MANILA, Philippines — Four is to one.

That was the ratio of the 2012 Suzuki big bikes to commuter motorbikes that were launched during the Suzuki AutoMoto Grand Invasion at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City last Dec. 15 before a huge crowd of holiday shoppers. Of the five new Suzuki motorcycles, four were big bikes while one, a small-engine commuter two-wheeler.

That’s not necessarily an indication that the demand for motorbikes with big engine displacement in the country is now higher than that of the small bikes.

But according to Satoshi Uchida, president of Suzuki Philippines, they are expecting a growing market for big bikes soon. Joined by other Suzuki Philippines bigwigs that included Shuzo Hoshikura, general manager; Shuz Hoshikura; Catalina Calderon, managing director and treasurer; Eiji Kobayashi, motorcycle sales and marketing division general manager, Uchida led the unveiling of the GD 110 advance commuter bike, Bandit 650SA touring bike, V-Strom 650 dual sport bike; and sports breed GSR 750, and GSXR 650.

Featured at the center stage of the MOA Music Hall, the five new Suzuki hot rods – particularly the Bandit and V-Strom – drew attention from shoppers with their sleek styling and impressive powertrain.  Born with a symmetrical layout, the Bandit 650 SA boasts of its 656 cc, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that is fed by the revolutionary Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve fuel injection for unequalled power and environment-friendly, yet fuel efficient.

The new Bandit has debunked problems on cold starting with its Automatic Idle Speed Control System that maintains stable idling at all times. Either you are tall or short, the Bandit can compensate for your height requirement since its seat is adjustable – can be lowered or raised by 20 millimeters.

Let’s zero in on my favorite of them all – the V-Strom 650. A dual purpose bike, the V-Strom is patterned over the theme “tough and smart.” May it be off-road or on-road feat, the V-Strom 650 can take any road punishment but not compromise riding comfort with its five-way adjustable front suspension and reliable rear damping that is gifted with 150mm of travel suspension.

Its 645cc, V-Twin power plant is now cooled by a newly-designed radiator. Fuel system is managed by Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve system that is controlled by an advance ECU technology.

Bike thieves will be frustrated with the V-Strom’s fool-proof Anti-Theft Immobilizer. Another striking feature of the V-Strom is its three-way height adjustable front wind screen that was tested in a wind tunnel to perfection.

Also on display was the Suzuki Swift subcompact hatchback which is now making waves in the local market.