Suzuki Gixxer SF 155
It was 2015 when the first motorcycles bearing the Gixxer badge landed in the country. Since then, over 26,000 Gixxers have been sold by Suzuki, thus creating a solid following among riders.
Fast-forward to this year, Suzuki celebrates 10 years of the Gixxer badge with the launch of the “SF” variant – a fully-faired Gixxer inspired by Suzuki’s flagship motorcycle, the GSX-R1000R. SRP: 114,900.
Porma
There is no doubt that the Gixxer SF 155 will turn heads. After all, this is a motorcycle inspired by the GSX-R1000R. Like its bigger sibling, the GSX-R1000R, the Gixxer SF 155 boasts aggressive sportbike styling, complemented by its sporty seat, alloy rims and sporty exhaust.
Other porma features include a clip-on handlebar, full-LED headlight, LED tail light, Bybre disc brakes for both the front and rear (non-ABS) and a digital panel gauge.
Fuel economy
It’s no secret that Suzuki’s Gixxer series are imported from India and were designed primarily for the Indian domestic market. One of the important factors that Indians look for on a motorcycle is fuel economy, and the Gixxer SF 155 did not disappoint.
Read this: after topping up its 12-liter fuel tank and setting the tire pressure to the manufacturer-recommended 29 psi on the front, and 33 psi on the rear, the first bar on the fuel gauge went out 130 kilometers from the fuel station. Upon reaching 237 kilometers on the odometer, the fuel gauge said that it was half empty. Now, assuming that the Gixxer SF 155’s fuel gauge is accurate, I was able to stretch 6 liters of gasoline to 237 kilometers. That’s 39.5 kilometers per liter on combined (and realistic) highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic in Metro Manila.
According to Suzuki, its air-cooled, EFI, 155 cc engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox has a fuel economy rated at 50.2 kilometers per liter, which I assume they achieved in WMTC conditions.
My take
20 years ago, these were the exact types of motorcycles that I wanted to ride. You know, a motorcycle that looks like a sportbike which I can ride and lean aggressively on Marilaque’s curves like a MotoGP rider (at least in my imagination). But not anymore. I now prefer the easy and relaxed road-riding dynamics of a small cc scooter. Again, that’s just me.
What I liked the most during the Gixxer SF 155’s stint with me was that it was so compact, that I could filter in traffic where other scooters or underbones couldn’t. Picture this: the Gixxer SF 155’s handlebar width is just 700 mm – that’s just a little over 2 feet. So, any space in between cars (with the Gixxer SF 155’s side mirrors folded) that’s 2 feet wide meant that I could filter through, saving me precious time even in the worst of Metro Manila's traffic gridlock.
Though the Gixxer SF 155 is not as fast and powerful as the Raider R150, it makes up for it on porma (sportbike look), fuel economy, and range (large fuel tank). My only wish to a buyer of a new Gixxer SF 155 is this: don't put a top box on the Gixxer SF 155. It will ruin the GSX-R look.
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