Suzuki is yet to find firm footing in India’s 150cc motorcycle segment. Can the swell looking new Gixxer do the trick?
The motorcycle grab-bars integrate well with its tail, and all this form hasn’t come at the cost of function on the Gixxer, as seen in broad protective mudguards over both wheels that we can confirm work to offer good wet weather protection. The drive-chain is a sporty looking exposed affair, while Suzuki has done well to ensure really good overall quality, with neat fit-and-finish very much apparent on the Gixxer.
Power is by a Suzuki-built four-stroke, 155cc, SOHC and CV carburettor fed powerplant. The air-cooled single-cylinder has long stroke dimensions, as fits its intended urban role well, with Suzuki stressing good torque output was a consideration when tuning the Gixxer motor. On the go, the motorcycle feels clearly tuned to delight in the circus of urban Indian traffic. The Gixxer puts out a healthy 14.6bhp at 8,000rpm, and 1.43kgm of peak torque that’s delivered nice and low in the powerband, at 6,000rpm.
There’s friction cutting measures, including roller cam followers and an inverted triangle piston skirt all aimed at enhanced efficiency. Thumb-started of course, the Gixxer thoughtfully also provides a kick-lever for emergency use.
If you’ve ridden Yamaha’s older 150cc FZ, in its pre fuel-injection days, you already know exactly how the Gixxer delivers its power. It’s uncanny how similar the Gixxer feels to those Yamahas, with similar engine character, refined and silken smooth nature, while sounding a shade gruff when hard on the throttle, pushing the Suzuki bike to unleash all its performance potential. The Gixxer engine is flexible, with power building smoothly, a strong wave of acceleration apparent from right after idle. Unlike the sweet revving Hondas in its segment, the Gixxer once again feels more like the Yamaha bikes, providing good low- and mid-range grunt, but with power tapering off rapidly after that, with the top-end of the rev band feeling only mediocre. You don’t need any more than this when riding in city traffic, and there’s a bulletproof feeling of reliability.