Bike : Bajaj Avenger 220
Year : 2010
Category : Cruiser
Specs:
About the bike :
This is one bike that has taken many births. From its first appearance in the market we have seen the Avenger being a cruiser model from the Bajaj stable fitted with the largest Pulsar engine available. After Bajaj stopped production of its 200cc Pulsar it was time for the avenger to get the larger workhouse from the “Fastest Indian”. The Avenger 220 enticed lots of anticipation towards the enthusiasts and all of us waited to see a powerful and more capable cruiser in the Indian motorcycle scene. Anticipations were rewarded nonetheless but let us see, does this machine “Feel like God??”
Features :
• Low height broad saddle
• DTSi engine with larger Oil Cooler
• TRICS IIITM & ExhauTECTM
• DC Ignition
• Low Battery level Indicator
• Dual foam density seat
Styling & Finish :
For the lovers of cruiser bike it’s more the attitude and body language that matters than the sassy look of the bike. The Avenger fulfils the conditions to make it an amazing looking cruiser. A low saddle height, a wide handlebar, front set foot-pegs that let you stretch your legs as if you are watching TV in your apartment, make this bike a perfect male bike. I’m sure no owner of Avenger would like to call it a beautiful lady; it’s more of a tamed bull. Just to add to its look, the Avenger 220 has been given a very generous chrome treatment around its muscles and that surely shines on a bright sunny day when you ride by your neighbour’s commuter bike.
Now if we look in detail, there are a few glitches in the quality of finish that this bike has received. The metallic edges seem more like welding jobs rather than proper factory fitment. For a bike that flaunts so much of its meat, a little more careful finishing would have been welcome. All said and done, the Avenger sells mostly for its styling than anything else and if your pocket doesn’t permit, this is the best looking cruiser you can get.
Engine & Performance :
The Avenger uses a de-tuned Pulsar 220cc mill as its powerhouse, but what puts a big question mark is, “Why De-Tune??” The engine in the avenger is nor smoother and neither does it have a low revving nature which is so typical of a cruiser bike. So then, if it doesn’t behave like a cruiser engine, why detune it and spoil the taste of this Pulsar 220 variant. The Avenger does lag behind the Pulsar 220 on the spec sheet but still it has a lot of power under its belt. The initial power is still very well felt and it feels equally powerful like the Pulsar because of the lesser rear wheel diameter which lets more power to be transferred to the road for better acceleration.
The engine is pretty revvy, and though we don’t like it from the cruiser bike’s aspect but it gives you that extra thrill when you are in the mood for mischief. The bike accelerates away in a hush and can also be easily ridden in top gear in speeds as low as 30. The throttle is always ready to be twisted and it lets you crawl up that speedo without much of a difficulty. Cruising at speed of 85-95 can be done without stressing the engine too much. We rode this bull at a speedo indicated 105 and it seemed like a cakewalk for the beast. The mid-range power that it offers under the tap is sure to spill your adrenaline.
I was pretty excited to test ride the Avenger as soon as it was launched in the market. At the first ride of it I was somewhat disappointed to not find any significant change in this bike. When I went ahead riding this bike as a two wheeler critic, I found my disappointments to rise up. The engine had lost its refinement somewhat, it sounded rougher and this was further worsened by a very poor gearbox. The new Avenger has a stiff gear-box and a not-so-smooth clutch operation. I literally had to put good effort in changing gears. This might prove to be a major disadvantage for long rides.
Handling & Ride Quality :
The long wheelbase of a cruiser is what makes it a cruiser; and like any other cruiser the long wheelbase acts as the centre of its handling characteristics. It’s a tad difficult to ride this bike around in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but due to a street bike type engine this difficulty is somewhat minimized and you can manage to pull away though narrow gaps. The Avenger seriously shows its character when the open horizon is at sight. Due to its wheelbase and the centre of gravity being slung very low, the Avenger is very stable on high speeds and gives you ample confidence on the open highway. With the stretched legs in front, this is when you might feel like GOD.
The Avenger also instils good confidence in the rider to take high speed corners, however slow & tight corners need some skilled tackling from the rider. Clearly due to its long wheelbase this bike has a very large turning radius and that’s what you might dislike when you want to lean onto those mountain corners. In totality, the Avenger handles pretty well for a cruiser. Coming to the brakes, I am yet again left appealing to Bajaj to do something to their braking department. The Avenger too has a 260mm disc brake that underperforms to a great extent and the rear brakes are just there like cosmetic accessories. The braking performance of the Avenger was way below par and felt more like budget bikes rather than a bike that was supposed to be made specially for a different class of buyer.
When comfort offered by this bike is in question, I must say the dual foam-density seat was a welcome feature to be added to this cruiser. It ensured that you could rest your bottom on that wide saddle for a long while without thanking God for designing such a practical human body. However, this same bike can leave your pillion crying if you happen to hit some bad potholes. The rear shock absorbers don’t really help much to reduce the pain as the travel of the rear wheel is very less and most of the jerks can be directly felt. But overall, long rides on smooth roads can be absolutely stress free and that’s what cruisers are meant for, ain’t it?
Maintenance & Mileage :
Service is a serious issue once you become a Bajaj customer, but considering the fact that even the other manufacturers have degraded their after sales service, we shouldn’t blame Bajaj for going that extra step backward. However, maintenances and regular servicing are very important and you need to keep a good tally of all the fluid changes and lubrication schedules to keep your bike new for long. Over the years the Bajaj engines have been improved quite a lot and with proper care and timely visits to the bike doctors your cruiser must keep on shining for long.
The Avenger has a lesser diameter rear wheel, and hence even after detuning the bike it remains a fuel hungry machine. The bike we tested was returning an approximate mileage of around 32-36 kmpl. The Avenger is also seen to be less economical on highways unlike other bikes. A speedy highway cruise can set you back some extra bucks than calculated.
Bajaj has recommended a SAE 20 W 50 SJ Grade engine oil for the Avenger 220 and you can use both mineral and semi-synthetic oils at regular intervals of 2000-2500kms. The Semi-synth oil can marginally improve the gear shifts.
Approximate Mileage 32-36 kmpl
Regular service charges Rs.280-350 (at free services)
Rs.450-500 (at paid services)
Overall Impression :
The Avenger 220 (though not distinguished from the 200) is a bike in its own world. The posture and attitude that the Avenger offers is the USP of this product. The bike is meant for that budget conscious rider who wants to feel that cruiser bike thing. The overall comfort, riding posture and available power under the tap is adequate for even the serious tourers. The Avenger has a very low saddle height but surprisingly Bajaj has extended it’s minimum ground clearance to a very generous 169mm, hence making it a good bike for some off-road touring. But to feel like god, you better stick to the black smooth tarmac.
Pros: Good mid-range power
Low centre of gravity
Stability at high speeds
Wide seat with dual foam-density seat
Low Battery indicator
DC Ignition
Cons: Engine smoothness is less
Very stiff gear & clutch
Very poor Rear brake
Rear suspension is less effective
Pricing & Competition :
City Price
Delhi Rs.69,000 (ex-showroom)
Mumbai Rs.71,500 (ex-showroom)
Other bikes in the league:
The biggest reason why I would salute Bajaj is that they respect the Indian biking fraternity and have kept on working on this only affordable and hassle free cruiser in the market. While the Royal Enfields remain any bikers dream, the Avenger 220 can serve to be a more practical reality.
