The Bajaj Avenger has undergone a fair amount of transformation since the moniker first came into existence. The Avenger 150 gave way to the Avenger 180 last year, and the manufacturer recently pulled the plug on that motorcycle too, only to replace it with the new Avenger Street 160.
With this, Bajaj will be hoping to achieve a middle ground, where the old Avenger 150’s sales numbers and popularity will go hand-in-hand with the performance the Avenger 180 had to offer. While we’ll have to wait and see how it sells, having spent a couple days with it, we can tell you how it performs.
The new Avenger sports a ‘new’ 160.4 cc, single-cylinder engine. This engine borrows the bottom end from the NS160; it even has the same bore and stroke figures. However, it uses a different cylinder head — it now uses a 2-valve set-up, unlike the 4-valve unit on the NS160, and also misses out on the oil cooler. While a direct swap with the NS160’s engine would have been possible, it would’ve resulted in significantly higher costs. Bajaj says the new engine has been designed to deliver its predecessor’s level of performance, and the R&D team seems to have gotten that right, because this engine makes 15hp and 13.5Nm, which is very close to the Avenger 180’s 15.5hp and 13.7Nm.
This engine isn’t as refined as, say, a Honda’s, but the mellow rumble does give the little Avenger its own character. The Avenger isn’t a cruiser in the true sense of the word, and it won’t be the perfect companion if you’re looking to crunch up countless miles on the highway. What it will do is get you to 80kph without too much of a hassle, and that’s where the 160 is most comfortable cruising at. But go any higher and you can feel vibrations at the foot-pegs. At these speeds I found myself looking at the rear-view mirror, expecting to see a sticker saying ‘Objects in the mirror are not as distorted as they appear’ because the mirror gets very buzzy at higher rpms.
Barring the little 160 in place of the 180 on the side panel, an ABS ring and speed sensor and an ABS light on the speedo, there’s nothing that differentiates the 160 from the motorcycle it replaces. This means the Avenger continues to be the easy-going motorcycle it was. The minimal use of chrome, the elongated tank, and stepped seat are design elements that the 160 shares with the older bikes in its lineage. Also carried over from the 180 is the minimalist analogue instrument cluster, with only a speedometer and digital odometer. A tank-mounted analogue fuel gauge, sits alongside tell-tale lights for neutral, indicators and high beam.
- Engine: 160.4cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
- Max Power (hp @ rpm): 15hp at 8500rpm
- Max Torque (nm @ rpm): 13.5Nm at 7000rpm
- Gearbox: 5-speed
- Weight (kg): 150kg
- Length (mm): 2210mm
- Width (mm): 806mm
- Height (mm): 1070mm
- Ground clearance (mm): 177mm
- Fuel Tank capacity (lts): 13 litres
- Brakes (F/R): 260mm disc/ 130mm drum
- Front Suspension: Telescopic fork
- Rear Suspension: Twin shocks
- Tyres (F/R): 90/90-17 / 130/90-15
The seat feels soft and plush over shorter distances, but can get slightly uncomfortable over longer durations. I was really impressed with the suspension — it’s a basic telescopic fork and twin shock absorber set-up, but it did a great job at mitigating the impact of most potholes the Avenger was put through. That said, it’s not soft to the point where the bike feels unstable while cornering, and the Avenger leans into turns easily, inspiring confidence. The chassis continues to feel very nimble despite the extended rake angle and long wheelbase. The braking hardware is the same too, but now with the safety net of single-channel ABS. Braking performance, especially from the front brake, is surprisingly good.
Aiding its beginner-friendly and city-oriented design is the same 730mm seat height that should allow most riders to firmly plant both feet on the ground. That said, while it’s extremely accommodating for shorter people, my 6ft frame saw my knees prevent the handlebar from extending towards either side completely — not great for filtering through tight gaps with your legs on the pegs. The finish is decent in most places, but the switchgear looks and feels a bit plasticky and below par. There were a couple of uneven panel gaps along the side body panels as well.
With this new model, Bajaj intends to offer a product that bridges the gap between the now discontinued Avenger Street 150, and the Street 220, while not compromising on what the Street 180 had to offer. So what we have here is a motorcycle that produces near-identical performance to its predecessor, while additionally offering single-channel ABS. Incredibly, this bike still manages to cost nearly ₹6,000 less than its predecessor.
