The Hindu Business Line : Suzuki gains Access to scooter market

In keeping with its calculated and conservative approach to the Indian market, Suzuki has chosen to mark its entry into the scooter segment with Access 125, a simple, yet well-designed and well-finished two-wheeler.

— S. Muralidhar

Access 125…a full-bodied scooter that should appeal to both men and women riders.

There seems to be a parallel development in the scooter and motorcycle segments of the two-wheeler market in the country.

Even as there is a step-up in the engine capacity of bikes in the entry-level motorcycle segment from the currently popular 100cc to the next upgrade, namely, the 125cc, there seems to be a similar shift in preference in the scooter segment too.

The Honda Activa currently dominates the scooter market in India. Together with the Dio, a differently styled version of essentially the same scooter, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) controls over 58 per cent of the scooter market in the 75cc to 125cc category. But while Honda has a stranglehold over the 100cc category, with these two scooters, its experience with the Eterno, a 150cc, metal-bodied, geared scooter has been pretty ordinary.

Geared and endangered

Of course, it is a fact that the metal-bodied, geared scooter as a segment is facing a kind of extinction situation. But it is also a fact that the absence of Honda in the 100cc to 150cc segment has been a reason why the competition is quickly attempting to nudge into it. All of the new scooters in this emerging segment have their own strong points and compelling value and should be able to stand up and be noticed.

But the brand equity that Honda has built itself with the Activa has made it extremely difficult for other two-wheeler makers to break into the buyer’s mind space in this segment, prompting them to look at the 125cc category.

And so it is interesting to note that Suzuki has finally taken its first step into the scooter segment with the new Access 125. This is Suzuki’s maiden attempt at entering the scooter segment, including the time it was present in the Indian market through its joint venture with TVS.

In keeping with its calculated and conservative approach to the market here, Suzuki has chosen to mark its entry into the scooter segment with Access 125, a simple, but well-designed and well-finished two-wheeler. The side profile of the Access is very familiar and almost falls into a relatively predictable design trend that many gearless scooters currently adopt.

Unique features

At a glance, the Access 125 is still attractive and has a number of features that will be identified as being unique. But put together, there is no evident attempt at building an image of novelty for the scooter. But again that can still be good enough to attract a number of buyers in this segment. After all, the even more simplistic Activa has managed to corner more than half the buyers in the category.

Considerable work has been put into keeping the Access’ overall quality levels high. The quality of panel plastic, the paint job, panel integration, quality of switches and electricals, etc., are all as good as the best among the competition.

In the front, the Access features handlebar-mounted clear-lens-type headlamp with a halogen bulb. The turn indicators are integrated into the front body panel. Telescopic forks have been used for the front wheel, offering good suspension.

The instrument cluster in the Access is also simple, but very clear and visible even under the glare of the afternoon sun. Speedo, analog odo and fuel gauge are the three read-outs offered by the instrument cluster.

Like the two Honda scooters, the Suzuki Access 125 has also got its rider’s seating position bang on, with the right posture and handlebar height. The seat itself is wide and sports a slightly thicker cushion offering ample support to both the rider and the pillion. Rear grab rail is a coated steel tube unit and unlike the Activa and the Dio, the Access’ grab rail is bigger and longer to also enable riders to tie-up some luggage that may be carried at the rear.

The tail lamp in the Access comes in a U-shaped format and has integrated brake light and turn indicators. The silencer in the Access 125 has a stylish chrome-finished heat shield and footrest. Rear suspension is a single shock, swing arm type.

There is considerable storage space under the seat of Access 125, including a slot for a tool kit. However, oversized helmets don’t quite fit in. Storage and luggage carrying ability in the scooter gets a boost, thanks to a flat and wide footrest area for the rider.

One bit of novelty-cum-practicality that Suzuki has incorporated is the centralised ignition key, which is a multi-function unit.

This is not the first time we are seeing one of these, the Bajaj Kristal and the new Kinetic SYM Flyte too feature such a multi-purpose key. In the Access 125, different positions and turns to the same key perform functions such as stem lock, ignition on/off and under-seat lock release.

Engine dynamics

For the Access’ engine, Suzuki has chosen a 124cc, all-aluminium four-stroke, air-cooled unit that delivers peak power of 8.58 bhp at 7,000 rpm. The engine’s peak torque has been set at 9.8 Nm at 5,000 rpm.

The engine feels refined and bubbly, willingly wringing out power right from the word go. Transmission is via a CVT (automatic) gearbox. In comparison to the Access 125, the Honda Activa powers up to a peak 7 bhp at 7,000 rpm and the Bajaj Kristal offers a peak power of 7.2 bhp at a higher 7,500 engine rpm. The one gearless scooter that can catch up with the Access on the peak power parameter is the Kinetic SYM Flyte, which is tuned for about 8 bhp.

Electric self-start is part of standard equipment; in addition to a kick-start option. Braking is via 120mm drums both at the front and the back. The Access 125 has been given a stiffened, but lightweight body structure. With a slightly longer wheelbase of 1,250mm, stability and ride quality are a tad bit better than its smaller-sized competitors.

The Access 125 has also been given a water-proof battery and all through our test ride of the scooter, the self-start worked perfectly starting every time at the first attempt.

Avoiding any adventurism, Suzuki has chosen to stay conservative with the Access’ design. But speaking of ergonomics and finish, the Access should be able to stand up to the most popular competitors in the segment.

Mileage will be a bit of an issue for this scooter with only an average of 40-45 kmpl being achievable with sedate in-city riding.

The Access 125 is priced at about Rs 40,000 (ex-showroom).

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