Suzuki is yet to find firm footing in India’s 150cc motorcycle segment. Can the swell looking new Gixxer do the trick?
To date, Suzuki’s performance in the Indian motorcycle market makes a good barometer of just how tough it is to make your mark here. A bike maker as experienced as this Japanese giant, riding on so much success with cars has failed to find firm footing. The truth is our bike market is a ruthless playing field, where only exceptional motorcycles can cut any ice in the end. Suzuki’s previous bikes have all come across as half-hearted efforts, making this, the handsome new Gixxer seem like their first real two-wheeled try in India. Read on for all the answers.
Fresh and eye catching, the Gixxer makes amongst the better looking 150s we have today. Shapely and contemporary, the naked Gixxer is a butch, macho machine with sleek, angular cowls. There’s a typical Suzuki touch to the bikini front fairing, apart from which elegant alloy rims, chunky tyres and charcoal black highlights all add up to make this one purposeful looking Suzuki. Other neat touches include tank extensions as well as a finely styled conical exhaust canister with chrome accents and dual outlets. Attention to detail is at a whole new level relative to previous small capacity Suzuki bikes here, seen in beautiful bar-end weights, the contoured saddle’s contrasting stitch sutures and top-drawer alloy cast footrests and mounts.
Riders are greeted with nifty digital instruments, including a cascading rev counter right at the top, a large and easy-to-read speedometer, a bar type fuel-gauge, gear indicator, useful clock and even a rev redline warning flasher, all nicely fitted within a compact LCD display. Much of this Suzuki’s feel-good factor comes from its grips and switches offering nice tactile feel, with the mirrors cleverly shaped to offer good rear view.
An engine-kill switch is part of the package, as is a pass-light flasher. The Gixxer comes with a meaty feeling fuel-tank with adequate thigh indents, and there’s a nicely finished alloy fuel-filler, that unfortunately lacks a hinge making filling up a touch more cumbersome.