Pulling GS

Suzuki's GS could have been a great motorcycle. A motorcycle that could have changed the way 150s are made in India. In 2006. In 2008/09, it isn't any of these. What gives? It's Suzuki's conservative middle-road-ism that is the problem. The GS has all of the usual Suzuki traits - fantastic quality levels, superb refinement etc. But, what the GS misses is a spark. And that's going to haunt it a bit, i think.

Let me explain. I know you've read this over and over again, but the Yamaha's FZ really did change the dynamic of the 150cc segment. It got almost every single aspect the represented an evolution of the 150 right. And now, unfortunately for the Suzuki and everyone else, they must up their game as well. A refined, linear, smooth engine that has power everywhere isn't enough. The GS will get to 60kph, but only the Pulsar is slower. It will do a 100 kph, and only the RTR is faster. So it isn't a lounger-about by any stretch of imagination, and yet, this feels...hmmm... okay. The gearbox, another Suzuki strength is positive, if a but clunky - another Suzuki-ism that smoothes into a silky shifter in time. The ride quality is excellent. Suzuki have chosen to use a twin gas-charged shock setup which works rather nicely. The handling feels stable and confident too. Ditto the brakes. The GS also gets meters that look like Gixxer units and they're easily the best in the market right now. Everything that should be there is. And it is where it needs to be. You're instantly familiar with this big, bold unit and that's what it is supposed to be. It even meets the thresholds for both price and economy.

But, first of all, all of this goodness and niceness isn't enough in what I personally think is a segment that's harder to crack than the 125s or the 100s. 150s need to be all of this and inspire emotion and that the Suzuki finds a bit hard to do. It's natural competition is the Honda Unicorn, and not either the stylish FZ or the brawny RTR. And I think that disappoints me a little. I would thought that the company that offers us the Hayabusa would have done more with their 150.

There isn't a doubt that anyone who purchases the GS is going to be happy with it. But the feel is of a motorcycle that's sober, civil and adequately powerful. For a 30-something rider who only wants to get to work and has all of the headbanging years of riding firmly behind him. And thankfully, that does describe me.