Bajaj Avenger 180 Review
Bike Tested: 2018 Bajaj Avenger 180; Road Test No. 914
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 96,250/-
The Avenger 180 has made a comeback after 13 years but in a new avatar
The Bajaj Avenger 180 which was launched 13 years ago in India was the first cruiser bike to be developed by an Indian company. Of course, there was the Kawasaki Bajaj Eliminator (EL175), a 175cc cruiser but it wasn’t very affordable to customers at that time. And then in 2005, Bajaj developed the Avenger 180 by taking the design cues from the Eliminator. Later on, the 180 was replaced by an upgraded version, the 200, basically with a slightly bigger engine in 2007. Both the 180 and 200’s engines were sourced from the Pulsar bikes of respective engine displacements. The engines were re-tuned to meet cruiser characteristics.
In 2010, the Avenger 220, a more powerful Avenger was introduced in the market. So, basically, these were the first generation bikes of the Avenger series that lasted till 2015 until the second generation of the Avenger series was introduced with the Avenger Street 150, Avenger Street 220 and the Avenger Cruise 220. And recently, the update of the same was introduced of which the Avenger Street 150 was replaced with the Avenger Street 180. The Avenger 180 made its comeback after 13 years. What was history is a present now! And the first Avenger 180 was the only cruiser bike to survive after the Yamaha Enticer in the Indian market. But with the increasing competition in the cruiser segment from Suzuki (Intruder 150), Bajaj had to get something to up its game and that is why the 150 was replaced with the new 180. To see what the new Avenger Street 180 has to offer, we spent a few hours with it.
Motor Quest: All the updates of the Avengers have seen few changes in its design but the powertrain remained the same and was sourced from the Pulsar but in a different state of tune. The first generation model was made by taking design cues from the Kawasaki Eliminator which was offered at a premium price tag at that time. The Street 180, Street 220 and Cruise 220 comprise of the current Avenger lineup.
In terms of styling, the Avenger Street 180 looks urban and modern
Handlebar is shorter and the all black-theme looks modern and fresh
Styling – The new Avenger Street 180 is now the entry-level cruiser in the Avenger series. It comes in the Street variant only and looks similar to its elder sibling, the Street 220. The motorcycle gets a new skull-shaped headlight with LED DRLs and a smoked visor over it, a new tail-light and a new grab rail, it is a padded grab rail. The seat gets a carbon fibre like seat texture and the fuel tank gets a new and bigger Avenger insignia, while the side panels get Street 180 stickers. The fuel gauge and the tell-tale lights are placed on the fuel tank which are completely out of the rider’s sight. Since it is a Street variant and not the Cruise, it gets a complete blacked-out theme and no chrome bits at all. It looks urban and modern in that all black-theme though. The overall fit and finish of the bike is good.
The part digital and part analogue instrument cluster is easy to read
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The instrument cluster on this Street 180 is an analogue-digital round pod unit (the 2018 Avenger Street 220 and Cruise 220 get a fully-digital unit). The digital display takes the lower centre space in the pod. It shows odometer and one trip meter. The analogue meter only shows the speedometer with an easy-to-read font. There is also the company’s logo on the analogue meter. As said earlier, the fuel gauge and tell-tale lights are placed on the fuel tank. The RHS features a kill-switch and a self-start button, while the LHS gets the horn, low/high beam switch, indicator and pass-light switch. They are placed in the proper reach of the rider and the plastic quality of them is also good.
Seating position is low and relaxed
Ergonomics – The Avenger 180 offers a very relaxed and comfortable riding position. Its low-slung design makes it accessible to riders of all heights. The seating triangle has not changed at all. You sit low with stretched out arms and legs. The rider’s seat has a good amount of cushioning and hence it is comfortable. The pillion gets a padded grab-rail which feels good to hold and it also acts like a part-backrest. The rider’s seat is good for city commutes and also for highways. But, if the seat would have been more scooped, it would make the rider sit in it and would make long distance riding more fun with utmost comfort. But the overall ergonomics make the Avenger Street 180 a relaxed cruiser.
Performance – The 2018 Avenger Street 180 is powered by a Pulsar sourced engine which has been re-tuned to produce less power and torque to match the characteristics of a cruiser, a stress-free motor. Therefore, it produces 15.5 PSand 13.7 Nm instead of 17 PS and 14.2 Nm on the Pulsar 180. The motor is mated to a 5-speed gearbox which has a heel-and-toe gear shifter. Get the bike moving and you will immediately notice how neatly it pulls off the line. There is a lot of torque on offer and the low-end and the mid-range are the preferable rev range to ride this motorcycle. The engine is refined and it also has a good exhaust note.
It manages to do 100 km/hr in fourth gear without any stress
The 2018 Bajaj Avenger Street 180 has good low-end and mid-range punch
The gearbox is slick and smooth and the clutch is light as well offering a crisp response. The up-shifts and down-shifts happen smoothly and the engine does not ask for many gear changes all the time. NVH levels are kept in proper check until some point. It cruises smoothly and also does 100 km/hr without any stress. But post 95 km/hr, the vibes start coming in through the footpegs. So below 95 km/hr would be the speed limit for you to enjoy riding this motorcycle. And with a wide open throttle, the bike does 100 km/hr in fourth gear. We managed to do a top speed of 125 km/hr on the speedo, but mid-range is the most fun place to ride this bike. The claimed mileage of this Avenger 180 by the company is 45 km/l and one can easily get 40 km/l.
Bike remains planted and stable at all times
Riding Dynamics – The 2018 Avenger 180 is a low and easy to access motorcycle with a very relaxed riding position. It is built on a diamond frame that has been in use since the Kawasaki Bajaj Eliminator. The chassis and the suspensions are taken from the Street 220 but the ride quality of the Street 180 have vastly improved as it gets an increase of 10 mm travel in its rear suspensions (all the 2018 Avengers get the same increase). The suspension travel has gone up from 98 mm to 108 mm. The suspension setup seems to be a bit on the firm side but it still offers a plush ride.
The front disc brake lacks the feedback
Increase in rear suspension travel has made a significant difference in its ride
The Avenger 180 soaked up every bump that came in its way and glided over broken roads without any fuss. The bike weighs 150 kg kerb but feels light on the move, thanks to its wheelbase. It remains planted at all times and during corners as well. Obviously, it is not a corner-carving or a knee-scraping machine, but it manoeuvres well and stays composed on the tightest of corners. Making a U-turn on this motorcycle is a task though as it does not offer good amount of turning radius. But it’s expected from such a long wheelbase and cruiser bike, isn’t it? Nonetheless, it is still a nimble handler on straight roads and can filter through city traffic easily. A little more scooped seat would have done the job of making the rider sit in it and not on it as it is now, making it way more comfortable for longer rides. There isn’t much feedback from the front brake but the rear offers good feedback. The bike does not get a rear disc or ABS, not even as an option.
It is the new entry-level cruiser that offers great value for money
Verdict – The new Avenger Street 180 is the latest addition to the Avenger series, and it is a bike with a perfect combination of proportions, stance and details. New styling elements make it look more appealing and it looks attractive in this red shade. The main highlight of this motorcycle is its pricing. It is Rs. 20,000/- cheaper than its closest rival, the Suzuki Intruder, and in whose price segment, the Street 220 and Cruise 220 are offered (they are Rs. 10,000/- cheaper too). And at that price point, the Avenger 180 is bang for your buck as it is urban and modern and also ergonomically comfortable. Though there are a few drawbacks, its positives make us overlook them as it is also the most affordable cruiser on offer in India currently.
The headlight, LED DRLs and smoked visor look identical to that of the Street 220’s
What’s Cool
* Design and modern looks
* Engine refinement and slick gearbox
* Suspension and the paint job
What’s Not So Cool
* Front disc brake lacks bite
* Vibrations kicking in at higher RPMs
* No rear disc, no ABS
Red paintjob on this bike looks really nice
2018 Bajaj Avenger 180 Specifications
* Engine: 178.6cc, 178.6cc, Twin-Spark, 2-Valve, Air-Cooled, DTS-i
* Power: 15.5 PS @ 8500 RPM
* Torque: 13.7 Nm @ 6500 RPM
* Transmission: 5-speed, one-down-four-up pattern
* Fuel Consumption: 45 km/l (company claimed)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Suspension: 130 mm Telescopic Forks (Front), 108 mm Twin Shocks, NITROX Gas Filled (Rear)
* Tyres: 90/70/17 (Front), 130/90/15 (Rear), Tubeless
* Brakes: 260 mm Disc (Front), 130 mm Drum (Rear)
2018 Bajaj Avenger 180 Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 2210 mm x 806 mm x 1070 mm
* Wheelbase: 1480 mm
* Ground Clearance: 177 mm
* Seat Height: 730 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 13-litres (3.8-litres useable reserve)
* Kerb Weight: 150 kgs
Text: Viraj David
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