Car vs Bike: The Suzuki Showdown

The results on paper reflect out on the dragstrip as well, with the Gixxer completing the dash to 100kmph in a swift (pun intended) 9.80 seconds, while the Swift gets there nearly 3 seconds later. The better power-to-weight ratio helps the bike get off the mark quick and accelerate well through the first few gears.

As speeds rise, though, things become a little more evenly matched. Once aerodynamic drag begins to play a bigger part, the Swift claws back some ground, and at the quarter-mile mark, it’s only 1.61 seconds behind the Gixxer. More importantly, it’s travelling quicker than the bike at this point, meaning if the race was a little longer, it would edge itself into the lead.

Braking

This is where the greater stability offered by 4 wheels gives the Swift a distinct advantage. Despite having disc brakes only up front, as compared to the Gixxer which has disc brakes at both ends, the car grinds to a halt a significant 11 metres before the bike when stopping from 100kmph.

This result is unsurprising, since the Gixxer’s brakes lack both bite and feel, and its braking distances are among the worst in class even when compared to other 250cc motorcycles, let alone cars. One has to rely on the dual-channel ABS and jam on the brakes at both ends to bring the bike to a halt quickly.

Conclusion

The bike has a clear advantage in terms of power-to-weight ratio, which translates into quicker acceleration, at least in the low-to-mid reaches of the speedometer. As speeds increase, the car’s aerodynamic advantage means it will catch up and probably go on to a higher top speed than the bike. The brakes are a known Achilles heel on the Gixxer and this causes it to lose out considerably when comparing braking distances.