LIGHT SUZI’S HEAVY ON THE FUN FACTOR
I have bad news for all you chaps out there – size isn’t everything. The other day, for example, I had so much fun it should be illegal – hurtling around Silverstone on the GSX-R125.
It was flat out most of the time with the rev counter on the red line at 12,000, although when I say hurtling, the highest speed I saw on the straight was 64mph.
Suzuki knew when it set out to design this dinky race replica that it would face stiff competition from the Yamaha YZF-R125, Honda CBR125R, Aprilia RS125 and KTM RC125, ranging in price from £3,799 to £4,700.
So it plumped for a price in the middle and aimed to make the bike the lightest in its class at 134kg wet, with a shorter wheelbase for quicksilver handling and a target market of young first-time buyers and commuters attracted by a claimed 123mpg fuel consumption.
At 6ft 7ins, I climbed on board expecting to feel like the elephant who sat on the mouse, but it’s surprisingly comfortable, and remained so even after a full day on the track. Remarkable. I suspect Suzuki sprinkles every one with Tardis dust as it leaves the factory.
The six-speed gearbox, as on all Suzukis, is as slick as a well-oiled haddock, and the engine is a peach, with a smooth and linear power delivery all the way to the red line, accompanied by a surprisingly beefy soundtrack.
As you’d expect with only 15 little Japanese horses galloping away below, progress is brisk rather than earth shattering.
Still, it’ll beat a Volvo away from the lights, which is the main thing.
Handling, though, is where it really shines. With that light weight, 17in wheels and a low, narrow seat, you can climb all over it and fling it into corners with perfectly controlled lunacy.
And just when I thought it had given me enough pleasant surprises for the day, after being thrashed flat out for hours on end, it still averaged 66mpg.
If you’d prefer a more upright and less sporty riding position, go for the GSX-S125 version which I spent a morning riding on the roads the following day and which is just as much fun, with the engine buzzing away happily in spite of being on the red line almost permanently.
It was like being in charge of a small but determined wasp, except thankfully one without a sting in its tail.