Design and Features
The design of
the Access remains unchanged. It retains the third generation modern-retro design
with the redesigned Vespa-style headlamp unit that now features LED lighting. The
chrome elements on the headlamp add just enough of the retro touch to the whole
design. While the front-end looks rather appealing and is easy to live with,
the rear end does not seem to blend in and may take a while getting used to.
The seat and
the long footboard (thanks to the long wheelbase) is something we loved, for
being very comfortable on long rides and those bumpy commutes. Speaking of the
seat, the under-seat storage has 21 litres of space to fit either your
full-face helmet or grocery. For added convenience, Suzuki has given the Access
a USB charging port on the inner-panel with a storage pocket and a
Bluetooth-enabled digital instrument cluster called Suzuki Ride Connect.
The smart
cluster can be accessed using the app, available only for Android users
(Available on Google Playstore). It is capable of displaying turn-by-turn
navigation, estimated arrival time, Missed Call, WhatsApp and Message alerts
along with displaying the battery level of your phone and a last parked
location tag.
Suspension and Handling
The
suspension setup is fairly simple, just like any other scooter. The Access
features suspension that isn’t too stiff or too soft. The telescopic forks in
the front could do with better damping, since this is mainly a commuter that
will see a lot of bad roads too. The damping on the rear shock absorber seems
just right, even with a pillion. What surprised us was how the Access reacted
to direction changes. It felt quite agile even in the scooter sense.
The option of
a disc brake in the front, the lightweight (103kg to be precise) construction
and the long wheelbase makes it a fun scooter to ride. Throughout out test
we’ve been twisting the throttle and slamming the brakes. We can safely say
that the brakes have exceptional bite, and the scooter seems to stop quicker
with the combi braking system.