2020 Suzuki Address 110 Review

There's perhaps a longer list of what the 2020 Suzuki Address 110 isn't, rather than is. The Address, or UK110 to give it its official model code, isn't fast. It isn't powerful, it isn't packed with the latest high-tech features, and it isn't exactly sexy. But none of that matters, because it's what the Suzuki Address 110 is, that makes it so appealing – and also a solid sales success.

So what is the Suzuki Address 110? It's affordable and it's practical.

You see, for the first half of motorcycling's existence, bikes were all about cheap transport. Back in 'the old days', you'd have a car if you could afford one, but bikes were accessible to most. Need to cart the kids around too? Whack on a sidecar! Then bikes steadily followed cars in attracting all those terms marketers love: they became 'aspirational', 'lifestyle-focused', and as much about status and persona as a means of getting about.

But while so many of today's bikes are about so much more than transport, there are still cheap and cheerful options with simpler, less lofty ambitions. Like the Suzuki Address 110.

The Suzuki Address 110 is manufactured in Indonesia and it's been available in Australia since 2015. It's enjoyed strong sales over the years and ended 2019 with a tally of 779 units. Suzuki Australia has sold some 575 of them this year to the end September, which is up 25% from the same time last year.

It's currently Australia's second-best selling scooter, behind Honda's NSC110 Dio. While the pair share similar aesthetics and specifications, the Dio is a bit dearer than the Address, at $3911 ride away for the Honda versus $3590 ride away for the Suzuki, although the Honda does have some extras like linked brakes and a fuel-saving idle-stop system.

Both models have been snapped up in significant numbers by riders for the booming food delivery sector – platforms like Uber Eats, Menulog et al – but they're perfect for budget-minded commuters too, as we discovered over the past few weeks spent on the Suzuki Address.

What does the Suzuki Address 110 have to offer? It's a basic little machine but it covers all the essentials. It's powered by a 113cc, air-cooled, fuel-injected, SOHC, four-stroke single-cylinder engine, which pumps out a mighty 8.8hp (6.5kW) at 7750rpm and 8.6Nm at 6250rpm.

So it's unlikely you'll find one competing at the local drag strip, but then with a paltry wet weight of just 97kg that output doesn't exactly have a Herculean task to contend with. I weigh 90kg, and I find the Address accelerates from a standing start to say 60km/h at a thoroughly respectable pace.

It's entirely happy floating along with traffic on 60km/h roads and will generally hold its own on 80km/h roads, but it's out of its depth at highway speeds. A few runs up along dual-carriageway highway with a 110km/h posted limit wasn't good for the nerves, but at least the traffic could use the fast lane to duck around me.

Still, the Suzuki Address was never meant for the open road, and in the closed confines of the urban jungle it plies its trade well.

The non-adjustable suspension is basic but adequate. You feel the bigger bumps and potholes but dynamically the Address is actually pretty impressive. The larger 14-inch wheels deliver appreciably better stability than you find on smaller-wheeled scoots and the Address feels planted and secure through the bends, where its skinny little IRC tyres hang on well (in the dry, at least – I never encountered wet conditions during this test).

Riding the Suzuki Address is child's play thanks to its paltry weight, low centre of gravity, twist-and-go CVT auto transmission and compact 1260mm wheelbase. It's super nimble, skinny and so easy to thread through tight gaps in traffic, helped along by an almost impossibly tight turning circle.

In the shed its barely more effort to manhandle than a bicycle, and getting it up on its centrestand is a snap.

The brakes are competent, if unspectacular. With a single-piston, single 190mm disc up front and a rear drum, I wasn't expecting retina-detaching power or telepathic feel, but together they pull the little Address up nicely from city speeds. There's no ABS system though, which is now not uncommon at the upper end of the scooter pricing spectrum.

The ergonomics are surprisingly roomy – I didn't have any issue squeezing my 188cm frame on board, and the seat is comfortable enough for the shorter runs for which it's designed. Twist the ignition key anti-clockwise to release the seat and it flips up to reveal a 20.6-litre storage bay.

Suzuki says it's big enough to fit a full-face helmet, but that wasn't the case for my medium-size lid. In any case, it will take an open-face lid with ease, with room left over for gloves and wet weather gear. There's the obligatory shopping bag hook and a couple of sizeable open compartments on the back of the leg shield too.

There's a small metal plate that you can slide across the ignition barrel using a hexagonal mould on the top of the ignition key. It's an extra layer of security, I suppose, if pretty low tech.

Continuing the low-tech theme is the instrumentation. It's an old-school analogue display, showing your speed, a fuel gauge, and a couple of warning lights. There's an odometer but no trip meter, which means you're fairly reliant on the fuel gauge to work out your range. But that gauge isn't the most precise example we've seen, so we relied on the time-honoured method of removing the fuel cap (found under the seat) and physically looking to see how much fuel is left.

Speaking of range, we achieved an average fuel economy of 3.2L/100km. Our test bike only had a handful of kilometres on its clock when we took delivery of it, so I wouldn't be surprised if the fuel economy continues to improve as the engine loosens up.

In any case, running a Suzuki Address sure isn't going to break the bank. Even at 3.2L/100km, that's a safe range of around 150km from the scoot's 5.2-litre tank (and about $6.50 by today's prices for a full fill-up!).

As for other odds and ends, the mirrors give a clear view to the rear, the headlight throws a decent beam for its size (and is complemented by daytime running lights), and the horn is distinctive enough to be the solid safety feature it should be.

There's a kick-start (remember them?) to back up the electric start.

The build quality is okay too – not brilliant, but better than I was expecting for the price tag – and scheduled services fall at 1000km, 4000km, and every 4000km after that. That's a lot of commuting before it has to go under the spanner.

Servicing costs will be modest – it's a single, after all, and consumables like tyres, brakes etc should last for ages – and it's covered by a two-year, unlimited-kilometre factory warranty.

Suzuki Australia offers a range of factory accessories for the Suzuki Address 110, and topping most people's wish list will be the lockable 30lt topbox ($249). There's also heated grips ($322.95), a windscreen ($367.95), a soft protective liner for the underseat compartment ($261.95) and, for race fans, the Team Suzuki ECSTAR MotoGP body kit and decals ($210). Prices do not include fitting.

If you live in the city and want affordable, fuss-free transport, there's a much to like about the Suzuki Address 110. This is an unpretentious, unapologetic little commuter. It does exactly what it's meant to do, and doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is: a simple little runabout. If that's all you need, the Suzuki Address will do the job and do it surprisingly well, and all for a very nice price.

ENGINE
Type: Air-cooled, SOHC, four-stroke single-cylinder
Capacity: 113cc
Bore x stroke: 51.0mm x 55.2mm
Compression ratio: 9.4:1
Engine management: Electronic fuel injection

TRANSMISSION
Type: CVT auto
Final drive: Belt

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 8.8hp (6.5kW) at 7750rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 8.6Nm at 6250rpm

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Tubular steel
Front suspension: Telescopic fork, non-adjustable
Rear suspension: Monoshock, non-adjustable
Front brakes: 190mm disc with single-piston caliper
Rear brake: Drum
Tyres: IRC SS-530; front 80/90-14, rear 90/90-14

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed kerb weight: 97kg
Seat height: 755mm
Wheelbase: 1260mm
Fuel capacity: 5.2 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $3590 ride away
Test bike supplied by: Suzuki Motorcycles Australia
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres