Heat wave

The Heat is on, here's why.

Suzuki's has re-launched itself in to the second largest motorcycle market in the world. Okay the second largest motorcycle market in the world that's so advanced, it has manufacturers striving to make the world most perfect commuter. And Suzuki have joined the bandwagon with their first launch for India, the Heat.

Suzuki have gone the Honda way with their first launch and taken a very cautious approach. End result, and I'll be very honest about it, is not spectacular.

An old school round head lamp with plain, almost square side panels that work their way to a simple styled tail-piece and an old-fashioned chrome grab rail.

The front fender is very typical of Brit classics while the mud-flap at the rear almost covered the entire tyres making the motorcycle look rather silly.

The Zeus on the other hand, the more modern looking variant of the Heat. Swanky meters, an under engine-cowl and sleeker side panels make up for the Heat's bland looks. Okay so they were a little conservative with this 125 executive commuter, it's not their fault, they're just giving the masses what they're looking for.

Enough said bout that lets take her for a spin and see. Kick her to life (no electric-starter on this model) and the 125cc silently comes to life. The engine sounds unstressed and free-revving. Let's go for a spin and see if she actually feels the same. Engage first on the slick gearbox and let the clutch out carefully.

Carefully I say because 1.04 kgm@3,500 rpm makes the front end light at every given opportunity "" typical of all modern day Suzukis.

Throttle response is linear while the engine is indeed un-stressed, eager and very refined however the 8.7 horses at 7,000 rpm makes the Heat the most un-noticed underpowered motorcycle in it's class. Verdict, a fine engine with no cribs.

Suzuki stuck the undersquare engine into a single down-tube cradle frame with a no-frills suspension system. 2.75-18 up front and a 3.00-18 rear along with a well setup steering geometry make the Heat feel very easy, light and stable while taking on the potholes, pedestrians and perilous public transporters. 130mm drums are just adequate for the Heat while discs brakes will find their way on to the Zeus.

So there's the story to Suzuki's first launch in the Indian market. A reliable, smooth, easy handling motorcycle that got look that might not be worth dying for and are still under speced when it comes to other motorcycles in it's segment.

Suzuki are smarter than that, they've been building cars in India over the past two decades and couldn't be so far off the mark. They aren't. Suzuki is smarter than that you know.

They've price the Heat at an astonishingly low Rs 37,900 (ex-Delhi). Now if that isn't a bargain, tell me what is. Allow me to put that into perspective for you.

The Bajaj Discover 112, is priced at Rs 39,519 ex-showroom Delhi which is a whole Rs 1,500 more than the Heat. As for the top spec Zeus that's priced between Rs 42,990 and Rs 43,449 ex-showroom Delhi "" it's still cheaper than the other 125s.

Suzuki has made a cautions yet strategic launch in the second largest two-wheeler market in the world, a market where the perfect commuter is only just a myth.