The Gemma
is 100mm shorter than my Maxam, so it feels considerably more nimble on the
road. Corners and lane changes are a lot less barge-like as a result. The
shorter wheelbase also gives less distance between the bars and the seat; as a
result you sit more upright than on a Maxam or Fusion, and with very little
(none really) front screen, you sit right in the wind – normal for a bike rider
I suppose, but not something those who have screen-equipped rides would be used
to. Even for a Maxam (which is often criticized because of its feeble screen),
the wind buffeting is noticeable.
Engine
configuration (250cc, DOHC, 4-valve, water-cooled), power, claimed economy,
twin-disks, and seat height are all similar to the Maxam. The analog instruments are clear
and easy to read, they lack the Blade Runner light show of the Maxam’s digital
display, but are a lot more readable in peripheral vision - no need to look at the gauges directly like on the digital Maxam speedo & rev-counter, the sweeping needles work a lot better. Analog always seems better for dashboards for this reason. The single red back-lit LCD of the Maxam though would be a lot cheaper to manufacture over the multi-needle equipped Gemma.
No LED
lamps are fitted, and the headlight is a combined projector low-beam, and
separate high-beam.
The
handbrake is very car-like with a simple ratchet lift for on, lift for off on
the left side (that little chromed lever).
Perhaps
because of the 14-inch front, shorter wheelbase, and a little smoother engine,
riding the same roads around Daiba on the Gemma was overall smoother than the
Maxam. The Yamaha engine is often choppy, and rough – not to the point of
problems, but enough to notice the smoothness of the Suzuki engine.
The Gemma's shorter body, though perhaps contributing to a little more agility can be seen as a clear compromize here though, as that missing 100mm is where the Maxam's rear trunk finishes, one of the lacking features in the Gemma.
The shop
recommends the Momo Design range of helmets, assume because they are the
perfect size to fit in the helmet holder. Other than a small coin slot, and two
small glove compartments, you have just the helmet compartment for storage. The
under seat area carries no more than a small toolkit, and your shaken (registration) papers.
The Gemma
is about design, and even with the streets of Tokyo being populated with a
variety of exotic looking machines, the Gemma was very popular. Stopping for a
quick photograph session, the Gemma was met with comments of `kakoii` (cool) from
two very pleasant door-girls at a local hotel. The garish gold color probably had something to do with that too. I would prefer one in white, with perhaps a few red stripes...
Like the
Maxam and Honda’s Fusion, the Gemma is positioned as a two-up urban cruiser for
the Shibuya-set. With its kakoii Akira-styling, and strong mechanical
configuration, Suzuki should sell heaps. Price has it slightly above a
similarly equipped Maxam or Fusion. See ya! Neko.