Suzuki Slingshot is the most stylish

The Japanese major exited the Indian sphere by 2001 after delivering us a potent 150cc four-stroker, the Fiero. In 2006, Suzuki re-entered the Indian market as an independent player with two 125cc models, the Heat and the Zeus. Both these models raked in decent sales numbers but failed to strike a chord with the masses as per Suzuki's expectations. Now determined to eat into a larger pie of the market share and to amass better volumes, Suzuki has unleashed the trendier and feature-packed Slingshot 125. This new bloke from Suzuki does pack in quite a bit of muscle to garner respect in its class but does it have the nerve to knockout its rivals? Let's find out.

There is no shadow of a doubt here that the Slingshot is the most stylish and aggressive motorcycle, in Suzuki India's present line-up. Contrary to the conservative approach taken by the company earlier with the Heat and Zeus models or also the big brother GS150R, the Slingshot is quite sweeping in its design philosophy. The streetfighter-like bikini fairing upfront holds the headlight in place and atop it rests the compact analog dash that incorporates the speedometer, fuel gauge, tell-tale lights and the trademark Suzuki gear-indicator lights to tell what gear you are riding in. While the Suzuki Heat and the Zeus shared the same body panels amongst themselves with just equipment levels distinguishing the two bikes, the Slingshot is a fresh new design with a lot more character and individuality than what Suzuki managed with its previous two offerings.

The neatly drawn knee recess on the well-proportioned fuel tank of the Slingshot offers excellent grip for the thighs regardless of the rider's physique and it is quite helpful in instantly easing the rider. The cushy seat has extremely well-drawn contours that hugely help in improving the comfort level even if one has to spend long hours in the saddle. Factor in the tall handlebars and what you get is an ideal ergonomic geometry for all-around use. It is important for a commuter motorcycle to have ergonomics that suitable for city-riding and occasional highway bouts. And the Suzuki Slingshot like its elder sibling, the GS150R, boasts of excellent ergonomics and relaxed riding posture. Move towards the rear of the bike and it maintains its fresh appeal with funky design flow all the way upto the sharp and steeply raked rear-end of the Slingshot but the piddly-looking tail-light fails to match the rest of the bike's aggressive stance. Although the very smart and first-of-its-kind lightweight split alloy wheels more than compensate for the bland tail-light and add considerably to the Slingshot's overall charm.