Suzuki Gixxer

Introduction

Available at an ex-showroom price of 1.40 Lakh, the Suzuki Gixxer is among the highest selling bikes in its segment. Launched in 2014, the bike is one of the key contenders in the 150cc segment, and its popularity has grown among buyers looking for comfortable, smooth, and affordable urban commuter. It is available in a single petrol variant, and sports three attractive colour options: Pearl Mira Red, Metallic Triton Blue and Glass Sparkle Black. 

How is the design? 

Coming to its design, the Suzuki Gixxer flaunts an appealing and sporty design template, and reasonably retains the fit and finish and the build quality of its predecessor. Even though the plastic panels around the bike’s bodywork do not feel adequately premium, they do not appear to be flimsy either, the fitment of the welding and bolt portions of the Gixxer have been executed very well, and with precision. A minimalistic LED unit has been integrated and it is surrounded by a plush looking bezel. Easy-to-access buttons are integrated in the switch-gear and it functions well with a tactile feeling. The muscular fuel tank blends with the sharper and longer extension, making its design and bodywork even busier. Apart from that, it is identical to Gixxer SF, its fully-faired sibling. The tail and under seat cowl have been redesigned to appear even meatier, and is mated with a petite LED tail lamp. The signature dual exhaust comes with a longer chrome-finished shield. 

How is the performance?

Powered by an air-cooled 155cc motor, the Suzuki Gixxer gets a fuel injection setup, which increases the maximum power of the bike by 0.6bhp at 14.6bhp, and it produces a peak torque of 14Nm. The bike also comes with a smooth-running engine and it is exemplified by a pleasant thrum, which the rider might hear after jabbing the starter. The performance of the bike owes to its slick gearbox and light clutch. While the five-speed transmission unit of the Suzuki Gixxer has a short throw, the gear shifts without much effort. The great tuning of the suspension and chassis makes it possible for the Gixxer to deliver a high-end performance. It is ideal for cruising through heavy traffic while holding its line around hairpins and sweeping corners. 

How does the Suzuki Gixxer ride? 

Overall, the Suzuki Gixxer is able to assure a good ride-quality. The bike has the capacity to absorb minor potholes and bumps, without unnerving riders. The Suzuki Gixxer is all about comfortable commuting, and this must be topped with the necessary and rideability modern features. The motorbike also sports a refined engine that packs adequate grunt for the highway as well as for the city. Coming to the handling department of the bike, the Suzuki Gixxer scores pretty well, thanks to the rightly-tuned suspension setup and well-engineered chassis. The impressive braking setup has the right tuning with the low kerb weight, which is important for the hike’s stability. 

How comfortable is the Suzuki Gixxer? 

Even though it looks like the Suzuki Gixxer sports an aggressive stance, it is believed to be a fairly comfortable motorcycle. It is almost effortless to reach the bike’s handlebars, and requires the rider to bend only slightly forward. The foot-pegs are low and centre-set creating a perfect balance between the commanding and upright riding stance. The cushioning of the seat is mildly soft, which might feel uncomfortable after riding for a while. The Gixxer is 5Kgs heavier than its predecessor, but it is still considered as a fairly lightweight motorcycle. The wide handlebars of the bike provide ample leverage for moving around, and this is thought to be apt for riding in a city. Because the suspension is on the harder side, the ride might feel bumpy while going over deep potholes, speed breakers, road joints and stones. 

How's the tech? 

The bike sports a fully-digital instrument cluster, along with a redesigned digital console, featuring a simpler layout with clearer and bolder fonts for numbers and letters. However, it only displays the basic information including the speed, fuel level, RPM, odometer, clock, gear position indicator, and dual trip metres. It also comes with a fancy-looking LED headlamp, that offers a decent spread and throw on high beam, but brightness in low beam is lacking severely. 

How's the mileage of the Suzuki Gixxer? 

With the integration of the fuel injection system, it was expected that the Suzuki Gixxer would return a better fuel economy than that of the carb version. Strangely enough, it was only able to return a fuel economy of 42.2 Kmpl, which is at least 5Kms lesser than the previous model. The bike comes with a 12 Litre fuel tank, translating a mileage of 506 Kms. 

Is the Suzuki Gixxer good value for money? 

At a price tag of 1.40 Lakh, the Suzuki Gixxer is an affordable commuting bike. In terms of performance, design, mileage, comfort, and price, there is no reason for not buying the bike. Moreover, it is equipped with a set of attractive tech features, which adds to the convenience of the riders. It has been designed in a manner so that it is ideal for city commuting, highways and even for long rides. The updates of the bike range from LED lighting at the front and rear and to all-new bodywork

How is the after sales service? 

Suzuki offers four free services for its Gixxer. The first free service is offered after 1 month from the date of purchase or 750 Km, whichever is earlier. The second free service is offered after 4 months or 3500 Kms, whichever is earlier. The third free service is provided after 7 months or 7,500 Kms, whichever is earlier, and the fourth service is offered after 10 months, or 11,500 Kms, whichever is earlier. 

Which motorbikes compete in this segment? 

The other motorbikes competing in the same segment as Suzuki Gixxer are TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, Yamaha FZ-FI Version 3.0, Honda Xtreme 160 R and so on. 

Verdict (Value for money)

At its price, there is no better choice than the Suzuki Gixxer. It has delivered a high-quality performance and served the purpose for daily commuting.