Suzuki Belang R150

The Suzuki Belang R150 was a low slung racing machine. Its dimensions of 1940 mm (L) x 652 mm (W) x 941 mm (H) and a seat height of just 764 mm made it look slippery. The rear end floated high in the air. 17” thin Y spoked wheels with 70/90 17 tires in the front and 80/90 17 tires in the rear completed its racy stance. The styling was race-derived too with Suzuki racing livery and bold graphics. But not everything was geared towards making it sportier. Instrumentation was a semi-digital instrument panel. It came with a keyhole shutter that locked the keyhole preventing theft attempts. There was a sizable under-seat storage area. An engine cowl under the bike protected it from rocks and added to its sporty appeal.

Probably the most remarkable thing about the handling was the lightweight nature of the bike. At 106 kg, it was one of the most lightweight bikes on the market. Period. This made it easy to lean in and out of curves. The handlebars were low and caused the rider to take a hunkered down position on it. This aided handling put a lot of pressure on the rider’s wrists. Another complaint could have been made about the tires which would feel too skinny to some. The telescopic suspension in the front and the monoshock in the rear were both set for handling and were quite firm. Some comfort, however, was restored by the seat. The comfy seat was long and allowed the rider to adjust their seating for more comfort.

The Belang had a 147.33cc oil-cooled, 4-Valve, DOHC (twincam) single cylinder with peak power output of 15.42 hp at 9500 rpm. Peak torque of 12.4 Nm was delivered at 8500 rpm. This was enough to take the bike to a top speed of 160 kmph. The engine delivered a lot of brute force and could accelerate in any condition using its 6-speed transmission. Never feeling low on power is what gave it its reputation. The mileage however suffered. Careful riders could hope to achieve 30-35 kmpl. The small 4.9-litre fuel tank didn’t help matters either. But the eager nature of the bike made it difficult for riders to drive it slowly. The seduction of the throttle was not easy to beat.

With performance like this, the bike had to have some pretty good stoppers. The bike came equipped with large wavy disc brakes both front and rear. Braking performance was great too. The abruptness of brakes took some getting used to for new riders.