The SZ-R is a sporty variant of Yamaha’s latest 150-cc utility bike. Better late than never, says Piyush Sonsale
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
The SZ-R is a sporty variant of Yamaha’s latest 150-cc utility bike. Better late than never, says Piyush Sonsale
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
Yamaha have finally
launched a new variant in the SZ series with some essential upgrades and an ‘R’ added to the name. The SZ-R is mechanically the same as other SZ variants. However, it has the much-needed single front disc brake, which SZ lacked earlier. The disc brake goes miles in inducing confidence while riding. The bar-end weights, also part of the ‘new’ list in the SZ-R, have increased the stability of the handlebar. The sticker on the SZ-X says, ‘Power and comfort’, while the one on the SZ-R says, ‘Power and sport’. And truly so. Yamaha have given the bike a sporty edge with a new, two-layered tank cowl sporting the Yamaha logo, a tachometer to show the engine revs and side panels. While the front shock-absorber has changed colour, the turn signal indicators have clear plastic instead of orange. The colours on offer are red, black and blue.
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When a person wants to buy a bike, s/he is willing to stretch the budget by one or two thousand rupees. The SZ is priced at Rs 55,186, which is Rs 2,286 more than the YBR 125 (prices OTR, Pune). The SZ-X has been priced at Rs 58,506, an increase of Rs 2,306 from the SS 125. The 125’s have better fuel efficiency, but the winner in the performance and looks category is the SZ series. With such close pricing, the products have thin boundaries in terms of the price. The buyer then has three parameters to choose from within the same brand – engine capacity and design or fuel efficiency – and ends up confused.
However, the SZ-R, priced at about Rs 60,000 (OTR, Pune), has a clear appeal. It might steal some of the SZ-X buyers, but at an increase of approximately Rs 2-3,000, you get a sporty bike with a disc brake. It is considerably cheaper than most of the 150-cc bikes and is a joy to ride, though an engine kill switch, present on the YBR’s and the SS, is still missing.
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Suzuki adds a visor to the bike to improve its looks 
As you know, Suzuki SlingShot has won the Bike India Award 2011 for the ‘Bike of the year – up to 125cc’. Now Suzuki India is giving its two-wheeler buyers a small treat by launching a new variant of the bike called the SlingShot Plus. Wondering what pluses you’d get in the new variant? Well, the list is rather tiny, as the new variant sports a visor which covers the instrument console, right above the headlight. According to Suzuki this increases the style quotient. The ‘Plus’ variant will be available in three trims — drum brake and alloy with kick start for Rs 50,350, with self start at Rs 52,518, and the top of the line with front disc brake, alloy and self start for Rs 54136 (OTR Pune), which is about a thousand rupees more than the basic SlingShot. 
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