Bike review: Suzuki has got a winner in the Gixxer

The Suzuki Gixxer is a terrific effort to bring back glory to the Japanese automaker in the 150cc segment, says Faisal Ali Khan

Salman Khan who launched the Gixxer this January couldn't keep his hands off the bike; Photograph: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com

Suzuki might be ruling the four-wheeler space in India but its presence in two-wheelers is very small. The Japanese automaker is only able to sell scooters in the country and motorcycle sales are small.

Becoming serious about the Indian two-wheeler market, Suzuki has charted out an aggressive plan of launching more products and one such offering is already on sale. The Suzuki Gixxer has been highly awaited after it was showcased in January this year. But can this motorcycle get the company the volumes it desires?

The Suzuki Gixxer is an appealing motorcycle which appears quite sporty. The panels have been designed well and the flow is good too.

The headlight does look a bit odd while the tail light is inspired by other Suzuki bikes including the Inazuma, whose price was slashed recently.

There are some common design elements in the Gixxer which are also seen in the Yamaha FZ. Things like wide tyres and double muffler add to the visual appeal of the Suzuki Gixxer.

The instrument cluster of the Suzuki Gixxer is reminiscent of a smart phone, it looks really cool and also gets a gearshift indicator. The console has two trip meters, tell-tale lights, digital tachometer and interesting Eco and Power mode lights.

The switchgear comes from the GS150R and is nice in quality. Once you turn on the bike, the cluster displays a message 'Ready To Go'.

The Suzuki Gixxer uses a new engine and it's not the same unit which powers the GS150R. The 154.9cc, single-cylinder unit employs 2-valves and air-cooling, generating 14.8 HP of peak power output at 8000 RPM and 14 Nm of peak torque output at 6000 RPM.

This motor is matched to a smooth shifting 5-speed gearbox. With a weight of 135 kgs and a punchy powertrain, the Gixxer is brisk in reaching the 100 km/hr mark from standstill, taking under 18 seconds.

With excellent output figures and a light weight engine design, the Gixxer's motor is super smooth with spot-on fuelling. Throttle response is crisp and the bike pulls cleanly to the redline, giving a nice note too.

The bike manages to gain speed in a jiffy and maxes out at 115 km/hr. The motorcycle is equipped with SEP (Suzuki Eco Performance) which makes the Gixxer frugal, the mileage is between 45-50 km/l which is respectable.

The Gixxer uses a single downtube frame with a monoshock at the rear and 41 mm telescopic forks at the front. It is very agile around corners and the stability is excellent too.

The bike comes with wide rubber which is grippy and all this gives the rider a lot of confidence to ride hard and fast.

Ride quality is excellent and although the suspension is on the stiffer side, the damping is well achieved. Braking performance is good but a rear disc brake should have been offered.

Suzuki has got a winner in the Gixxer.

The bike manages to please thoroughly and offers an excellent blend of performance, economy, ride and handling.

Priced at Rs 84,400 in Mumbai, the Gixxer isn't expensive either, thereby giving you total bang for your buck. The motorcycle manages to be a jack of all trades and is a good choice in the 150cc motorcycle space in our country.

The author is Founder & Editor, MotorBeam.com