Suzuki Gixxer SF race bike review, test ride

Even suspension set-up is unchanged from the street bike. The Kari circuit has two tight chicanes that call for hard braking, before you muscle the SF into hard direction changes left, then immediately flick over in the other direction to carry as much speed into right handers. No matter how hard I punished the motorcycle through these multiple challenging sections, the SF stayed stable and well mannered, allowing me to concentrate on the best line for a good exit carrying maximum corner speed. There’s no side stand to hamper cornering now, but there were times the stand mount still on the bike was grounding, as was the rear brake pedal on the other side, both of which lost a couple of millimeters ground away on the asphalt. 

Yes, as with most small-capacity bikes running on an able chassis at a race track, you quickly start wishing for more power at the wrist. The Gixxer SF race bike offers quicker performance, mainly thanks to significantly lower weight that makes it easier to tap into. The step-free power band has good mid-range performance, and you don’t need to rev overly hard or shift really late, as power tapers off once revving into the top end and closing in on the electronic limiter. Being new bikes, with some still to finish a reasonable running-in period (our first bike has 20km on the odometer), some of the 20 bikes at the track were still finding optimal tuning setup, and wheezing and losing performance at the top, although I spent half my session on one compromised bike, and the rest of it on a better run-in bike that performed flawlessly, with smooth, step-free power delivery.

There’s no doubt that Suzuki’s Gixxer Cup SF bike is going to provide aspiring racers a great stepping stone into racing. For no more than Rs 2,000 per event, you can buy yourself a ride at India’s tracks, Kari, the Madras Motor Race track at Sriperumbudur and Buddh International, Delhi. Tempting? You bet! It’s affordable, and includes bike and tuning for the weekend, riding gear, tyres and even fuel. The fine print; there are only 20 bikes in 2 classes — Novice and Open — so you’re perhaps already too late for a ride this year!

Look out for all the details on the Suzuki Gixxer Cup SF in our upcoming July issue of Autocar India. 

Rishad Cooper