Suzuki will be concentrating on the premium bike segment and plans to bring the GSX-S1000 and S1000F super bikes that will help achieve a sales target of 400 units for CBUs this financial year.
Suzuki Motorcycle India has found success in the 150cc and above space and the company plans to concentrate on the premium end of the motorcycle world in the following years as well. In a recent interview, the company stated that it will be targeting young customers in the niche 150cc and above segment and is also planning to launch two new super bikes, the S1000 and S1000F in the country that will join the Hayabusa and the GSX-1000R in the company’s stable by June this year.
The Suzuki S1000 and the S1000F are part of the GSX family of super bikes and draw power from the 999cc inline four-cylinder powerplant and comes with a long stroke motor which makes it compatible for street friendly riding. Both the bikes reportedly make around 145 HP of power at 9500 RPM and the overall engine has been tweaked for a more laid back style of riding. The GSX-S1000 is a street-fighter with some extremely sharp lines and will compete against the Honda CB1000R, Kawasaki Z1000, Yamaha FZ1 and so on, whereas the S1000F is a full faired sports tourer that will be competing with the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 and the likes in the country.
Furthermore, Suzuki stated that the manufacturer is aiming to retail at least 400 units of its super bikes this fiscal, gaining a hike of 40 percent in comparison to the 280 units sold last year. The Japanese giant won’t turn a blind eye to the mass market segment though and will continue to retail the Hayate in the country. The plan is to achieve a 30 percent increase in sales, retailing five lakh units in the current financial year and it will be the 150cc and above bikes that will bring in the numbers. The automaker targets to sell 1 lakh units of the Gixxer twins in a year.
In addition, Suzuki will also be expanding its dealership network from the current 700 to 1500 touch points by March 2016. The company recently launched the Gixxer SF, priced at Rs. 83,439/- (ex-showroom, Delhi) which is a full faired 150cc bike and also the most affordable of its kind in the country. The Gixxer SF along with its street-fighter version are targetted at young buyers who want style and impressive riding dynamics in a value for money package.
