Suzuki Motorcycle India likely to bring two new 1000cc superbikes this year

Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIL), a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, is believed to be looking to expand its superbike portfolio by another two 1000cc models later this year.

Industry sources, aware of the company’s plans, say that SMIL is considering introducing the GSX-S1000 and the GSX-S1000F superbikes in India around Q2 of the new financial year 2015-16.

“The two models are expected to be brought into India as complete built units (CBUs),” say sources. The company, when queried for an official statement as regards the two new superbikes, refused to comment on the same.

With the two new incoming superbikes, the company, which currently sells eight models in its portfolio, will have a total of 10 big bikes on offer soon, making its big-bike-portfolio bigger than its scooter and commuter bike portfolios put together.

This can be understood as SMIL’s attempt to transform its image into a niche two-wheeler company in India, which can possibly cover being a big bike brand with sizeable offerings in the local market along with a focus on the 150cc premium commuter bike segment. This, on the back of 150cc Gixxer yielding good results, is expected to work well for the company.

The company’s eight-model superbike portfolio includes – the 4-cylinder, 999cc GSX-R1000 ABS; twin-cylinder, 1037cc V-Strom 1000ABS; 4-cylinder, 1340cc Hayabusa and Hayabusa Z variants; 4-cylinder, 1255cc Bandit 1250SA; twin-cylinder, 1783cc Intruder M1800R along with its BOSS edition and the twin-cylinder, 805cc Intruder M800. The models in the SMIL portfolio currently come in an ex-showroom (Delhi) price range of Rs 10,05,000 (for the Intruder M800) to Rs 16,45,000 (for the Intruder M1800R BOSS variant).

On the other hand, while its scooter portfolio has four models on offer (110cc Lets and 124cc Access, Access special edition and Swish), its motorcycle offerings include 155cc Gixxer and Gixxer SF, 150cc GS150R, 124cc Slingshot and 112cc Hayate models.

Both the incoming superbike models – the GSX-S1000 and the GSX-S1000F – are powered by the GSX-R1000-derived long stroke, in-line four-cylinder 999cc powerplant. While the S1000 will be a naked-street bike, the S1000F, according to the Suzuki’s global website, will be its faired sibling.

The big bike segment, classified as bikes with engine displacement of 800cc and above, is all set to expand in India with a gaggle of new incoming models. While recently Yamaha added the 200bhp YZF-R1M bike and updated its YZF-R1 model (four-big bike model line-up), Kawasaki had also rolled out its tech-laden Ninja H2, all CBUs in the one-litre class.

Triumph Motorcycles too had expanded its adventure-tourer portfolio by adding two fresh 800cc variants under its Tiger series. Gearing up, Ducati also recently announced its official subsidiary in India.

According to SIAM data, total sales of the big bike segment (800cc and above) stood at 3,004 units during FY2014-15, growing by 23.15 percent over 2,440 units sold in FY2013-14.

SMIL’s big bike sales, however, did not grow as per the market growth during the last fiscal. The company, which sold 145 superbikes in FY2013-14, recorded sales of 130 units in FY2014-15, down by 10.34 percent.

Though Suzuki has discontinued its twin-cylinder, 248cc Inazuma, which was its only model in the midsized bike segment, sources point out that the company may well consider positioning a model or two in the growing segment in future.