Other than the Yamaha FZ150i, there are not many locally assembled motorcycles that fall in the 150cc category (Kawasaki D-Tracker 150, KLX150S and the two-stroke Ninja ZX150 come to mind).

In this regard, the Suzuki Belang 150 is a welcome addition, though it differs from all the three bikes mentioned earlier in the sense that it is still based on an underbone frame design.

This gives the Belang a slim profile, making it a highly suitable urban commuter when the rider needs to do lane splitting on a daily basis.

A slim profile is only half of the story, as the Belang is fitted with an eager mill that can give the rest a run for their money.

The Suzuki Belang makes use of an oil cooler (but no fan) to keep temperatures in check.

In engine capacity, the Belang sits at the top of Suzuki Assemblers Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s seven offerings.

The 147cc engine with double overhead camshaft and four valves pulls strongly when the throttle is opened, giving it a good spread of torque for overtaking or just to keep up with traffic flow.

As a bonus, the rear view mirrors offer good viewing angle and are pretty much vibration-free.

The feeling of power delivery is smooth, though it does take a while to nudge the Belang to triple digit speeds.

But at speed, it is heartening to note that it feels solid and planted, courtesy of the robust chassis and swing-arm suspension.

It is just a pity that the Belang is still using a carburettor, when many of its peers are moving to fuel injection, like the FZ150i, for example.

I am not sure whether it is due to the carburettor system, but cold morning starts is not such a smooth affair, and the bike does seem to need a few minutes to warm up before the jerkiness disappear.

Braking, while adequate, is not entirely crisp in feeling, which is a bit of a letdown.

The bike runs on six speeds, which is a good thing, and I am glad to note that it has a top gear indicator.

Shifting is reasonably smooth, though the gear lever takes some getting used to.







Like large bikes, the Belang also employs the one-down-rest-up gear shifting pattern.

However, it wasn’t possible for me to just rely on my toe, and I was forced to use the toe-and-heel way of shifting as I was not able to put my feet (wearing a pair of sneakers) under the front lever due to insufficient space.

Fuel economy is outstanding, at 42km per litre in a mostly urban cycle.

Lubricant change without removing the filter takes only one litre of oil, making this another plus.

When viewed in entirety, the Belang is a pretty decent ride for urban trips as well as the occasional run to nearby towns.

Due to its relatively lack of heft (108kg dry), the Belang also makes a perfect bike for those beginning to venture into bikes with clutches.

The handling and overall balance makes this bike a rider-friendly one.

Launched in April 2009, the Belang retails at RM7,620, while the limited edition, launched in July this year (the version tested by us) costs RM7,720.

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