designed to appeal to young buyers who want a powerful, good looking bike which wouldn’t burn a hole through their pocket.The bike looks muscular with its neatly chiseled tank and its small headlight with bikini fairing.The tank has great knee recess offering excellent grip giving the Gixxer a big bike feel and also has a 12-litre fuel capacity.The thick 41mm front forks and the horn like grab rails all give the bike a wicked look. The chunky exhaust makes the bike look bigger than it actually is.I think the twin port exhaust with its chrome trim looks very cool indeed and is the first on any Indian made bike.The 140 section MRF rear tyre is the same one used on the FZ and is a boon while cornering. Its rear LED tail lamp looks good, but it would have looked great if its edges and curves were more sharp.At the moment it looks like an upside down heart.The rear mud flap is broad enough to keep those behind you clean and also comes with a removable section which is held in place by three screws.The switchgear on the motorcycle is fine and works smoothly. The orange back-lit fully digital display is well thought out and clean looking and is way better than the display on the FZ. It comes with RPM, speedo, two trip meters, clock, fuel level, Gear indicator and a optimum rpm shift light. Also you can clearly read it bright sunlight without any problem.
BUILD AND FINISH
The build quality and finish is very good. There are no panel gaps and everything seems to fit perfectly.The switchgear is of good quality although the switches on the FZ feel a bit more smoother. There were no rattles or vibrations from the body panels or tank.The grey colour paint of the gixxer is great and I personally think this is the best colour. When I had enquired at the time of my test ride, the salesman said that blue and grey are the best as they accentuate the curves and sleek edges of the tank. He also stated that most buyers were opting for these two colours. Red colour was available in just a day, while there was a waiting period of 20 days for the grey one.Other colour options are white, black and blue.
PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING
The Gixxer comes with a single cylinder air cooled engine with a 5-speed gearbox. I really wish they had carried over the smooth 6-speed transmission from the GS150. Maybe they are holding it back so they can use it when they update the Gixxer after 2 or 3 years.There is no Fuel injection on the Gixxer, probably to reduce costs.There is hardly any vibration and the engine is a lot smoother than that of the FZ. I could not feel any vibrations close to 7000RPM and only when your reach close to 9000rpm, will you start to feel slight vibrations on the foot pegs. The 155cc engine of the Gixxer has a maximum power of 14.6 BHP@8000 RPM. This is a lot more than the FZ v2, which has been de-tuned to about 12.9 BHP. Also this bike is very torquey and I was able to ride at 20kmph in 3rd gear with a pillion and there was no engine knocking upon acceleration from such a low speed in 3rd gear. Top speed is said to be 116kmph but we took it to a max of 83kmph with pillion and the owner has reached 105kmph quite easily when riding solo, before having to ease of due to traffic.You get the maximum power when you shift in the 6000-8000RPM range.0-60 takes only 4.5 seconds. The engine and exhaust note is very good and I felt it sounds more like a 250 or 300cc bike. The seating and handling is more sports bike oriented. The seating is not as low the FZs and you kind of lean over towards the handlebar a bit more than you do on the FZ. The bike handles excellently around corners and is a joy to ride. I rode through corners at some insane lean angles without being nervous at all. What I am saying is that this bike inspires confidence in the rider to push it further, much like the R15. The handling is crisp and is easily maneuverable through traffic and slow speeds due to its light weight of just 135kg . Suzuki’s new SEP(suzuki Eco performance) technology supposedly helps to increase mileage. The dealer had quoted a mileage of 65kmpl, but we only got around 45kmpl and the owner also said that mileage is mostly around 40kmpl in normal city riding.
PROS
1)Looks, fit and finish are excellent.
2)Full DC lighting. So you will have no problem putting on HID kits or higher power bulbs than the stock 35/35W bulb.
3)Vibration free.
4)Good power and torque figures.
5)sporty seating and excellent handling.
6) 7-step adjustable rear mono-shock
7)At a price of 82k on-road in kerala, this bike is worth every penny. Be sure to haggle with the dealer as the suzuki website indicated price is 81K on-road kerala.The dealer we brought from, Classic Omega Thrissur, initially quoted 83K. But when we told the salesman about the price indicated on the website and talked a bit more, the price was reduced to 82, 500RS. I am guessing the extra money is the salesman’s commission. Also note, this price includes all the extra fittings and insurance.
CONS
1) Front disc brake from bybre lacks initial bite but does a decent job.Could have been better.
2) No rear disc brake
3) The plastic quality of the switches could have been a tad bit better.
4) The lower set foot-pegs are a real pain as they prevent you from leaning over more, which the bike clearly is capable of. This happened a lot when we were going through uphill hairpin curves.We ended up scraping both of the rider’s foot pegs on multiple occasions. Also the rubber covering of the foot-pegs are pretty much worthless when wet.Your feet end up sliping forward while braking. The design used is poor. Be sure to upgrade before the rainy season.
5) Small rear tyre hugger means the pillion’s shoes and pant bottoms will turn brown in the rainy season.
6) 3 amp battery on a full DC setup bike is shameful. Even the lower end GS150 comes with 5 amp battery. Will need an upgrade if you plan to install bigger bulbs or dual Horns
7)The saree guard has no side step, and the pillion foot-pegs are small like that on the FZ, so it will be almost impossible for saree clad women to climb up and sit sideways on the pillion seat. Will have to find a way to attach something to the existing saree gaurd but that looks like a tough ask.
VERDICT
The Gixxer is a comfortable street bike which is easy to own and maintain.Suzuki has done an awesome job of bringing out a fun motorcycle to commute on. The company has got a winner on its hands and priced around 3000Rs lower than the cheapest Yamaha FZ, the gixxer is a very attractive proposition for the buyer. If I had to choose between the Gixxer and the new FZ, I would definitely buy the Gixxer since it will be more Exclusive. You can find an FZ on every street corner.Please be sure to at least test ride this bike once. Most of you will end up buying it.Cheers.