After its long reigned monopoly in the local automobile segment in Pakistan, Pak Suzuki made the bold decision of introducing the GS150 - the first mainstream 150cc motorcycle in Pakistan - in 2005.

Since then, these 150cc motorcycles have been getting a lot of attention in the two-wheeler segment in Pakistan. So much so, that during the past two years, both known and little-known brands such as Atlas Honda, Road Prince, Benelli and Derbi have all launched their own variants of 150cc motorcycles, keeping the needs of Pakistani consumers in mind.

While GS150 still remains the most popular 150cc motorcycle in Pakistan, Pak Suzuki has entered the market once again with the GR150: another motorcycle in the same segment, but with some new features and upgraded looks.

The company is currently offering free test rides for this bike, so last Sunday I went to my nearest Pak Suzuki dealership to test it out for myself.

Let's talk about my first impression of the bike. At a glance, the GR150 is a serious upgrade in terms of looks and styling when compared to the GS150. I already own a GS150, so it is obvious that its overall profile is visibly sleek when you look at it for the first time.

In fact, it has a closer resemblance to the GD110S than the GS150. When I first saw the photos online, I had thought Pak Suzuki has overhauled the GD110S once again.

From the front, the bike doesn’t give an aggressive look. It looks pretty sophisticated and smart which could be good or bad, depending on your personal preference.

At the rear of the bike, however, there are no integrated turn signals or indicators. The taillight also looks relatively simple when compared to what Suzuki has been offering in India with the GS150R. The non-LED, non-integrated turn signals make the bike look a little boring from the back.

The body doesn’t have a fake-protruded fuel tank, which is usually added to make bikes appear bigger than they actually are.

Colour: The entire frame is painted black, including the engine and rims. In my opinion this is a big no, especially in dusty environments. The black colour would make it extremely difficult to keep the bike clean.

The fuel gauge and gear indicator are a welcome change in the otherwise pretty standard instrument cluster which is still not digital, something you would expect from a bike in 2018.

Engine performance: As evident from the name itself, the GR150 is powered by a 150cc air-cooled engine coupled with a 5-speed gearbox which transfers the power to the rear wheel through a chain.

While I was not allowed to ride the bike at high speeds during the test run, I was impressed by the acceleration, even with another passenger riding pillion with me. There was no vibration at all and the overall ride was very smooth.

Size: Despite being roughly 20 kgs heavier than the GS150, the bike felt lighter when I sat on it and took it out for a ride.

Riding experience: The seat is not as wide as in the GS150, but the riding position is upright. The overall riding experience is pretty comfortable.

The not-so-wide handlebar makes handling and maneuvering the bike easier through congested roads.

Gears: The gear pattern is laid out with first gear at the bottom, followed by neutral, first, second, third, fourth and fifth upwards. Since I own the GS150, I am not comfortable with this gear pattern, but this is how it is in the rest of the world and with most sports bikes.

Suspension: I like the overall feel of the suspension and had no complaints about it. In fact, I deliberately put the bike on broken roads, potholes and sand during the test ride and it glided over all of them without a hitch.

Braking: If we talk about the braking system of the GR150, it comes equipped with a disk brake setup on the front and a drum brake setup at the rear. Both perform exceptionally well in combination, even when you have a passenger on board.

The GR150 is undoubtedly a solid upgrade with fantastic ride quality, excellent suspension, good braking setup, and an overall balanced outlook. From purely a product point of view, you cannot go wrong with it.

However, the bike is currently being sold at a price tag of Rs219,000 which is high for a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) unit when you compare it to the market. So, if you have the money to spend on a 150cc motorcycle, the Suzuki GR150 is worth checking out.

This content has been independently produced by the writer and Dawn.com. Pak Suzuki has paid for association with the content.