Suzuki's Everyday Solution

The Suzuki GIXXER SF is our companion as we try to achieve an ideal balance among life, work, and fun

- Joshua Varghese

WHAT DO A SWISS knife, the late Irfan Khan, and potatoes have in common? Versatility. They are equally good at doing many things without compromising on anything. That is a difficult quality to come by these days. When I tried to find an equivalent in the world of motorcycles, the Suzuki GIXXER SF came to mind. Suzuki were MotoGP world champions. The legendary Hayabusa and GSX range are motorcycles from their stables. So, if they wanted to make a pure and sporty motorcycle in the 150-cc segment, they could have easily done so. Instead, they chose to make one that would seamlessly fit into the fabric of an Indian motorcyclist's everyday routine.

Like most people, my day also begins with a ride to work and, just like most people who live in Pune, it is not something I look forward to. Filtering through the rush-hour traffic with the summer at its peak is not something anyone would classify as enjoyable but that is where the GIXXER SF makes a strong case for itself as a city motorcycle. Its 155-cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine develops a healthy 13.6 hp and a peak torque of 13.8 Nm. Smooth fuelling and a healthy mid-range along with nicely spaced gear ratios allow the GIXXER SF to perform well in town.

There is enough torque on demand to execute quick overtakes. Thankfully, that does not come at the cost of refinement. With barely any vibrations filtering through-even at the top end of the rev-band-this GIXXER SF is among the most refined motorcycles in the market. At 148 kilograms, it is not too heavy when one considers that it is now compliant with the latest regulations, including OBD2.