Suzuki unveiled two more of its offerings in the Indian market for 2014 yesterday- the 155cc Gixxer and 110cc scooter Let’s. Being largely dormant last year, it is understandable that they have chosen to unveil their upcoming bikes at the start of the year. The Suzuki Gixxer is being touted as a game changer in its segment, given its chiselled looks an economical price point. The 150cc bike segment in India brings in large volumes for companies and Suzuki will be hoping that the Gixxer is able to do this, especially following the pricing debacle of the Inazuma.
Comeback stories are canonized in sport and immortalized in film. They have come to represent the aspirations of a whole generation that has seen it almost becoming a genre by itself. Very few just want to succeed any more; that’s too simple. Suzuki proved yesterday that comebacks are still the compelling force they used to be. Following a quiet 2013 which saw brands such as Bajaj, Hero, and Yamaha walk all over them, Suzuki has thrown the gauntlet to its competitors right off the bat in the new year. What’s more, the 155cc 2014 Suzuki Gixxer has become a media favourite on the very day of its unveil.
STYLING
Here’s where Suzuki has really scored a home run with the Gixxer. The bike relies heavily on its sleek looks as a selling point differentiating it from its rivals. At first glance, you’d be goaded into assuming that the Gixxer belongs to a segment higher than its own. This is owed to the fact that in the 150cc segment in India, good looks and economy rarely come hand in hand. The Gixxer, with its higher-segment styling and affordable price estimate disrupts what buyers have come to expect of a 150cc bike in India
VISUAL PROFILE
The Suzuki Gixxer is a bike targeted at the youth and the bike’s looks are ample proof of this. If first impressions really are such a big deal, the Gixxer does well to endear itself to even the most fleeting glance. The bike looks like its was built out of very pliable rock. The streamlined body and upswept rear end are complemented by the sculpted tank and mean-streak headlights. While there are lots of bikes– even in premium segments– that attempt to marry beauty and brawn, few manage to make the union merge so seamlessly.
COMPONENTS
Suzuki came up with an all-new frame for the Gixxer. The body work, including the plastic panels and fuel tank, have all been designed from scratch. A box-sectioned swing arm makes for a more rigid undergirding. The diamond-type frame is supported by 41mm forks in front while the rear uses pre-load adjustable monoshocks. Single disc brakes courtesy Bybre and a drum arrangement in the rear take constitute the braking system. The Suzuki Gixxer is shod with 17-inch tubeless tyres (100/70) in front and a rather beefy 140/60 x 17 tubeless in the back.
The handlebars on the bike are positioned a little high, giving a sense of continuity with the rider’s body when they are held. The low-set seats should make for a comfortable ride. Thought the footpegs are offset towards the rear, it isn’t to the extent that the rider has to reach for them. What gives the fuel tank its unique look are the knee recesses. This is one element that riders will be thankful to have on the bike. The display is fully digital and allows riders to customize the rpm limit at which meter lights up, as opposed to having it happen at the rev limit. The Suzuki Gixxer looks and feels like a great fit for Indian roads.
PERFORMANCE
Though Suzuki already has a mass-market 150cc bike in the GS150R, they chose to build a new engine instead of borrowing the existing one. It is a single-cylinder mill with one overhead cam of two valves. Everything from the design of the combustion chamber to the pistons have been redone. The Gixxer uses Suzuki’s very own Eco Performance Technology, which conserves fuel without compromising performance. While we aren’t privy to the actual numbers yet, we sure hope Suzuki comes good on its promise of bestowing the bike with best-in-segment figures.
While many felt that Suzuki’s newest commuter-focussed two-wheeler would take after the GS150R, the Japanese manufacturer had other plans. The bikes differ on a number of very fundamental levels. Since the engines are dissimilar, the bikes don’t even share the same stroke figures. Also, the new Suzuki Gixxer uses a 5-speed transmission whereas the GS150R has a 6-speed gearbox. Thought the Gixxer has a large rear tyre, it is of a radial construction and therefore shouldn’t interfere with the handling.
