Frequent traffic jams are common indicators of economic growth. Unfortunately, these jams not only cause us huge amounts of stress, but they also result in economic losses amounting to ₱3.5 billion per day according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

While it would take massive efforts from various government agencies to manage this, we could still do some things to help minimize our personal losses incurred in the daily Carmageddon.  

For example, instead of driving a car to work, why not ride a scooter to save on fuel costs while cutting your travel time in half? Spending less on gas plus more time on your hands means more opportunities. 

Sounds good? Well then, you might want to check out the Suzuki Avenis.

Sporty as claimed

Suzuki calls this their “muscular sporty scooter,” which is pretty sporty. The Avenis shares its platform with the Burgman Street, but the former feels more suited to cut through the gridlock with its more flickable handling. The Suzuki Avenis’ zippy nature is backed by a capable 124 cc air-cooled engine which offers 10 Nm on tap.

Sips fuel pinky finger extended

The Suzuki Avenis can go 54 kilometers on a liter of gas, as attested by a participant during the Suzuki Avenis ride to Batangas. Amazingly, I am able to achieve 47.6 kilometers per liter even when riding exclusively in horrible urban traffic.

Bigger tank capacity

It is common for commuter scooters to have less than 4 liters of fuel tank capacity, and I find it quite bothersome to top up my tank every other day or so. The Avenis' 5.2-liter tank and 54 km/l rating mean at least 280 kilometers between visits to the gas station.   

Riding tall on tiny wheels

Yes, like the Burgman Street, the Suzuki Avenis also gets a 12-inch wheel in front and a 10-inch wheel at the rear. However, it manages a decent 160 mm ground clearance, so you can confidently ride through speed humps or traverse flooded streets during the monsoons.

Comfy as a couch

Well, not quite, but almost. While the seat of the Avenis is a little too soft for my taste, its suspension set-up is quite impressive. The front fork and the single shock absorber at the rear keep the Avenis planted on the road even when running along pockmarked C-5.  

With the economy seemingly in full swing, we all need a reliable and efficient means of transportation as we go about our daily hustle. The Suzuki Avenis might just fit the bill, wouldn’t you agree?