Suzuki Sw-1: Weirdness Becomes Reality

SUZUKI SW-1: WEIRDNESS BECOMES REALITY

MORE THAN A YEAR after it first appeared on the show circuit, Suzuki's neo-retro SW-1 scooter-bike has entered production in Japan.

How does it work? Pretty well, in fact, and if nothing else, it certainly attracts attention. Some observers even guess that the SW-1 is a foreign import-one of the highest accolades any product can receive in Japan.

It isn’t an import, of course, being solely the product of Suzuki through the unlikelynamed Water Studio design firm. Since it is powered by a 20-horsepower 250 Single, it would be easy to say that the SW-1 is more about style than performance, but that wouldn’t be completely accurate. What

it really is about is practicality for Japanese businessmen, those multitudes who wear suits and ties to work but who don’t want to—or can’t afford to-cope with the demands of a car in modern Japanese traffic and parking situations. For this, the SW-l is well-neigh perfect. It is smooth and quiet, with a very relaxed and comfortable riding position, and with superior lower-body weather protection.

Priced at 688,000 yen, the equivalent of about S5230, the little dear isn’t inexpensive.

But it is fun, and

a whole lot more practical than a scooter-which is this bike's buyer's only other alternative.

Yasushi Ichikawa