The Suzuki Gixxer line-up has been the manufacturer’s most popular platform in India and it was only a matter of time till it was updated. The original Gixxer and its fully-faired counterpart, the Gixxer SF, are also among our favourites in the segment, so when we had the opportunity to ride the updated SF at Buddh International Circuit, we couldn’t wait to find out if it left us with as big a smile as the older one did. Read on to find out.
Mechanically, the Gixxer SF retains its 154.9cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled unit, but on the new motorcycle, there’s a small dip in power. The old engine was good for 14.8hp and 14Nm of torque, while this new fuel-injected one makes 14.1hp and 14Nm. If you’re wondering why, Suzuki told us that they’ve readied the engine for the BS-VI emission norms, and although it is currently BS-IV-compliant, the eventual switch to BS-VI should come without too many major changes.
The lack in power, however, isn’t noticeable on the track and the engine is still as chirpy as it was when I experienced it on the older SF. Gear changes on the 5-speed gearbox can be felt at the lever with an affirmative ‘click’.
From having previously raced the older motorcycle at the BIC, I was expecting the new bike to be underwhelming. This held true to an extent, considering the performance figures aren’t what you’d conventionally consider exciting. While it’s good for a speedo-indicated top speed of 124kph, you won’t really find yourself complaining because this is still a really fun motorcycle.
The new Gixxer SF, like the Gixxer SF 250, uses what is essentially the same frame as the one on the current range of Gixxers. The most significant change comes in the form of a marginally thicker centre tube, along with a strengthened steering head and suspension mounts. The bike continues to use the same suspension hardware, a 41mm telescopic fork and a monoshock. Out on the racetrack, this translated to the SF 150 feeling quite competent in terms of handling. The bike feels highly intuitive and turns into corners almost effortlessly, much like the Yamaha R15 — a motorcycle that’s considered a benchmark in the segment.
The only chink, in an otherwise spectacular package, was the brakes. The 266mm front disc slows the bike down, but it needs a full-handed pull at the lever. On the track, it did leave me wanting it to slow down, um... faster. The brakes are dull, to a point where you really need to grab onto them to feel like you’re drastically losing speed. As before, they will be sufficient for the streets and there’s the added safety net of single-channel ABS that comes as standard.
What is substantially newer is the design and styling. The Gixxer SF shares its design language with the new 250, and from a distance, it’d be hard to differentiate between the two. They both sport the same all-new LED headlight and are clad with identical bodywork. The only difference is in the colour scheme and paint finish — the SF gets a gloss finish while the SF 250 comes in matte colours. There’s also a dual-tone colour scheme on the front end. Another key difference is in the alloy wheels — the 150’s wheels get fewer spokes and don’t have the brushed aluminium finish seen on the 250’s wheels. There’s also a new LCD instrument cluster that displays identical information to the one on the 250 — speed, revs, time, gear position and amount of fuel — but gets an inverted-colour layout with black text on a white background. Visually, the SF also looks slightly more compact and slimmer than its slightly bigger sibling.
The new bodywork and revisions to the frame have resulted in a rather significant weight gain — it is 146kg now, compared to the older bike’s 141kg kerb weight. However, the SF wears the added kilos well, and continues to be as fun and engaging as it has always been.
Along with the added weight, the SF comes with a hefty ₹8,000 increase in price. At nearly ₹1.10 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), it’s a rather steep asking price for the LED headlamp, clip-on handlebars and new bodywork. The increase means it costs about ₹11,000 more than the recently-launched Hero Xtreme 200S. However, what the Suzuki could potentially offer over its competition is a much more joyful and rewarding riding experience. A comparison test will provide the answer to that.
