The bike is powered by Suzuki’s all-new 154.9 cc engine that boasts 14.8PS at 8,000 rpm and 14 nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. It promises good performance and equally good mileage. The Gixxer is quite the looker as well, with muscular lines running throughout the body panels and twin exhausts with a chrome end cap. It features a fully digital instrument panel, which shows us the rpm meter, gear position, trip meter, speed, fuel gauge and a small, but handy, clock. Weighing just 135 kg, this bike is really light. The seat height, at 780 mm, is not too high from the ground, but don’t be fooled by the low-looking seat because even tall riders won’t have a problem on this bike and won’t feel cramped at all.

Styling

The bike has a very brawny look to it, which suits its personality perfectly. Further, the twin exhausts do not just enhance the looks but also give the bike a throatier sound and increase its efficiency. The overall design makes for a very strong street presence and can grab quite a lot of attention. This bike is available in five different colours: metallic, triton blue (the signature GSX-R colour), candy antares red, metallic oort grey, glass sparkle black and pearl mirage white.

Handling

Equipped with an adjustable mono-shock rear suspension and a 41 mm diameter front fork, the bike really feels planted and gives you the confidence to carry a lot of speed through corners. Also, the wide 140/60 rear and 100/80 front tyres along with a perfectly-shaped tank, which provide a good grip for your thighs, help a lot while cornering.  

Except for the foot pegs, which are hung low and often come in contact with the road when the bike is leaning over, the bike feels really stable and smooth. The suspensions do a great job of absorbing the bumps; they aren’t too soft to affect the handling and aren’t too hard to make it difficult to take the bumps. The bike is balanced perfectly in between the two set-ups. This bike is very agile, which makes it really easy to manoeuver through the traffic.

Performance

The single-cylinder 154.9 cc SOHC (Single Over Head Camshaft) carburettor engine is pretty quick too. It can get from 0-60 kmph in 4.4 seconds and 0-100 kmph in 15.6 seconds. The speed tops out at 116 kmph, which is quite impressive for a 154.9 cc naked street bike. The engine comes embedded with the Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP), technical additions the company claims helps the engine derive its power without compromising on its fuel economy. The punchy engine adds a lot of low-range torque, but its feels the best at around 6,000-8,000 rpm due to its tall gearing. Though the bike only features a five-speed gear box, it works wonders for the bike.

Comfort

Right after you swing your leg over the bike, you can feel how soft the seats are. The bike has a sporty riding position but is not very aggressively styled; gripping the handlebars doesn’t put much pressure on your wrist, which is a good thing, and the suspensions are very cushiony. All in all, a plush ride is guaranteed.

Final verdict

This bike is an all-rounder, with both sport-riding and commuting abilities. And its price tag of Rs 2,29,900 makes it an attractive buy.

But it has some flaws as well. The bike only has a front 266 mm Bybre disc brake and you can clearly feel the absence of the rear disc brake, which would have allowed for better stopping. On the styling front, it resembles its rival, the Yamaha FZ-S, with its muscular tank, angular headlights etc. But despite these flaws, I think that this bike is a real game-changer. If you are in the market looking for a bike in this category or price range, then remember that this bike is hands-down one of the best bikes in its segment.

Ride safe! Happy riding!

Engine

- Engine Type: 4-stroke, single cylinder, SOHC, air-cooled engine

- Engine Displacement(cc): 154.9 cc

- Bore: 56 mm

- Stroke: 62.9 mm

- Maximum Power: 14.8 ps at 8,000 rpm

- Maximum Torque: 14 nm at 6,000 rpm

- Starting System: electric and kick

Transmission

- Gear Box: 5-speed

Fuel

- Tank Capacity: 12 Ltrs

- Fuel Economy: 55 kmpl on average

Brakes

- Front: single disc

- Rear: drum

Tyre Size

- Front: 100/80 17”

- Rear: 140/60R 17”

Suspension

- Front: Telescopic

- Rear: swing arm, mono suspension