Bajaj Avenger 220 Cruise (BS3 variant) Feel Like God?

              After giving India her first sports bike developed in collaboration with their Japanese partner in 2001 they decided go on a “cruise” and in came the Kawasaki Eliminator. After the initial first years of running the 175cc “EL” mill they decided to do away with it and brought in the Avenger by tuning the blockbuster Pulsar engine to lead them on.

               Long before the American V-twin invasion, the avenger was already selling, albeit to a set class of riders. Whether it was a person who wanted to see the country or the commuters who wanted an easygoing yet style statement of a motorcycle it was one for every one. As a complete package if there was one department that has seen evolution it is the engine. Structurally and visually speaking, the Avenger retains most of its visual cues from its predecessor, the now extinct Eliminator even today!

Style Quotient:

 The new Bajaj Avenger Cruise with its chrome work and new graphics is difficult to believe that it still runs on the same 219.9 cc engine with a few refinements. Even with those few tweaks it is indeed hard to tell that there is something missing. From the chrome finish to the “Divine” black shade coupled with the new two-tone graphic theme and Avenger insignia, the Avenger 220 Cruise indeed has hit the right note. In case your next question to this is in regards to the visor, it is still available all-inclusive. For now the chrome finish mirrors and the matt finish sari guard come as a standard fitment. The exhaust pipe is styled differently will an all-new chrome finished exhaust tip

 Luxury & Necessity:

 Gleaming in the sunlight of a hot November afternoon, the brand new seat whether a first in its class or not, is rather subtle.  The chrome treatment from the handlebar tips, all the way down to horn and radiator grill is well balanced. The cruise version does retain its backrest for the pillion. The raised handle bar and the wide contoured seating position gives the rider ample room to sit back and enjoy his or her ride. The fuel tank can store up to 14 litres of petrol which includes 3.4 litres reserve. At an estimated average of 35 KMPL would take you as far as 490 kms. The rear view mirrors do give a motion blur when the motorcycle is redlining. For lighting up the dark there is an all-new bulb, which of course has a decent throw. A digi-analog console fitted neatly in the mount tells how fast you are and allows you to judge whether you need to stop for fuel or not,

Powerhouse performance:

 Starting the Avenger Cruise 220 by switching the ignition key  (from its under-tank cluster can take some getting used to), the 219.9 cc single cylinder oil cooled block ( producing 19 PS of maximum power at 8,400 rpm and 17.5 Nm of torque at 7,000rpm). Position the kill switch to the “on” position and its does sound a bit different. As compared to its immediate predecessor the cruise comes with a grunt. Taking it out on the highway stretch getting to 80 KMPH was rather easy as compared to breaching the ton, where it began to get sluggish. The low and mid range power is delivered not short of a smooth climb; however in the top end it could be better.  When we stopped in a shade I did notice discoloration of the exhaust pipe to a golden hue.

Agility:

The Bajaj Avenger Cruise is about 5 Kilograms heavier than the Street and also shares a ground clearance of 169 mm. Braking duties are taken care of by 260 mm disc at the front, the 130 mm drum set up takes care of bringing the rear wheel to a sure stop. In case you are asking about its panic braking abilities, this is an easygoing motorcycle so it is business sense to avoid that simulation. Its turning radius allows for taking U-turns like a commuter motorcycle and pothole diving at speeds of 40 kmph. It however could use a meatier tire in the front like a 100/90 instead.

Verdict:

For  sub- 1 lakhs rupee cruiser, the all new Bajaj Avenger does live up to the “value for money “ proposition however it still could use some more tweaks like change of ignition key position to appeal to the masses. Also as mentioned earlier, broader tyres for the front could improve the handling of the Bajaj Avenger, giving it two avatars indeed was quite a decision for the move to make.