Full of Beans

What’s your remedy for beating the Monday blues? Some people prefer listening to soothing tracks on loop, some relish a bucket of ice-cream while others prefer spending an extra hour in the gym. However, nothing can come close to the joy of riding a motorcycle. If the motorcycle in question is the Suzuki Gixxer, then even your office commutes on Mondays are covered. Allow us to explain. The Gixxer, which has emerged from the same gene pool as legendary machines such as the Hayabusa and the GSX-R, is indeed ‘born of greatness’ and is a bonafide streetfighter as well.

Typical of a Japanese thoroughbred, it is sharp enough to draw blood. And make heads turn time and again. The Gixxer’s dual exhaust muffler, sporty wheels and balanced proportions make it a handsome motorcycle. Another USP of the Gixxer is its sheer size. Despite being a 150, it looks like a 250cc machine and that allows it to stand out among the premium entry-level motorcycles. And when you have a good-looking motorcycle parked in your garage, a second glance is guaranteed even when you’re running late to work.

The Gixxer’s SEP-equipped motor packs enough punch to take care of traffic woes, especially if you live in a typically crowded Indian city. Suzuki Eco Performance delivers the best of both worlds by efficiently churning out enough power to let the rider have fun while also keeping a check on fuel consumption. The rev happy motor peaks at around 9,000rpm while cranking out 13.6 horses, which makes it a hoot to sneak through rotting traffic around rush hour. The motor is so tractable that you can hit speeds as low as 20kph in the third cog and then get to speeds up to 70kph with a mere twist of the throttle, without giving the clutch a workout. That’s not all though. To make life easier, the Gixxer has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

Suzuki Ride Connect, as it’s called, comes with a plethora of goodies, starting with a Bluetooth-enabled console and a dedicated app. The app itself displays info such as fuel level, odometer reading, trip data, saved trips and most importantly, navigation control. Simply enter your destination on the app and the cluster starts displaying real-time navigation alerts on the display along with the ETA. We took full advantage of the feature to bypass traffic in and around the city. That’s not it, though; you’ll thank the Gixxer for its WhatsApp and call alerts too and so will your boss and your wife. You don’t have to stop to check your phone every time it rings, saving you a mighty hassle. You’d also be glad to know that the Gixxer gets a compact LED headlight for a safe riding experience at night.

There’s a lot to like about the Gixxer, of course, but its USP has to be the ride and handling setup. Tipping the scales at just 141kg, the Gixxer, which is blessed with a lightweight and rigid frame, is one of the most agile and nimble machines in its class. Its sporty rider’s triangle with a canted forward stance makes for a rather committed position that immediately gets you in the zone. The sculpted tank gets precisely designed recesses to accommodate your knees.

The twisties of Lavasa are well-known among motorcycling enthusiasts of Mumbai, and it is a great place to evaluate a machine’s riding dynamics. The Gixxer passes the Lavasa test with flying colours, thanks to its involving chassis that offers enough feedback. The front end is rather commutative and keeps the rider in check. Having a wide, 140-section tyre at the rear helps its case when it comes to mid-corner stability. You can always brake late thanks to the dual-disc setup – of course, there’s also ABS – that allows the Gixxer to stop on a dime and then hit the apex before accelerating hard into the horizon. The Gixxer will leave you grinning from ear to ear every time you show it around a set of twisties.

A rev-happy motor, class leading features such as navigation and call alerts, top drawer components, brilliant fit and finish and a rather involving ride and handling setup; the handsome Gixxer packs it all in a rather appealing package. Suzuki is known for making practical and usable motorcycles, and the Gixxer, which comes in Glass Sparkle Black and Metallic Sonic Silver colours, is a classic example of its Japanese engineering. In fact, it’s a perfect mix of an everyday motorcycle and a weekend warrior that aims to put a smile on the rider’s face every time he swings a leg over its saddle. There can’t be a better recipe to beat Monday blues.