If you’re easily put off by its modest displacement and plain styling, then you definitely won’t appreciate its rather annoying TV commercial. Fortunately, this little scooter from Suzuki’s stable is able to redeem itself with subtle but useful features that perfectly “address” the needs of a daily commuter.
This writer happens to believe that a scooter is greatly defined by its under seat compartment. The Suzuki Address has a 20-liter lockable storage where you can stow away your things while you’re on the road. Wearing a back pack over a riding jacket is not exactly comfortable. Plus, you don’t have to carry around your helmet inside the mall. The under seat compartment is accessed through a convenient switch integrated in the ignition switch assembly. Just turn the key clockwise to turn ignition on and turn counter-clockwise to open the seat. The compartment itself has a thick, hard plastic lining which protects your sensitive electronic gadgets from engine heat and keeps gasoline smell away from your packed lunch. Speaking of fuel, the Address has a tank capacity of 5.2 liters. Pair that with Suzuki’s fuel injection system and you won’t have to fill-up every other day like what you would do with most scooters in its class. Since it’s fuel-injected, you can load it up with the cheap stuff. The Address will run on the usual, ethanol-laced gasoline variant without any long-term issues, as opposed to having a carburetor-equipped engine, which requires the rare (and more expensive) ethanol-free variant.
The Suzuki Address is powered by a 113 cc air-cooled four stroke engine that delivers 6.9 kw @ 8,000 rpm and 8.7 Nm @ 6,500 rpm. The Address has an eager acceleration, so long as you’re also eager to work that throttle. There’s no need to worry about over-revving the tiny engine as the continuously variable transmission automatically keeps you in the optimum rev range. Stay ahead of traffic flow and toxic fumes with a simple flick of the wrist. The eagerness, however, tapers-off beyond 60 kilometers per hour. It will easily zip past smoke-belching jeepneys on city streets, even with a 190-pound (plus VAT) rider on top but over-taking lengthy container trucks on open highway will take proper timing and a little prayer.
Yet, the Address does not pretend to be something else other than an urban commuter. Its compact dimensions and 95-kilogram curb weight make it easy to maneuver around tight spots. The short-stemmed side mirrors, though perfect when squeezing through gaps in traffic, offer a great view of your shoulders. Despite being a light-weight, stability is not an issue on the open straits and especially when leaning into corners. If you like taking corners at night, bar-mounted headlight would prove to be useful.
Being a global product, Suzuki designed the Address to accommodate riders of all sizes. The floorboard is lowered while the handlebar is raised a bit so taller riders won’t hit their knees with the grips every time they make a turn. The downside (excuse the pun) is that you have to be mindful of speed bumps because of the low 120 mm ground clearance.
At a price tag of P 66, 900, the Suzuki Address is one of the most affordable fuel-injected vehicles in the local market. It has its limitations but it will get you from point A to point B without fuss. You might even have a bit of fun in between. To know more about the Address or to view the cheesy video commercial mentioned earlier, visit www. suzuki.com.ph
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