Suzuki Gixxer - Long Term Review Nepal

Introduction

Suzuki Gixxer may be a couple of years old now but the styling and the design of the bike have not gone out of fashion. And to keep the bike upmarket, Suzuki has bought a couple of changes over the years. The company has recently introduced the Gixxer SP Dual Tone with a new paint job which we will be covering in this review. The price of Suzuki Gixxer SP (Dual Tone) in Nepal is Rs. 2,65,900.

It was the Gixxer which revived the Suzuki brand in Nepal. And even today, it is their highest selling bike in the country. VG Suzuki, the authorized distributor of Suzuki bikes in Nepal, sells the motorcycle nationwide. The bike is more popular amongst youths than anyone else.

Design

The design of the Suzuki Gixxer has to be the most appealing aspect of the bike. The bike is 2,050mm in length, 785mm in width and 1,030mm in height. The wheelbase of the bike is 1,330mm. The 160mm of ground clearance on the bike gives it a sporty stance but isn't enough for the roads of Nepal.

The twin exhaust on the sides has to be the highlight of the bike. And the chrome finish to the exhaust just adds to the styling of the bike.

The Suzuki Gixxer is a naked street bike which goes directly against the likes of Yamaha FZ S V2.0. Suzuki has just got the styling right with the Gixxer. The bike is compact and looks extremely stylish. And there's the sporty character to the design of the bike too which is one of the reasons why it's selling so well in Nepal.

Performance

The Gixxer is powered by single cylinder 4-stroke air-cooled engine which churns out 14.8ps of power @8000 rpm and also develops 14Nm of Torque @ 6000 rpm. The bike also has a very slick 5-speed gearbox.

The power delivery is very good from the 154.9cc motor. 14Nm of Torque at relatively low 6000rpm means that the bike does have good pickup capability.

While the 0-100kmph times may not break any record, the bike is quite fast thanks to the light curb weight of just 135kgs. The bike can hit a top speed of 120kmph.

Handling

The Suzuki Gixxer features a Single Downtube Chassis which is very stable at high speeds and performs well around the tight bends. But what's more impressive is the suspension setup. The front Telescopic suspension, as well as the Mono suspension at the rear, does a good job at manoeuvring the bike at high speed. But at the same time, the suspension isn't too stiff as not to absorb bumps.

The thick 100/60R 17-inch tires also provide plenty of grip and inspire confidence while riding the bike.

Fuel Tank Capacity and Mileage

While the fuel tank of the Gixxer may look large at first sight, the size of the tank is average at best. The bike has a 12L fuel tank which is fine and the competitors at this price point also have similar sized fuel tank. However, it would have been great if the bike had a larger tank. Our recently reviewed Apache RTR 180 , for instance had a 16L fuel tank.

The ARAI claimed mileage of the Suzuki Gixxer is 64Kmpl but in real, you can expect mileage of 35-40 based on different driving conditions. While riding on the highway, I got an average mileage of 45kmpl and on the city ride, the best I could get was 40.

The Good

There's more good than bad when it comes to the Suzuki Gixxer. Here are some of the things that I love about the bike:

• The performance of the bike is good.
• The design of the bike is appealing.
• The handling is better than most of its competitors.
• The service cost is on the lower side.

The Bad

For me, the Gixxer is all love but being completely honest, I have to admit that the bike isn't perfect. Here are some of the gripe that I with the bike:

• The ground clearance could be better.
• The bike isn't as refined as when I had bought it a year ago.
• The fuel economy doesn't match the claimed figure in any condition.
• The bike is on the pricier side.

The Competition

The sub 150cc is one of the most crowded bike segment. The main competitors for the Suzuki Gixxer are the Honda Hornet 160R, Yamaha FZ v2, Apache RTR 180 and the Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS.

If you would like to know about the Suzuki Gixxer in detail, click here .