Suzuki Gixxer SF hits the bull's eye

Not only has the additional fairing made the Suzuki Gixxer SF more appealing to the eye, it is also more aerodynamic that helps one clock higher top speed, says Indian motoring website MotorBeam.com.

Sometimes taking a sabbatical is the most effective way to work things around. Not only does it give you a new perspective but also allows one to get a better understanding of the future plan. Well, that is exactly what Suzuki India did when it launched the Gixxer street-fighter that managed to captivate the masses in a very short span of time and now taking the popularity forward, the Japanese auto giant has been smart enough to slap on a full fairing on its 155cc offering and are calling it the 'Gixxer SF'.

We saddled up on Suzuki's newest motorcycle to see what it feels like and couldn't be more convinced.

Without a doubt, Suzuki has hit the bull's eye when it comes to the styling as it's the cheapest full-faired bike in the country. The front fairing takes inspiration from the bigger Gixxer models and has been designed after wind tunnel testing at the same place where the Hayabusa was tested. While the side and the tail section is similar to the Gixxer street-fighter, the front fairing leaves a lasting impact with a striking presence, a GSX look-alike headlamp cluster and new clear lens indicators. Changes also include new pinstripe on the alloy wheels, new aluminium exhaust cover and the special MotoGP edition with racing blue livery and the SUZUKI moniker running across the side.

The Suzuki Gixxer SF carries over the instrument cluster and switchgear from the naked Gixxer which includes an all-digital instrument cluster that comes loaded with information including gear position indicator, Eco/Power indication, clock, twin trip meters, tachometer on the top and a large speedometer. Changes comprise of the chrome finished Suzuki logo on the key and the black plastic cladding all around which doesn't really look good. The switchgear quality is excellent and comes with all the essentials needed.

While the Suzuki Gixxer SF may be a full-faired motorcycle, it does not get the same dedicated sporty riding position as seen on bigger supersport bikes. The bike continues to use a high positioned wide handlebar and the seat, foot pegs and fuel tank too remain in the same position as the naked Gixxer. The rear view mirrors are mounted on the fairing and lend a good view. The Gixxer SF also gets a handlebar clamp for improved stiffness but does not really make much of a difference.

We praised the Gixxer's motor when it first arrived last year and the same 155cc single-cylinder motor continues to power the Gixxer SF as well, producing 14.6 HP and 14 Nm of torque, paired to a 5-speed gearbox. However, the SF is 4 kgs heavier than the naked version with a kerb weight of 139 kgs, which is overwhelmingly less for a full-faired bike. In terms of performance, the Gixxer SF is identical to the regular version and offers crisp throttle response with the 0-100 km/hr run coming up in 16.8 seconds and has a top speed of 135 km/hr, which is 10 km/hr more than the naked Gixxer, courtesy, the improved aerodynamics. The gearbox offers precise shifts and the inclusion of Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP) allows to achieve a fuel efficiency of 63.5 km/l. Expect a realistic figure of 45 km/l on the SF.

An extremely potent motorcycle, the Gixxer SF comes with extremely strong underpinnings and handles beautifully. The chassis is confidence inspiring and the wide MRF tyres offer excellent grip. Knee down looks extremely cool on the Gixxer SF as it resembles the Hayabusa from certain angles, but be careful as the exhaust has the tendency to scrape when you lean hard. The suspension setup is well balanced and gobbles up our undulated roads with ease. Braking performance from the front disc and rear drum brake is good, but a rear disc too would've made stopping power superlative. The SF feels a lot more stable than the regular version at high speeds.

The Suzuki Gixxer SF is targeted at young buyers in India and certainly appeals to the head as much as it does to the heart. It offers an excellent balance between performance and efficiency while the instrument console comes loaded with a host of information. Most importantly, it is the aesthetics that are sure to grab more eyeballs with its striking presence.

At a Rs 10,000 premium over the regular Gixxer, the SF emerges as an extremely value for money proposition while also being the cheapest full-faired motorcycle available on sale in the country.