Suzuki Motorcycle India is planning on withdrawing from the commuter segment motorcycles and focus only on the larger displacement motorcycles and scooter. The high-margin low-volume segment, which consists of sports and cruiser motorcycles, with 150cc and above engine capacity will be the prime focus as Suzuki Motorcycles has most of their customer base is in this segment.Suzuki has tried their hands at the commuter models, but none of them really took off in the Indian market.
The brand has launched the Gixxer SF 250 and Gixxer SF earlier this week, and both the bikes had already gained popularity. The 250cc powered motorcycle was launched at INR 1.70 lakh and the other 155cc motorcycle at INR 1.09 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi.
The product strategy that Suzuki wants to use is by introducing only the 150cc and above motorcycles and scooters in the Indian market. The Hayate which is a commuter segment motorcycle is not being produced and Suzuki has found the sweet spot in the 150cc segment and hence has relaunched the Gixxer SF (155) in a new avatar. Suzuki has more than half of its showrooms in top tier cities and the brand wants to target young & aspiring customers to buy a motorcycle for the urban environment.
The company will continue with the performance oriented and larger capacity motorcycle line up which is presently available in for sale in India and the range includes Hayabusa, V-Strom 650XT, V-Strom 1000, GSX-R1000R, GSX-S1000 ABS and GSX-S750. The brand also plans to launch two new products every year in the Indian market.
The newly launched Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 is powered by a single-cylinder oil-cooled, SOHC motor producing 26.5 PS of power and 22.6 Nm of torque coupled to a 6-speed gearbox. The bike comes with fuel injection and advanced oil cooling technology. The Gixxer SF (155) is powered by a single-cylinder, air-cooled, SOHC engine producing 14.1 PS of power and 14 Nm of torque coupled to a 5-speed gearbox.
It is also speculated that Suzuki will soon be launching the naked street fighter version of the Gixxer SF 250 & Gixxer SF (155) and a cruiser motorcycle based on the Intruder with a 250cc engine in the near future.
The brand is targeting the Bajaj Pulsar and the Yamaha FZ series with their Gixxer SF series.