Just prior to the official announcement, we have word that the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) equipped model of the Suzuki Gixxer SF is hitting showrooms soon. At the moment, bookings for this updated bike have already started at Suzuki dealerships across the country, with deliveries expected to commence in a week or so.
Suzuki will be offering ABS in both the FI and carburetted models of the fully faired Gixxer SF in a new SP guise, however, the standard Gixxer won’t be getting it immediately. This makes it the first bike in its segment to offer this safety feature as an option at this time. Although, this will be a single-channel ABS unit, i.e. which will only work on the front wheel, much like in the Bajaj Pulsar RS 200. Suzuki has, however, managed to price its system well, compared with the Pulsar’s which is offered at an approximate Rs 11,000 premium over the standard price.
The information about the ABS model first came to light in a leaked brochure which also showed the bike with updated graphics, featuring a three-tone colour scheme and a new SP logo. We expect this new red, white and black SP graphic scheme to replace the previous grey and black one.
In all other mechanical aspects, the Gixxer SF remains unchanged and will continue to retain its 154.9cc, single-cylinder air-cooled motor that makes 14.8hp of peak power and 14Nm of peak torque, in both its fuel-injected and carburetted forms. There should be a minor 1-2kg increase in kerb weight from the current bike (which weighs 139kg for the carburetted version and 140kg for the FI) thanks to the addition of ABS.
The exact ex-showroom prices haven’t been revealed at the moment, but dealers have confirmed that the ABS will add approximately Rs 7,000 to the cost of the bike. This should put the price of the carburetted Gixxer SF ABS in the Rs 96,000 ex-showroom ballpark while the Gixxer SF FI ABS would be close to Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
