Suzuki’s new DRZ 150.
Every motorcycle rider has a preference to what they ride but do the blue collars have a “Blue Collar Bike” ?
Suzuki has an answer to that question.
By Peter Prinsloo
When I think of 150cc Motorcycles, fond memories of my DT come back to me. But man I honestly did not think I would enjoy this Suzuki DR150 as much as I did. She’s a perfect combination of commuting, daily run around and will work fantastic for the blue collar man or lady.
This dual purpose bike is powered by a 149cc Air Cooled 4 stroke motor, pushing out just over 9 kW @ 8000 rpm. The model we rode is Carburetor and with the choke out she has no issues starting up. Switchgear on both sides are very straight forward and easy to understand. Positioning and rider height sitting at 839mm are surprisingly comfortable and are a mere 139 kg; she’s easy to throw around and or manuvear.
Featuring an Electric and Kick start this makes the worry of a flat battery or a faulty happy button a thing of the past. Reasonable size 12.5 L Fuel tank giving you a whopping 36 to 40 km/l putting your estimated range on about 450km per tank. Practicality vs Cost and at R39 999.00 it’s not too bad for what you get.
Speaking of practicality , the rear luggage carrier is solid and one could easily retro fit a top box or a crate of sorts to it. Another practical feature that I think would work really well on livestock farms and or reserves is the virtually silent exhaust. Animals are often startled by a loud pipes but with this DR you will sneak into any area virtually undetected. For the city slicker on the way to work, you won’t “cheese off” your neighbours in the early mornings.
One thing we like is the little tool box fitted beneath the carrier. That holds all the tools you need to remove the side panels and seat in order to access the airfilter an battery.
The overall features of this bike are fairly simple, nothing fancy. Some might call it basic but isn’t that what you want for a workhorse? This also means that running repairs and maintenance should be relatively low.
The littlest DR is Fitted with a single disc brake in front on the 19 inch wheel.
Drum brakes feature out back on the 17″ rear.
Pillion pegs are always a plus, you never know when after a day’s work you want to load the kiddo on the back and head down to the farm dam for a quick line wetting.
Overall this bike has proved to be simple, impressive and good fun to use as an everyday runabout.
And hey! It’s a Suzuki, so you just know that it will deliver the most incredible service.
Some Q & A
- What engine does the Suzuki DR150 use?
It uses a 149cc air-cooled, four-stroke engine producing just over 9kW at 8,000rpm. - Is the DR150 easy to ride?
Yes. At just 139kg, with straightforward controls and a comfortable 839mm seat height, it is easy to manoeuvre. - Is the Suzuki DR150 economical?
Very. The DR150 can return around 36–40km/l, giving it an estimated range of approximately 450km from its 12.5-litre tank. - Does it have electric start?
Yes. It has both electric and kick-start, giving you a backup if the battery or starter lets you down. - Is the DR150 suitable for work and farming?
Absolutely. Its simple mechanical design, low running costs, luggage carrier and quiet exhaust make it particularly practical for farms, housing estates, reserves and daily work. - Can you carry a passenger or luggage?
Yes. It has pillion footpegs and a sturdy rear luggage carrier, which can easily accommodate a top box or even a good old-fashioned crate. - How much does the Suzuki DR150 cost?
The model tested was priced at R39,999
