GIIAS 2016: Suzuki Satria F150 – the 150 cc supercub “Belang” replacement that Malaysians won’t get

There is no doubt that Indonesia, in terms of its motorcycle market, is huge. This allows manufacturers to capitalise on economies of scale, and produce niche models specific to the market.

What this means is that the motorcycling community in Indonesia is spoilt for choice. This is borne out by the fact that Yamaha, alone, has three 150 cc models in the 150 cc category, while in Malaysia, Suzuki only offers the long-in-the-tooth air-cooled Belang R150.

While we recently saw the release of the 2016 Honda RS150R in the ‘supercub’ category, which goes head-to-head with the Yamaha Y15ZR, one 150 cc supercub we don’t get in Malaysia is the 2016 Suzuki Satria F150. Recently launched last February in Indonesia, the Satria F150 claims to be the most powerful of the 150 cc supercubs.

Carrying a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder four-valve DOHC engine, the Satria F150’s power plant displaces 147.3 cc. Suzuki claims 18.5 hp and 13.8 Nm torque from the mill, which places it above its competitors in this category.

A new twin-spray fuel injection system uses six sensors to provide optimum fuelling, which, coupled with a rise in compression ratio from 10.2:1 to 11.5:1, provides some basis for the claim. Valve angles are also now more acute, with larger intake and exhaust valves to get the fuel-air mixture in and out as quickly as possible, working in conjunction with a larger throttle valve body.

Power gets to the ground via a six-speed gearbox and chain drive, and the Satria F150 comes with a four-litre fuel tank that Suzuki says is good for 200 km range. The whole package weighs in at 109 kg, and seat height is a low 765 mm, riding on a 1,960 mm wheelbase.

Braking is with a single-disc front and rear, and the front has a standard telescopic fork, with a single monoshock at the back. The instrument cluster is a large LCD panel, which unfortunately was not able to be switched on for us to look at the display.

Targetted at students and young working adults, the 2016 Satria F150 comes in two versions - standard and high grade. The standard retails for 21.65 million rupiah (RM6,763) and comes in three colour choices, while the high grade goes for 21.95 million rupiah (RM6,863) and buyers can choose between two colour schemes.

In Malaysia, for the supercub category, there is the 2016 Honda RS150R at RM8,213, and the Yamaha Y15ZR - recently updated with a new colour - at RM8,210.

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