2021 Suzuki Gixxer SF 150 Test Ride Review

2021 Suzuki Gixxer SF 150 Review

Bike tested: Suzuki Gixxer SF 150; Road Test No. 1322; Test Location: Mumbai

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 1,55,326/-

For 2021, the Suzuki Gixxer SF 150 gets updated, bold stickering

The Suzuki Gixxer was originally launched to contend with the Yamaha FZ. And later, Suzuki introduced the faired version of the same motorcycle and named it the Gixxer SF. Over the years, Suzuki understood the Indian market quite well and learned that we Indians love big-looking, small capacity two-wheelers, and the brand altered its portfolio accordingly. With the growing interest in small capacity fully-faired sportbikes, Suzuki is here with the new Gixxer SF 150. We test this bike to its core and tell you how it fares when put through different tasks and duties.

MotorQuest: Suzuki launched the Gixxer SF for the first time in 2015. The Gixxer SF is based on the blueprint of the Gixxer 150. It looks exactly similar to its elder sibling, the SF 250. The Gixxer is an international product that is sold in many Asian countries.

Styling: Straight away, let me tell you that Gixxer SF 150 is a beautiful looking motorcycle. It is quite sizeable and doesn’t look like a 150cc at all. The LED headlamp demands a lot of estate and sets a dominating impression, while the taillight looks quite humble. We love the tank design on this bike, it looks very dynamic and helps to give the Gixxer a very purposeful stance. The split fairing looks very attractive, however, the halogen indicators stick out quite a lot. The big new ‘Gixxer’ stickering looks very bold. As seen before, this one too continues with the signature dual-pod exhaust with chrome garnishing. Overall, the Gixxer is a well-styled bike that pleases the young audience.

Instrument Cluster and Switchgear: The instrument cluster on the 150 is a fully digital, positive LCD unit. This unit houses all the necessary information like a gear position indicator, service reminder, twin-trip meters, etc. However, the addition of a mileage indicator would have been a nice touch. Nevertheless, this display offers great visibility even on bright sunny days. There are two buttons labelled ‘SEL’ and ‘SET’ which help you browse through the cluster and also reset the trip meters. The switchgear setup is traditional, the left unit houses a pass light switch, a high-low beam switch, indicator and horn buttons, while the right unit houses a kill switch and a starter button. The switchgear quality feels decent.

Ergonomics: The Suzuki Gixxer offers a slightly sporty seating posture. The seat height is 795 mm that is accessible for the average Indian. While the raised clip-on handlebars offer a slightly leaned in posture the centre set pegs ensure comfort. Seating matters are managed by a split-seat setup. The cushioning on the rider’s seat feels adequate, but the pillion seat feels a bit hard. Speaking about the mirrors, they offer a wide view of what’s behind. But, due to their tapered shape, there is a blindspot towards the outside edges. Overall, the Gixxer offers good comfort while giving you a sporty feel.

Performance: Powering the Gixxer SF 150 is a 155cc air-cooled motor that produces 13.6 PS at 8000 RPM and 13.8 Nm of torque at 6000 RPM. Although the power figures aren’t that great, the power delivery is quite linear. The low-end grunt is just about enough while the motor shines in the mid-range and top-end feels decent. This motor is very tractable and the throttle response is peppy, thanks to FI. Lastly, the exhaust note is a bit too silent at idle but becomes bassy as the revs climb up. As you would expect from a Japanese motor, this engine is very refined. It’s very smooth until the redline where the motor feels stressed and vibrations do find their way to all contact points.

The power delivery is very much mid-range biased and the bike really excels at in-gear acceleration

The Gixxer gets a 5-speed gearbox that offers crisp shifts but it is a bit too hard for our liking. This motor packs enough grunt for all the city task and can comfortably cruise at 80 km/hr under 6000 RPM. Lastly, the motorcycle returns a brilliant fuel economy of 50 km/l when ridden sanely but, if you push it too hard, the number drops down to 38-40 km/l. With a 12-litre fuel tank, you can expect a range between 480-550 km. And the same for long-haul the engine does not feel stressed when ridden continuously at 80 km/hr.

Riding Dynamics: In our opinion, this is the best handling faired motorcycle under Rs. 1.5 lakhs. Although the suspension setup with telescopic front forks and an adjustable mono-shock is basic, it offers amazing control, straight-line stability and also does a decent job of handling broken patches. Switching between lanes is quite fun and when it comes to tackling the twisties, this bike loves being tipped into corners and holds its line pretty well. Feedback from the handlebar is ample and the bike feels well connected to the road throughout. Overall, the Gixxer handles like a pro.

Dynamics are rich and comfortable even after being a fully-faired motorcycle

About the brakes, they offer good stopping power, the initial bite is strong and the feedback is progressive. The Gixxer wears a 100 section front tyre and a 140 section rear tyre by MRF. These tyres are sticky and provide enough grip throughout. Although single-channel ABS is standard and does come in handy, an option for dual-channel ABS should have been offered. Lastly, the 165 mm ground clearance ensures that you easily clear most of the hurdles without hitting the belly. All in all, the Gixxer is a fun motorcycle that lets you play around while still being economical and in control.

Verdict: At Rs. 1,55,326/- (on-road, Mumbai), the Gixxer SF 150 sounds like a great deal to me. If you are looking for a stunning, fully-faired motorcycle that doesn’t trade for comfort, then the Gixxer should be your deal. This is the kind of motorcycle that doesn’t impress you on paper, but it leaves a big smile on your face. This bike can perform your everyday city commute and be your companion for the long weekend rides too. All in all, the Suzuki Gixxer SF 150 is a motorcycle that you should definitely consider if it ticks all the boxes in your list.

What’s Cool

* The motor packs good performance, especially in the mid-range
* The suspension offers unmatched stability and handling
* Offers the big bike feel while still being pocket-friendly

What’s Not So Cool

* Lack of dual-channel ABS
* Pillion comfort is mediocre
* The instrument cluster could pack connectivity

2021 Suzuki Gixxer 150 Specifications

* Engine: 155cc, Air/Oil-Cooled, Single-Cylinder, FI
* Power: 13.6 PS @ 8000 RPM
* Torque: 13.8 Nm @ 6000 RPM
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Fuel Consumption: 45 km/l
* Frame: Diamond Frame
* Gearbox: 5-Speed
* Tyres: 100/70/17 (Front), 140/60/17 (Rear)
* Suspension: Telescopic Forks (Front), Monoshock (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front), Disc (Rear); Single-Channel ABS

2021 Suzuki Gixxer 150 Dimensions

* Length x Width x Height: 2025 mm x 715 mm x 1035 mm
* Wheelbase: 1340 mm
* Ground Clearance: 165 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 12-litres
* Kerb weight: 148 Kgs