Bajaj Avenger Street 160 review – autoX

1. BAJAJ AVENGER STREET 160 REVIEW – AUTOX It all harks back to 2005, when Bajaj launched the first-generation Avenger range of motorcycles in the country. And soon enough, the Avenger became the mainstream choice of buyers for an affordable cruiser. In October 2015, they brought in the Street and Cruise 220s next to the Street 150. After a cycle of almost 10 years, this was the first substantial update for the affordable cruisers. While the 220 twins were very well received by the audience, the 150 turned out to be a sore thumb, as it didn’t pack enough grunt to suffice the consumers. In a year, Bajaj replaced the 150 with the Street 180. Now, Bajaj has rejigged the Avengers line-up again replacing the 180 with the Street 160. Here’s a brief on our Bajaj Avenger Street 160 review. So, the first question that pops into the head, why a 160? While the 180 sufficed the needs of the power-hungry commuters, it had a price tag close to the 220s, which deliberately shifted the buyers to the higher-displaced commuters. Now, when the stringent safety norms come into play, endowing ABS would have resulted in a higher cost, perhaps shifting the smaller Avenger in the same league as the 220s. As a result, Bajaj equipped the smaller Avenger with a 160.4cc motor and the result is very well – in front of you – the Avenger Street 160 ABS.

2. Now, it’s a common motor-head jargon that there’s no replacement for displacement, but Bajaj has some plans of their own. You see, a smaller-displacement motor with almost identical power and torque and the added safety net of ABS at a considerably lower price –well, that’s what Bajaj had in mind. And that’s exactly what the Chakan-based automaker achieved. At 14.8bhp and 13.5Nm – just 0.5bhp and 0.2Nm lesser than the 180 –there isn’t a massive difference in on-paper figures from the model it replaces. The 160.4cc mill has the same bore and stroke like the one we’ve seen in the NS160, but the 2-valve cylinder head configuration has been carried over from the Avenger 180. Out on the road, the difference is barely noticeable. The 160 has the same meaty mid-range as we have come to speculate from the Avenger line-up. The laid-back cruiser is extremely comfortable and the suspension flattens bumps and undulations exceedingly well. However, the Avenger starts to show its drawbacks as soon as you start climbing up to highway speeds. Vibrations start from the pegs, and as soon as you gain speed, are felt on the tank and the handlebar. The suspension – though very pliant – wriggles and gives a sharp beating to your back upon large potholes, so it’s best to avoid those. To sum it up, the Avenger continues to be a comfortable, pliant and nice handler for city touring. And since there is no replacement for displacement, the 160cc motor isn’t a slouch either. To read our extensive Bajaj Avenger Street 160 review, be sure to tune in to autoX.