Thread: Suzuki Zeus CD

The zeus. Suzuki's re-entry launch in India, wasa superbly built motorcycle. Unfortunately, everything else was middle of the road. As Suzuki's first motorcycle for India. it turned out too meek to create an impression. let alone chew up competition and rack up market share. Mind you, the Zeus/Heat is quite a nice motorcycle and has the aforementioned superb build quality as well. It didn't as much as flinch when it was put through BSM's annual Slushfest. and easily survived a whole 7,000 km test cycle in the hands of our resident motorcycle breakerser testers Suzuki claim 1.04 kgm at just 3500 rpm, with a below-segment par 8.7 bhp power peak at 7000 rpm.

The torque is delivered without fuss by a free-rewing, refined. eager engine that's typical of current day Suzukis in character. The gearbox was pretty slick as well, though our zero-mile test bike did show a couple of notches in some shifts. The motor feels unstressed and looks like it will last forever. Suzuki chose a single downtube split cradle frame, with no-wozzat suspension, and fairly conservative suspension geometry. Which, all told, feels light. manoeuvrable and stable in corners. but again, nothing that will have the competition sweating. The Zeus proved more than able to jink past stuck cars. damp out potholes and generalIy feel calm. just like the engine.



A year down. Suzuki aims to set that nght. rebuild brand Suzuki and aims to actually capture some part of that huge and growing sales pie. So they've upgraded their HeaVZeus. The line Zeus will now be available in three variants. the EU, DU and the CD. The DU the most basic version - looks the same as the older motorcycle but now gets the much needed electric starter. The EU, the intermediate variant. gets new stickers, five-spoke alloys and a thumb start. And the CD, top of the line and in the pies. will have all of the EU features and a front disc brake.

All of the variants will now have stylish clear-lens indicators and stickers that are more pronounced than the earlier styling of the Zeus. Oh, and it's also got a very chic-looking Suzuki S monogram on the tank. Heat. the bare-basic Suzuki. gets new graphics and the self-same five spoke alloys. That's the upgrade list. Upgrades and spec-ups are a fact of two wheeled life. but this is hardly what one could call a brand-building upgrade. It's a start. yes. but I fear this may not be enough to pull people into Suzuki showrooms in larger numbers yet.