Suzuki Gixxer (2014-2018)

The Suzuki Gixxer marked Suzuki's entry into the 160cc motorcycle segment in India. The 2018 edition Gixxer gets new colours, refreshed graphics and the ECSTAR logo (for being the official lubricant partner). The SP version on the other hand comes in Black and Gold colour combination. Apart from these, the bike remains the same, mechanically and cosmetically. Some notable features of the bike include LED tail lamp, Automatic Headlamp On (AHO) and the smart fully digital instrument console. Enhancing its visual appeal are components like sporty twin-exhaust, a chiselled 12-litre fuel tank, sporty graphics and the new shades - Metallic Triton Blue, Glass Sparkle Black, and Candy Sonoma Red/Metallic Sonic Silver. The 2018 Gixxer comes in three variants - Standard with rear drum, Dual Disc and the Gixxer SP. The front disc is offered as standard on all the three variants. To stand out of the lot, the SP variant comes with stylish bodywork and matte finish. All the variants are powered by the 154.9cc BSIV-compliant, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that produces 14.8PS of max power and a peak torque of 14Nm at 6000rpm. Coupled to a 5-speed transmission system, the Gixxer is claimed to return a fuel economy of 64kmpl. Suspension duties on the 2018 Gixxer models are taken care of by 41mm conventional telescopic front forks and a 7-step adjustable monoshock unit at the rear. Its 17-inch alloys come shod in 100/80-17 front and 140/60R-17 rear tubeless tyres. The front disc brake on the SP variant comes equipped with single channel ABS now. Otherwise the single disc brake at the front and rear are standard. Prices for the Gixxer start at Rs 77,015 (ex-showroom Delhi) and it rivals the Honda CB Hornet 160R, the Bajaj Pulsar NS 160, the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and the Hero Xtreme Sports.

The Suzuki Gixxer is one of the most attractive street bikes in the 160cc segment. The bike looks modern and bold, thanks to its smart triangle-shaped headlamp cluster with a bikini fairing, wide handlebar, sculpted fuel tank with optimum knee recesses and the carved out single-seat unit. The tail section comprises of a triangular LED tail light which in combination with a body-coloured grab rail lend the rear a sporty look as well. Further, the twin-exhaust setup with chrome-garnished muffler not only adds to the sportiness but improves exhaust efficiency as well. What’s worth highlighting is the smart fully digital instrument cluster that displays RPM indicator, gear position indicator, dual tripmeter, gear shift indicator in addition to the basic readouts. The standard and dual disc variants are offered in three shades, while the Gixxer SP is available in an exclusive black/red paint job, with matte finish and new graphics.

The 2018 edition Gixxer continues to draw power from the same engine that powered its predecessor. The 154.9cc BSIV-compliant, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine is powered by Suzuki's Eco-Performance (SEP) technology that promises dynamic mid-range power and a punchier experience. It also helps in the reduction of mechanical loss, thereby increasing the fuel efficiency. The power and torque are rated at 14.8PS at 8000rpm and 14Nm at 6000rpm respectively. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Though Suzuki claims that it returns a fuel economy of 64kmpl, expect it to return around 55kmpl in real world conditions.

Nothing has been changed on the 2018 edition Gixxer as far as suspension assembly is concerned. The bike rides on beefy 41mm telescopic front forks and a monoshock at the rear. The rear setup is tuned to match the wide rear tyre that helps in handling while keeping it stable on rough terrains. The kerb weight of just 135kg makes it flickable in the city while the wide handlebar in accordance with adequate weight distribution adds to the manoeuvrability. On the braking front, it gets a 230mm front disc and a rear drum as standard while other variants - Dual Disc and the Gixxer SP - come equipped with a disc brake at the rear too. The 17-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in MRF tyres (100/80-17 front and 140/60R-17 rear) that are extremely grippy and more than capable of handling the wet roads in monsoon.

The front disc and rear drum on the standard variant provides enough confidence while braking. The disc brakes on both ends on the high-spec models further boost confidence. For enhanced visibility, the bike comes with Automatic Headlamp On (AHO).