Suzuki Hayate Road Test Review: The 'Fresh Breeze' in Delhi

The pros: Better ergonomics, smooth engine, nice pick-up, easy to maneuver. Suspension system works well and braking efforts are also appreciable.

The cons: Lacks of an engine-kill switch and a pass light switch. Gear shifting pattern is quite tricky.

The crux: Overall, Hayate is a good option as a regular commuter.

Rating

A Japanese machine is always better in terms of technology, efficiency and performance, and when it comes to automobiles, Japanese machines are even better. When we see the Indian automobile market, one thing is pretty evident that Indians love Japanese machines like anything. Suzuki led company Maruti Suzuki is ruling the Indian car bazaar for more than two decades now and two-wheeler companies like Honda and Yamaha are also doing pretty well. However, Suzuki's two-wheeler arm Suzuki Motorcycles is not that popular in the country, and to make things better Suzuki launched made for India commuter last year called Hayate- which is a Japanese word for 'fresh breeze'. In India 100-110cc commuters are the mass appeal products and holds the biggest pie of one of the largest two-wheeler markets in the world. So, it was an important segment for Suzuki to cover and they did so by launching the Hayate. We recently rode this bike in busy Delhi traffic to find out how convenient it is for day to day commuters.

In the first glance, the front fascia of the Hayate will remind you of its elder sibling the Slingshot as it features the same curvy bikini fairing with a well focused headlight. The well designed front blends well with the well designed mud-guard and fuel tank.

The fuel tank provides space to the rider's knees and also goes well with the rest of the design. The graphic job is decent, but it could have been better, the all black panels look good as well. The rear panels with ‘Hayate’ on it, match with the tale lamp and grab rail. The five spoke alloy wheels add a sporty feel to the bike.

While Hayate’s looks are not head turner, its ergonomics are better. The analogue instrument cluster has a dial showing speedometer and odometer and rest of the half squared part features the fuel gauge and tale-tell lights.

Instrument cluster is quite readable with its blue and white color for the fonts. The Switch gear is basic and has been designed ergonomically, which make it easy to use. However, it lacks an engine-kill switch and a pass light switch.

After observing all the plus and negatives of the design, it was time to check the tech specs of this Japanese machine. Suzuki Hayate gets its power from a 112.8cc, SOHC, four-stroke engine, developing a maximum power output of 8.3bhp at 7500rpm and peak torque of 8.62Nm at 5500rpm.

Suzuki motorcycles are known for their sleek smooth engines, and this 112.8cc engine is no different, it feels smooth most of the time, and its crisp throttle response makes things even better.

It reaches the 70 kmph mark without any efforts and then you need to put some efforts to touch the top speed mark of 90 km/h, however it is a commuter so an easy 60-70kmph is a virtue here.

The Hayate picks up well and the under square layout of the engine provides a good mid-range. The 4-speed gearbox is smooth but we weren't familiar with its all down shift pattern, instead we would prefer an all up or 1-down-3-up shift pattern.

However, its commuter type gearing is good but not par with Dream Yuga. However, it performs very well in the traffic, thanks to its tall 3rd and 4th gear, which reduce the frequent shifts. We tested the bike in peak hours of Delhi traffic and it performed so well.

Suzuki has fitted a basic set of 2.75 tyre at front and 3.00 tyre at the back with 17-inch wheels, the MRF tyres provide a firm grip on moderate speeds. While the suspension is equipped with telescopic forks at the front and adjustable hydraulic suspension at the rear, tuned softer to make ride better on broken Indian roads.

Handling is adequate, but not at par with Dream Yuga, but it does its job pretty well. Hayate uses a single tube chassis with a set-up engine, which makes it quite balanced. However, we didn't like the old school tubular swingarm at the back, specially when almost every Indian motorcycle is using a superior rigidity of a box section swingarm.

The bike's light handling makes it easy to maneuver in congested traffic, but its antiquated swingarm makes things difficult upto some extent while cornering. Hayate is equipped with 130mm drum in the front and 110mm drum at the rear, which provide good braking power for a regular commuter bike.

After riding this bike for a whole day on busy Delhi streets, we found that Hayate is a very good option for those who commute daily in heavy traffic. Its light handling and smooth engine is a boon in such traffic conditions. The Hayate looks modern and sporty, and its build quality is at par with competitors. All and all Hayate is a good option as a regular commuter.

Suzuki Hayate Technical Specification

Price Range: Rs 44,150 (kick-start, on-road, Delhi)/ Rs 46,306 (kick & self-start, onroad, Delhi)

Suzuki Hayate Engine Specifications

Fuel: Petrol

Type: 112.8cc, Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled

Power: 8.3bhp at 7500rpm

Torque: 8.62Nm at 5500rpm

Power to weight: 74.11bhp per tonne

Compression Ratio: 9.5:1

Carburetor: VM17

Starting: Kick & Electric Start

Air Cleaner: Non-Woven Fabric Element

Lubrication System: Wet Sump

Gearbox: 4-speed, all-down

Suzuki Hayate Dimensions

Length : 2030mm

Width: 720mm

Height: 1070mm

Wheel base: 1260mm

Ground clearance: 165mm

Suzuki Hayate Chassis & Body

Weight : 112kg

Wheels: 17-inch, 5-spoke alloy

Tyres : 2.75x17 (front) – 3.00x17 (rear)

Suzuki Hayate Suspension

Front: Telescopic forks

Rear: Hydraulic shock absorbers

Suzuki Hayate Brakes

Front: 130mm drum

Rear: 110mm drum

Tank size: 8 litres