We were recently invited to the launch of the all-new Suzuki Access 125. The Access may be new to South Africa, but interestingly, this little scooter has been around since 2007 and is the beating heart of mobility in India. Now you may ask, why is that important? In my opinion, it’s worth knowing this as it speaks directly to the reliability of the scooter—if a country where these small-capacity two-wheelers are so popular has trusted this model for the past three generations, who are we to doubt its performance, reliability and comfort?
Upon first glance at this little commuter, I was instantly drawn to its classic styling. It’s this design that sets it apart from the other scooters in Suzuki’s lineup. Compared to the Avenis and Burgman, which South Africans have grown to love over the years, the Access brings us a scooter that pulls at the heartstrings of classic scooter lovers. The two-tone colour scheme, especially the higher spec version with the lighter floorboards making up that second tone, and the chrome finishes emphasise its classic feel.
Taking a step back, Suzuki SA offers two versions: a base model with drum brakes front and rear, an analogue display, black mirrors and only 3 colour variations, coming in at R28,900. The higher-spec version packs all the bells and whistles: a TFT display, Ride Connect, a disc brake with ABS in the front and drum brakes at the rear, stylish chrome finish mirrors and, of course, 5 colour options for a mere R5,550 more.
To me, it’s a no-brainer—why choose the lower-spec model when you can revel in the beauty of the retro-styled version? For commercial buyers, however, the lower-spec Access makes perfect sense: simple, affordable and, above all, practical. I, on the other hand, am a die-hard for anything classic, be it my 1962 VW Beetle, my Modern Classic motorcycle or my Gen 3 Jimny; I am obsessed. So, upon seeing the “Ice Green”, as Suzuki has named it, I was captivated by this “pistachio green” version parked amongst the other colour variants; and with a bit of luck, I found myself spending the day on exactly that one.
Although the weather wasn’t quite on our side, sprinkling a bit of gloom across the tarmac, it didn’t stop us from riding these dapper scoots. We made our way through neighbourhoods, twisty roads, a few climbing hills and cityscapes on our way to the Museum of Illusions in JHB, where we would partake in a mind-bending scavenger hunt.
The ride there was an absolute “jol”. It’s true, scooters can add fun to even the gloomiest of days. From my own experience riding the Access, I found that the bike performed excellently in the wet conditions—I remember thinking, “These brakes are brilliant in the rain”. Apart from wet tar, you can add uneven roads and the occasional pothole, and it’s fair to say that the Access handled each obstacle with minimal effort.
Suzuki claims fuel consumption of roughly 1.9 L/100 km, which translates to approximately 52 km/L. Paired with a 5.3-litre tank, that should fuel plenty of coffee runs… I am curious to put it to the test and see whether those numbers translate to everyday riding, rather than pootling along like Miss Nancy. I guess we’ll find out once we get our hands on it for a thorough review. A little detail that only someone who has had to refuel a scooter will appreciate is the integrated fuel cap feature. You no longer have to lift the seat to refuel; you can simply pop open the cap in the back for easy access, similar to that of classic muscle cars from the 60s.
You could spend every day on one of these without fatigue. Hopping on and zipping on your way is effortless, making a quick pop out to the shop a fun outride rather than a dreadful trip. Being a motorcyclist, and being around many others, it’s evident that even though we love the thrill of fast bikes, it’s a scooter that ignites something within—perhaps its nimble, playful and uncomplicated character awakens the “child” within us all. Whatever it is, every person I know gets excited when they are given a scooter for a day, and the Access 125 is no exception.
Talking about childlike fun, we found ourselves running around and tapping into the science behind illusion. The Museum of Illusions is a place where the line between reality and perception begins to blur. We enjoyed completing the scavenger hunt, which involved solving puzzles, moving through spinning tunnels, “falling” off balconies, seeing moving faces and looking down an infinite tunnel of mirrors. The irony, after stepping back outside, was realising that the Access 125 is no illusion. It is a practical, comfortable and fuel-efficient scooter wrapped in a stylish, dapper skin.
We’ll reserve our final verdict until a full review, but after our first outing, the Access 125 has certainly made a charming first impression.
Suzuki Access 125
For more information on the bike featured in this article, click on the link below…
