QUIKSPIN: Suzuki Gemma - Stretching the Friendship

There was a time when you used to have to get real cosy with you partner if you wanted to sit on the back of a scooter, but times have changed. The Burgman and other maxi-scooters mean you can perch up there and enjoy roomy surrounds, but the way those scoots are designed means you're higher than the rider, which can affect handling.  

The idea of stretching the wheelbase to create a  flat limousine-style scooter is not new, with Yamaha releasing the Maxam a couple of years ago, and  Honda's Fusion being around for even longer,  but Suzuki has gone one better with a revised suspension system for its new Gemma.  

The Suzuki Gemma is unique, specifically designed for two-up city commuting. Its styling is modern and eccentric but rather attractive with it, going beyond the usually staid scooter design philosophy. It's also well suited for going on a  romantic date, as the seats are very close together,  forcing your passenger to snuggle up.  

But those features are only a part of the Gemma's  charms. It's comfortable, stable and easy to ride,  especially for shorter people. With a seat height of only 660mm, it's pretty low, making it appealing to the female market as well.  

The design and layout of the front fork and rear suspension really work, giving a supple and compliant ride. This is helped by the excellent design of the suspension, especially at the back. Normally scooters use a swingarm mounted to the engine,  but that means the swingarm is not long enough to absorb big bumps properly.  

The Gemma has a much longer swingarm that puts the rear wheel out back, beyond the pillion.  This means the rear-end can handle bumpy surfaces more easily, giving it a smoother and more comfortable ride for both pillion and rider than most scooters. However, this hasn't made it difficult to steer in tight city traffic. The handling is neutral,  making U- turns easy, and it's much more nimble than it looks. 

The engine is an updated and refined version of that found in the Burgman 250, and it feels both more powerful and torquey for the revisions. It's  also quieter, smoother and makes less vibration than the original. It makes power from the off but is no rocketship, of course, although it's more than adequate for a bit of two-up city cruising, which is it's raison d'etre.  At the moment, the Gemma is only sold in Japan with no plans to import it to Australia.

Protect your Suzuki. Call Shannons Insurance on 13 46 46 to get a quote today.