SUZUKI GIXXER SF 150 FIRST RIDE IMPRESSIONS

When it comes to Japanese bikes there are very few options in the 150cc segment in our market. The niche being dominated by the Yamaha R15V3 now has got some competition in the market with Suzuki unveiling the Full Faired GIXXER SF 150. I got my hands on it in order to see what this bike has on offer. Without any further delay let’s get started.

1)    Looks:-

The department where I personally feel the previous generation Gixxer was lacking behind now has been addressed so well that left its rival in blues. Certainly, they have not limited themselves to just merely adding a new paint scheme rather took out the whole pain of showing the design capabilities of their team. Be it the front view comprising of the all new LED Headlamp, the side fairing on the engine, the petrol tank, the twin split seat, the clip-on handlebars everything has been revamped with eye-catchy attention to detail. The razor-sharp full fairing is a feast to the eyes as compared to the previous generations. The fit and finish of the bike is awesome, be it the switch gears, clip-on gear levers, footpegs Suzuki has given utmost attention to details in this department.

2)    Design and Ergonomics:-

There was something which HONDA CBR250R was very much famous about i.e the seating position while riding the bike, and let me make clear that SUZUKI has very well intimated the same dynamics in this bike. The seating position is not very aggressive as compared to the KTC RC twins and also not very upright like a 100cc bike. It is quite balanced making it best for it commute and occasional highway ride where one can easily tuck in under the front visor and can go enjoy the bike at full throttle. Thanks to the chunky tank gripping it provides immense confidence to the rider. The ground clearance stands at 165mm which I think is ample for fully faired bikes. The seat height lies at 795mm which can be difficult for some people but suitable for most of the riders. The only drawback which was noticeable to me was the turning radius the exact figure of which is still not known to me but was quite troublesome for me to bear with. Anyways one will get used to it upon going on multiple rides.

The rear of the bike is beautifully sculpted be it the tail lamp, the grab rails, the exhaust muffler with twin-barrel the wider tires all neatly adds to the overall appealing looks of the bike. The quite engaging Digital Console is full with a host of information which is commonly seen in any bikes along with the ABS light and Gear position indicator adds the cherry on the top.

3)    Performance:-

Coming to the most awaited part of this topic, how is the machine performing? Well, the engine of the bike is butter smooth. It just glides away from the rpm the demands you to rev more and more. Although the power figure is not that impressive ticking at 13.4bhp @ 8000 rpm and torque stands at 13.8nm @6000 rpm but the peak torque coming at lower rpm means one can easily touch 25 to 30 kmph in first gear and so on next. The power delivery is linear and not very peppy. The single-cylinder air-cooled 2 valve engine is good for daily commutes but the addition of 6^th gear and liquid cooling could have justified the price tag even more than the appearance of the bike commands.

I got a short ride on this bike and that was not enough to arrive at any final conclusion about the actual performance but one thing clear that it is not a manic revving engine like KTM or Yamaha R15 v3.0. This bike is more of refined nature and one would surely enjoy it. The bike offers Single Channel ABS on the front wheel which is very helpful under extreme braking condition. The front braking duty is done by 266mm disc while rear is handled by 240mm disc which is ample for a bike of such capacity.

 The top speed of the bikes lies anywhere between 110kmph to 120kmph is quite impressive for a 150cc bike.

This bike aptly addresses the needs of a daily commuter in a city with a comfortable ride quality and also has the caliber for fun weekend rides.

4)   Maintenance & After Sales Service:-

The maintenance of this bike is more or less the same as any other 150cc bike. With the addition of ABS, the price of spares may increase a bit. Since Suzuki is not a new entrant in the market, so the after-sales service may not be such a point to linger upon.

5)    Mileage:-

Being a 150cc bike one can expect it to give anywhere between 40kmpl to 45kmpl or more. It depends upon the riding style of person to person and how the bike is maintained. Although the tank seems to be very bulky but has a fuel capacity of 12litres only which I feel is a little less, making a 14lires could be even better.

“Smooth engine, spectacular looks, the comfortable riding position is your need then you should definitely take a test ride of this bike.”

Signing Off:-

Md. Afzal Ansari

Ride safe, ride long!