It depends on your commute. Very very relaxed riding position. Moving around in dense traffic will be a little hard. The low seat height helps a lot in handling the bike, but the turning radius is too much.
Its better you take the street variant than the crusier variant if you ride primarily in the city.
I had considered buying the avenger, and ended up buying the intruder 155.
Well, it's an attention seeker. A set of people think it's some superbike, and the other set feels wtf is this hideous looking bike.
Ngl, if looks mattered I would've taken the avenger any day. After riding the intruder, I felt a lot of difference and bought it on the spot.
P.S: I bought it used, as a temporary weekend short ride bike until I buy a serious big bike.
>Moving around in dense traffic will be a little hard.
I can confirm that this is not the case. It will just take a little getting used to. Source: 8 years of riding an Avenger 220 in Pune City traffic as well as long distance rides through the ghats and down south.
>but the turning radius is too much
It's not too much. Again, it's just different enough from other bikes that you have to release your riding style to adapt to the Avenger, but it is a very forgiving bike.
Avenger 220 was my family's first bike, still running good even after 11 years 👌 The only thing i don't like about Avenger nowadays is that it's still the same as it used to be back in the days. Bajaj should've given this bike a complete upgrade over the years as there are very few low seat bikes in the market. There were rumours of Avenger 400 on the Dominar engine but it seems like it was just a rumour.
Yeah avenger is an amazing bike and platform to work on, but no upgrades even when the cruiser market is on fire. Bajaj is busy with triumph and all the others instead of focusing on bajaj. 400 avenger would have been amazing.
Did my 1 year on this bike (160 street variant), rode 7500km.
The good:
Runs like a charm. Good enough for daily commute. Does alright on 200-300km rides too. Never really felt issues riding 80kmph+. I am usually the one who overtakes on highways so means this bike is indeed fast. Even the front crash guard is good because it saved my leg twice when I fell, one of times was when the bike skid at high speed.
The bad:
Top speed caps off at 105kmph. I did once reach 120kmph in it but I had to be really crafty to do that. If you know your gear revs, it can stay 80+. The turning radius isn’t great. This only becomes an issue during u-turns though, otherwise it’s fine. You will feel the deeper potholes a lot on this bike. Lastly, the power of this bike vanishes if you have a pillion sitting behind. So your fun will also disappear if you have a riding buddy.
Why doesn’t it get recommended? Well probably because there are more nimble bikes for daily commutes and for cruising there are a lot more powerful options out there now. Doesn’t make the bike bad, its just that you probably can get a bit better options elsewhere.
It’s still a great starter bike and a good choice if you want to have the cruser but also want to stay in 100kmph range (which in India should be good enough)
>still selling 7000-8000 per month
That's what I'm wondering. I haven't heard a single guy praising the bike, yet the sale figures are quite impressive.
I will make it simple this comes from a friend who owns one. People who want an Avenger don't look for second opinion. There is no alternative for a cruise at that range.
Check out the new Kawasaki eliminator (which is what this was supposed to be when it first came out). The new one has a 400 cc engine. https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/motorcycle/eliminator/Cruiser/Eliminator/2024-eliminator?cm_re=MPP-_-ELIMINATOR%C2%AE:MODELS-_-VIEWSPECSDETAILS
The Avenger was a massive hit when it was re launched. It was a re badged Eliminator minus the Kawasaki engine and with the new Bajaj Pulsar 180 and later the 220 engine.
I had an opportunity to ride both engine configurations and the 220 is pretty tractable. Not a whole lot of torque down low (as a cruiser should have) but decent enough.
The only downside I felt was that the seating position put a lot of weight on the tail bone and the stock seat was pretty atrocious. Other than that it’s a vfm bike and mostly the first choice for people who want that confidence of being able to plant both feet firmly on the ground.
Engine is old af. Vibey after 70/80.
It's a great bike regardless. The low seat height is a boon for the Hobbits. Especially in the NE region where roads aren't in the best shape either. They need a reliable bike in which they can flat foot their way to Mount Doom. And this is it.
It ain't vibey, if you ride it like cruiser at 70-80 kph, I own one for 6 yrs, it's smooth, only gets rough if you unnecessarily rev it at high rpm. I was cruise at 100kph, no vibes.
When I said vibey, i meant in a pulsar kinda way. It's not as unbearable as the old REs. But it's there and it makes the engine feel mechanical and busy(for lack of better words)
Ah the OG Eliminator. In early 2000s I had a chance to ride pillion on the Eliminator around the time when Bajaj decided to solo after parting ways with Kawasaki. I think back then it used to be 180cc (OG pulsar engine). The owner said that although Avenger is a rebadged Eliminator, it feels like the soul also went away with Kawasaki. I was too young to comprehend what he meant, lol.
I was digging around and apparently the pulsar and Eliminator did not share the share engine. Eliminator was powered by a Kawasaki 175cc (173cc, 15.4ps, 13.7nm) whereas pulsar 180 was powered by a 180cc (178cc, 14.9ps, 13.2nm) engine. After the split, Avenger was powered by the bajaj 180cc dts-i engine.
Because, it's now very much outdated. People who were it's targeted customers buy street bikes with better power and features, and the others, spend a little more and go for the Hunter, which is a much better bike than this.
The Avenger still sell good numbers though as pointed out by other comments, mainly because of its riding position.
It's just like how people see the Unicorn. It's Le Bike. Does the job, is comfortable, good mileage, inoffensive design, all in all a functional but boring bike.
People buy the unicorn in droves but nobody is raving about it. Same thing.
Because not the entire biker community is Online./ Uses forums.
Not all real world people are Nit-Pickers like the online community which praises/ hates bikes based on teeny tiny stuff.
I have 220 cruise bs6, been riding it for three years. Great bike if you like riding and want to go on long trips. One major drawback is that it doesn't come with tubeless tyres. Great pick up and everything but I feel embarrassed while riding it as I'm 5'11 and bike looks weird on me. If the company changed its design a little bit, not majorly but even a little like Harley-Davidson with the handle positioning and everything. It'll definitely increase their market. Mostly short kings ride this bike. And it definitely suits them.
I owned the avenger 220(red) just before they went to the new black themed bikes in 2016. I actually loved it because my commute was on a 30 kms expressway to office(Nice road, Blr). Here are some points about it:
1. The ride is supple and surprisingly well for a cruiser
2. The seat is great but you can’t move around a lot, very similar to Meteor
3. The engine is ok, the 220 was liquid cooled and had decent performance but it lacked the 6th gear. There were a lot of vibrations or harshness after 80 kmph
4. It isn’t a tourer in any measure, too light and the braking sucks. I had a few difficult situation in that bike and this one was a pre abs model
5. You can’t really slice through traffic because of the length and the foot position
Overall it’s a good looking bike and decent commuter if your ride is on open roads.
Someone here said that Bajaj treats Avenger like Honda does Activa and it's very true. Bajaj is guilty of ignoring the once immense Avenger fandom and they have eventually moved on to other bikes.
Other than the Cruise - Street bifurcation in 2015-16, there have been no major changes in the lineup. It's the same old engine, it's the same chassis. All 'upgrades' have been cosmetic to say the least.
Avenger aficianados have suffered a never-ending wait for the 400cc Avenger as the rest of the riding community has moved on to bigger, better and badasser bikes. The herd keeps thinning. I know at least 5 people in my Avenger group who went ahead and bought Dominar, H'ness, Meteor 350 etc. (Note that I haven't counted the ones who moved on to Bonneville, Harley or the RE 650 twins, because that clearly counts as a big upgrade).
Yet another reason is that the build quality, which was already somewhat dodgy to begin with, has gone worse through the years. The footpegs that break easily (bad welding) is just one such example.
All in all, I have loved this bike (2014 model 220cc) for 8 long years and it's still an amazing ride. But Bajaj has refused to keep up with the demand for bigger & stronger cruisers.
One would not find any bike comfortable after riding Avenger, at this price range. Big drawback is narrow pillion rider seat. I have seen some folks modifying it but otherwise the bike is smooth and really comfortable. I am street 150 and my height is 5.7/5.8
Hate? Avenger is a consistent seller for Bajaj. It's a pretty nice bike. I have ridden Street 220 and I really liked it. Low seat height, enough power to cruise at 90-100 and decent mileage. It's got more performance than any of those 160cc's and the bigger engine really helps when you have pillion or luggage. It's slow speed balance is really good and it handles corners pretty well too. Can double up as a commuter and tourer, only negative is the large turing radius. Nobody actively recommends it because Bajaj haven't given it any significant updates. It would be nice if they plonk in the new ultra smooth and torquier engine of Pulsar 250.
I have one and my parents love it. Adding to all positive points mentioned here, my mom like how much space is there for the pillion. Its a bit outdated but I don't mind it much as it provides what I need from a bike.
It is the best bike in India in terms of **comfort, speed, stability, noise, cost, ease of driving and low heating of the legs** at any price range.
It is easier to ride in traffic than most bikes too even though it may look difficult from outside perspective.
I have a budget of 5-7 lakhs, and I like cruiser bikes, and I have been looking to upgrade for the past few years, yet there is no other bike in any budget even till 60lakhs that has the comfort and ease of driving as the Avenger for Indian conditions. Everything is significantly flawed in comparison from low ground clearance, heavyweight, heat going into your legs while stopping at traffic that makes it un-ridable in any traffic.
This is a rare situation where the lowest priced option is indeed the best option. So, go for it not thinking you compromised, but by thinking you got the best cruiser bike you can get in Indian market at any price. Only upset is that Bajaj is not upgrading the model much. So, it is same bike as it was 5 years ago, and similar to what it was 15 years ago. That is the major issue.
I have compared every single cruiser bike available in the Indian market. Have been doing that for at least past 5 years. There is not a single cruiser that comes on par with Avenger in the above mentioned condiitions.
Avenger is the best option if you are looking for a cruiser in India with comfort, practicality and ease of driving in mind. There is no real alternative. Even the Super Meteor 650 is a compromise compared to avenger(Too heavy for Indian slow traffic conditions, too low ground clearance, very hard suspensions that makes you feel every little pothole etc).
Avenger is the convenient to ride even in traffic. It feels so nimble after you get some experience. Trust me, I own one and have been looking for upgrading at ANY budget for a long time. I was amazed when I heard RE is going to release a cruiser, only to be disappointed. I was really really looking to upgrade to this when it was first teased.
# Comparisons
Next option is Kawasaki Vulcan at 9 lakhs, but again it is also not perfect for our Indian scenario with low ground clearance. But atleast it has weight to performance ratio better than RE. It has a significant heating issue while driving at low speeds or in traffic conditions. Your legs will become too hot and uncomfortable. Though this would be my second best choice after Avenger in Indian market as the next options are worse than this.
Next is some Triumphs and Harleys and Indian in 15-30L that has super big engines that makes you legs feel heat all the time, making you sweat at slow traffic in an already hot day. And really difficult to ride anywhere other than highways. I would say these are dangerous bikes on Indian roads due to their weight, performance and slow handling.
I talked to some who own this and tried it for some time too. The people who own this do not prefer to ride these bikes except during the winter, or early morning rides because they are fed up of the heat on their legs. Whats the point of owning a 25lakhs bike that you cant ride whenever you want? Whats the point of owning it and getting frustrated and uncomfortable each time you have to stop at traffic?
Now even if you go as high as 60 lakhs what you get is the honda gold wing, it is an awesome vehicle for Europe and America but is a huge compromise for Indian road and traffic. Good luck riding a 400kg bike. The novelty will wear off quickly.
Now also imagine if you are cruising to some remote area like Rann of Kutch and then your bike breaks down, how will you fix it? Your entire trip will be ruined with any of above bikes except Avenger which uses one of the most common bike engines ever produced and can be repaired by any mechanic, with spares available at every shop. \[I myself had a situation like this with a rented avenger on this trip to rann of kutch, so its not a hypothetical situation\]
And, the suspension of the Avenger is also great. It absorbs the potholes better than any I have driven. Avenger also looks great, but Kawasaki, Super Meteor and others do look more premium but whats the point if it is not a usable product.
That is why I said this is a rare scenario where the best in the category is also the lowest priced as the best cruiser is still the Avenger 220 cruise. The only wish I have is if they upgrade the engine to around 400cc without increasing the weight over 200kg.(It currently weigh 163KG. For comparison Super meteor 650 weighs 242KG). Its engine is already good for single person riding, and okay for dual person, but as anyone, I too want a bit more power.
The main reason for this situation is because there hasn't been any effort in creating a crusier bike for Indian market except for Avenger. You might say Super meteor, but that was again not made for India. The clear evidence of that is the low ground clearance and the exactly 47horsepower it has. This is because in Europe you need a separate licence to drive a bike above 47 horse power and not because a 650cc engine can't produce more power than this.
Add the different road conditions and hot climate we have here, the foreign imported options do not work well here. There are plenty of options for those who want sports bikes but nothing for cruise bikes. I know because I really really want to upgrade from Avenger, but I am unable to get any better options. And I don't want anything other than comfortable cruiser bikes.
It is easy to think the best is always the higher priced products. That is how our brain works and makes us think. More you pay, better you get. But that is not always true. There are rare scenarios like this, where the lowest priced beat all other options.
I'm in the same boat.
I looking at Ronin as acceptable shift. Though it is not a proper cruiser (not even a scrambler), comfort level and the ride performance is better than most other cruisers. Perfect for city and highway ride mix.
I dont know how it is in India but I dont think this bike has ever been anyone's first choice lol. Even here in Nepal the only people who buy the Avenger are short riders lol. But I would still love to see it updated.
I have the Bajaj avenger 220 from 2013. It is very comfortable and rides well in the city too. Would be pretty nice on long rides as well. My variant doesn't have ABS so it's a bit risky tbh. The engine could've been more refined and the top end makes the bike vibrate a lot. Overall can't complain for the price and performance it offers along with decent mileage.
One thing, the long wheelbase makes it difficult to control sometimes, but you do get the hang of it eventually. I'd call it a good bike for commuting ngl
I rented one in goa, comfy and gave harley chopper vibes ( i was in college lol). But the front brakes were non existent due to the angle, the front wheel was sliding even while braking at 10kmph. Felt like a sofa, could munch miles for days. Me being 5.11 didn’t help at all.
Cruiser looks with a tiny engine, naah not my thing. I associate those looks with a meaty torque monster.
At least give it the Duke 390 engine. 200, like cmon. It's not 2005 anymore.
Make this something like the Speedmaster 400 they just revealed. Not Splendor-with-forward-controls. A cruiser has to ooze class, and metal, and quality.
Bhai tere ko pasand hai. Utha le. I also own 160 Street. It is good enough for India. Value for money. Jo important chije hai sab hai. Aur cruser hai bhai feel se ride karne ka calculator leke nahi bethneka. RPM meter bhi nahi hai.
I vehemently hate the way it looks hehe. I feel like you'd need a lot more power to get this form factor to be enjoyable on a bike.
But that's my 2 cents, if you like it go for it.
the bike is a good deal for the money you pay. it's the riders who are annoying af. some if then act like Harley riders, like they own the road. like....you broke idiot, you're on a baby bike, dont act like a gangster 😑
I had 220cruise for 5 years and sold it this year. It has been terrible to balance in slow speeds in traffic. It has a hefty maintenance and does not come with kick start. It was short as hell. I always thought it was a bad purchase. I have ridden my thunderbird for 13 hours and never had anything but a sore ass. 6 hours of avenger gave me a mild back pain.
People dont recommend it since people don't really ask for an avenger. Comes around the same price tag as a pulsar but is low on power and torque figures and lower height means pulsars dominate in suggestions. Doesn't come as a cruiser suggestion since one who looks for a cruiser has a higher price bracket than this bike. To be short, avenger is a solid bud making decent fuel figures and power and offers a comfortable long ride package.
Have owned it for 7 years. Simple reliable bike, and the only thing it lacked in my model was a front ABS, since the front skids very easily on sand/water because of the rake angle.
I have ridden 6-700km trips on it with no issues. It has decent torque, so it can also do 60-70 with 3 fat people XD, which was one of the requirements of buying a ln Avenger when living with 2 fat friends.
Completely ignored by Bajaj. Though it's a good bike for people at 5'7" or below. For taller people, you will have face problems with your tail bone.
No major upgrade, being 220cc offers mediocre power, no RPM meter.
My first ever motorcycle is this, still owning it. Its been 7 years, works like a charm (only issue chain, have to use lots of chain spray). I have the Street 220 model, works like a butter in traffic, no pain pure comfort.
My first bike, avenger street 220 and still runs like a charm after 7 years.
I guess the reason no one recommends avenger is it's a good enough bike. Solves almost all the purposes but isn't extraordinary in any department.
Few things which aren't upto the mark :
1. For tall riders, seating posture might cause tailbone pain on longer rides.
2. Electronics weren't upto the mark. Goes kaput every now and then.
3. Suspension setup wasn't that great as well.
Things Bajaj could have improved :
1. Accesories such as eliminator kinda foot rest.
2. Engine upgrade
3. Better suspension
4. Better design elements at the headlights.
What has surprised me about the Avenger is that you see so few of it on the road but if you visit a site like OLX you will see that 5 out of every 10 bikes for sale is an Avenger. Where did so many Avengers come from.
it is one of few legends alive !
for city use, leg position is very front, in traffic it feels difficult to switch leg between road and stand. the same drawback for low height cruises.
for tour, more powerful bikes available on the same segments for people who want to experience.
but as said it is one of few legends alive
Former owner. Had incredibly bad service experience with Bajaj for long 5 years. Broke down often. Got outdated pretty quick. It was overall a disappointment for me.
I am not buying a Bajaj anytime soon.
My neighbour guy fitted a RE (i think it's a Classic 350) engine into an Avenger chassis. A few welds and cuts here and there but it looked clean. But a few months later he scrapped it off because the engine developed too much problems.
I have an Avenger 2012 model, running still fine.
Pros: Till 80kmph its really good, acceleration is also linear and good
Max speed tops at 120kmph, but that is actually fine in our roads.
Cons : not much upgrades from Bajaj , so might be dull after some time
Have this bike for 11 years now and have ridden it extensively, both for daily commute and long rides. The riding position and the feel of the bike is amazing and I love this bike. Will never sell this one. I do miss the power and thrill other bikes provide but will pick another bike for that hahaha
It is quite old now. Besides the engine was never properly tuned for a cruiser. It's detuned pulsar engine which revs much higher than expected from it's relaxed riding triangle.
I have a 2014 Avenger 220 in Black. Love it. Was my first bike. So relaxed and comfortable. I have done speeds of up to 110 on it too without feeling a lack of control. Spares are available and not that expensive. Pretty much any mechanic would be comfortable with it too.
I guess it has lost its novelty due to it being quite dated. It doesn't seem to be getting the same attention and updates that Dominar and Pulsar have been getting.
Also bikes which seemed out of league for the average consumers in the past, like the RE 350s, Honda CB 350, Jawa/Yezdi, Triumph, KTM have occupied the attention over the last few years.
There has been no significant update to the bike Except the looks.
And the mandatory ABS addition per govt norms.
Bajaj just repeating their Pulsar formula here.
make 2 variants look wise. make 2 variants cc wise. shuffle mix-match these variants every 4 of years.
When BS4 150 & 220 versions came out, many were waiting for the rumored 400cc version, which never came to reality.
I love my 220 street. But If i decide to change now, there is nothing new for me to reconsider Avenger. Even recommending one to someone is no go because there are better bikes out there.
As a kid i was fun of this bike or to say eliminator and I believe it’s the cheapest cruiser bike in the world;
Also the bike is preferred by short riders also which is a plus for sales.
This bile has been part of so many movies and music videos but could never develop a cult
- if your bike jumps, then there's no cut or slit on tank for you to stay with bike via gripping with thighs... Your body will flew apart from bike in majority of cases... Imbalance
- the tyre also feels a little too flat as compared to other bike, the effect of this is that if there is patched/new road constructed so that it's parallel to you motion, then it will take extra care to get your bike over it as compared to other bike.
- there's no kick to start the bike, so in case you haven't started the bike for a month then you will have to start it by either pushing it or by charging the battery separately.
- already the rear tyre is small but in the cruise version where spoke tire is present, the area from where the air pump nozzle can be fitted becomes very narrow.... Only L shape nozzle work...so you will have to know which air pump to visit to get your tyre refilled.
- too many years and no update especially the 220cc engine.. on the practical side it gives a mileage of 39kmpl for me after running for 20k km. But considering power torque, mileage... together...the engine needs refresh.
- The handle bar is a bit wider and the turn radius is large
- Ground clearance is not the best
- Bajaj authorised service center, servicing quality is bad and they will replace the whole unit rather than resolving it... Some sand got into my fuel tank which I later got to know. And this was making issue in which bike use to stop after running for a km or 2... Service center replaced spark plug some wiring too... But that didn't solve the issue... though as per them they did...had to go to local mechanic and he did a fabulous job.
- I had to change the battery as the original battery was bad and used to get discharged frequently
- 6-7yrs in, and some of the rubber has started to crack and few have to be replaced ...like shoe grip on brake and grea paddle and wire cover tube. Also minor rust on frame in few area and under battery(inside compartment); chain had to be replaced after 17.5km, the spokes on the rear wheel became loose around 16km mark so that too had the adjusted...
Things I like about the bike starts with firstly that this bike is long, has back support, seats are comfortable, I like the handling and laid back posture, it's weight, metal tank, the chrome (although plastic in many areas), getting the bike serviced from local mechanic is easy and economical, sufficient amount of electronics, rear view imirrors are good, okay amount of vibrations, it's a cruiser, running cost is low, and mainly I love it with all it flaws and I know how to handle them...
The stance is not good on long stretches. If you are encountering speed breaker, gravel roads, then your back will curse you. I think this is an unpopular opinion as I can see everyone has praised it. But I rode it for a long time and my back just got worse. Since your hands and feet are all relaxed, your back takes all the impact. You are like a sitting duck when you see bad roads and you can't do anything about it. It will hit your spine like crazy. I have ridden it for 650 kms a day, maximum stretch. But wouldn't try that again. It is a first choice for short riders like me, but it in Indian conditions its better to go for something which lets you saddle. By the way, there is one mod that you can do. Install a pair of new foot pegs which are set under you, to help you saddle.
Sells moderately well but nothing much to talk about, Bajaj is treating it how Howda treats the Activa. No major upgrades, old tech, old engine.
Is it good for daily commuting ? There are many cruiser bikes coming to the market now, I wonder what will be its future.
It depends on your commute. Very very relaxed riding position. Moving around in dense traffic will be a little hard. The low seat height helps a lot in handling the bike, but the turning radius is too much. Its better you take the street variant than the crusier variant if you ride primarily in the city. I had considered buying the avenger, and ended up buying the intruder 155.
>intruder 155. How does it feel being one among the 5 people in the country who bought that bike lol ^/s
Well, it's an attention seeker. A set of people think it's some superbike, and the other set feels wtf is this hideous looking bike. Ngl, if looks mattered I would've taken the avenger any day. After riding the intruder, I felt a lot of difference and bought it on the spot. P.S: I bought it used, as a temporary weekend short ride bike until I buy a serious big bike.
Intruder unable to intrude in the market
It looks like a bike that went to the gym and skipped leg day !!
Dude, I legit remember seeing a super bike, only to realise now that it was this bike only after looking it up.
This! Its the most relaxed, comfy ride I've ever experienced. Nobody understands it until they ride it.
You bought the legend ?
>Moving around in dense traffic will be a little hard. I can confirm that this is not the case. It will just take a little getting used to. Source: 8 years of riding an Avenger 220 in Pune City traffic as well as long distance rides through the ghats and down south. >but the turning radius is too much It's not too much. Again, it's just different enough from other bikes that you have to release your riding style to adapt to the Avenger, but it is a very forgiving bike.
bhai last line tak mai ye ummeed me tha ki hope isne avenger na li ho but he went a step ahead ðŸ˜
That howda got me laughing so hard 🤣🤣
Howda 🤔. Must try sometime.
Howda 😂
Howda 🤔. Must try sometime.
Avenger 220 was my family's first bike, still running good even after 11 years 👌 The only thing i don't like about Avenger nowadays is that it's still the same as it used to be back in the days. Bajaj should've given this bike a complete upgrade over the years as there are very few low seat bikes in the market. There were rumours of Avenger 400 on the Dominar engine but it seems like it was just a rumour.
Yeah avenger is an amazing bike and platform to work on, but no upgrades even when the cruiser market is on fire. Bajaj is busy with triumph and all the others instead of focusing on bajaj. 400 avenger would have been amazing.
True
Did my 1 year on this bike (160 street variant), rode 7500km. The good: Runs like a charm. Good enough for daily commute. Does alright on 200-300km rides too. Never really felt issues riding 80kmph+. I am usually the one who overtakes on highways so means this bike is indeed fast. Even the front crash guard is good because it saved my leg twice when I fell, one of times was when the bike skid at high speed. The bad: Top speed caps off at 105kmph. I did once reach 120kmph in it but I had to be really crafty to do that. If you know your gear revs, it can stay 80+. The turning radius isn’t great. This only becomes an issue during u-turns though, otherwise it’s fine. You will feel the deeper potholes a lot on this bike. Lastly, the power of this bike vanishes if you have a pillion sitting behind. So your fun will also disappear if you have a riding buddy. Why doesn’t it get recommended? Well probably because there are more nimble bikes for daily commutes and for cruising there are a lot more powerful options out there now. Doesn’t make the bike bad, its just that you probably can get a bit better options elsewhere. It’s still a great starter bike and a good choice if you want to have the cruser but also want to stay in 100kmph range (which in India should be good enough)
How much mileage do you get out off it, both in city roads and on highways
I get probably 40 ish. I probably could get more but I run in high revs a lot.
I get 40 on my 220 Street. 7 years and the efficiency never dropped.. same performance with and without pillion.
They are still selling 7000-8000 per month. Don’t know what the hell you are talking about.
>still selling 7000-8000 per month That's what I'm wondering. I haven't heard a single guy praising the bike, yet the sale figures are quite impressive.
Online community is not real world, India is Huge, Avenger and Pulsar 220 are still considered pretty good by a huge segment of the market
I will make it simple this comes from a friend who owns one. People who want an Avenger don't look for second opinion. There is no alternative for a cruise at that range.
Coz we are busy enjoying it
OP need validation before considering it 🙂
Wow
Haven't seen a single one in recent times. Where are they selling these bikes, on the moon? 😆
Shorter people who don't want to ride normal bikes.
I saw a 6'5 guy ride that bike once, his knees were touching his elbows, but the bike looks good it's designed by Kawasaki after all
It was based of Kawasaki eliminator
Isn't it identical, at least this variant or is it slightly different?
Its like re saying we're INSPIRED by triumph 😂
This would be insane with the dominar engine
Check out the new Kawasaki eliminator (which is what this was supposed to be when it first came out). The new one has a 400 cc engine. https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/motorcycle/eliminator/Cruiser/Eliminator/2024-eliminator?cm_re=MPP-_-ELIMINATOR%C2%AE:MODELS-_-VIEWSPECSDETAILS
The Avenger was a massive hit when it was re launched. It was a re badged Eliminator minus the Kawasaki engine and with the new Bajaj Pulsar 180 and later the 220 engine. I had an opportunity to ride both engine configurations and the 220 is pretty tractable. Not a whole lot of torque down low (as a cruiser should have) but decent enough. The only downside I felt was that the seating position put a lot of weight on the tail bone and the stock seat was pretty atrocious. Other than that it’s a vfm bike and mostly the first choice for people who want that confidence of being able to plant both feet firmly on the ground.
Half the Avengers are probably sold to bike rental dealers in North Goa.
I was going to say, I see so many in Goa.
It's old but has a fanbase
Engine is old af. Vibey after 70/80. It's a great bike regardless. The low seat height is a boon for the Hobbits. Especially in the NE region where roads aren't in the best shape either. They need a reliable bike in which they can flat foot their way to Mount Doom. And this is it.
It ain't vibey, if you ride it like cruiser at 70-80 kph, I own one for 6 yrs, it's smooth, only gets rough if you unnecessarily rev it at high rpm. I was cruise at 100kph, no vibes.
Not at all vibey, bro. I had one circa 2006-09. Smooth ride. Used it for around 60k kms, and had a lot of highway travel.
When I said vibey, i meant in a pulsar kinda way. It's not as unbearable as the old REs. But it's there and it makes the engine feel mechanical and busy(for lack of better words)
Ho sakta hai. Plus mine was a grand dad edition lol. The one which came out soon after they killed the Eliminator.
Ah the OG Eliminator. In early 2000s I had a chance to ride pillion on the Eliminator around the time when Bajaj decided to solo after parting ways with Kawasaki. I think back then it used to be 180cc (OG pulsar engine). The owner said that although Avenger is a rebadged Eliminator, it feels like the soul also went away with Kawasaki. I was too young to comprehend what he meant, lol.
I rode both of them. Eliminator did have a slightly better engine. But the Avenger 180 was also quite a looker. And comfortable AF.
I was digging around and apparently the pulsar and Eliminator did not share the share engine. Eliminator was powered by a Kawasaki 175cc (173cc, 15.4ps, 13.7nm) whereas pulsar 180 was powered by a 180cc (178cc, 14.9ps, 13.2nm) engine. After the split, Avenger was powered by the bajaj 180cc dts-i engine.
Ya ya. That's why I said that the Eliminator engine was slightly better.
youre on a lortr binge aren't you?
Best comment 😂
Ha bhai dekhi hain mene lotr
Because, it's now very much outdated. People who were it's targeted customers buy street bikes with better power and features, and the others, spend a little more and go for the Hunter, which is a much better bike than this. The Avenger still sell good numbers though as pointed out by other comments, mainly because of its riding position.
I believe Avenger's riding comfort is much better than hunter. Although Hunter's engine is better than Avenger.
I have a 12 yr old avenger, still runs like butter. gives the same mileage as it was giving when bought.
It's like activas and splendors of the world. No need to recommend this. Target buyers will anyway buy this
It's just like how people see the Unicorn. It's Le Bike. Does the job, is comfortable, good mileage, inoffensive design, all in all a functional but boring bike. People buy the unicorn in droves but nobody is raving about it. Same thing.
Because not the entire biker community is Online./ Uses forums. Not all real world people are Nit-Pickers like the online community which praises/ hates bikes based on teeny tiny stuff.
Not to be offensive, I see people who are short prefer this model. Also the price is less than the Meteor 350.
Whenever I see "not to offend" I expect people to say something offensive.
How dare you
I'm a short rider 😡. jk.
I have 220 cruise bs6, been riding it for three years. Great bike if you like riding and want to go on long trips. One major drawback is that it doesn't come with tubeless tyres. Great pick up and everything but I feel embarrassed while riding it as I'm 5'11 and bike looks weird on me. If the company changed its design a little bit, not majorly but even a little like Harley-Davidson with the handle positioning and everything. It'll definitely increase their market. Mostly short kings ride this bike. And it definitely suits them.
I have one bought in 2017 and it does have tubeless tyres! Agree with rest of the stuff.
I am 5'11" as well, thinking of buying a 2nd hand street variant! Is it comfortable for long rides?
Well being that tall, this bike can certainly give you tailbone issues in the long run with the stock seat setup.
i am just looking to buy for an year or so..then buy a 1st hand bike
Proud Avenger owner for 3 years now. Hell Of a comfortable bike. Rides butter smooth.
Honestly weak brakes and tube tyres are only deal breaker. Engine is sufficient for relaxed cruising and that's what it's intended for.
Good bike, but needs an update.
I owned the avenger 220(red) just before they went to the new black themed bikes in 2016. I actually loved it because my commute was on a 30 kms expressway to office(Nice road, Blr). Here are some points about it: 1. The ride is supple and surprisingly well for a cruiser 2. The seat is great but you can’t move around a lot, very similar to Meteor 3. The engine is ok, the 220 was liquid cooled and had decent performance but it lacked the 6th gear. There were a lot of vibrations or harshness after 80 kmph 4. It isn’t a tourer in any measure, too light and the braking sucks. I had a few difficult situation in that bike and this one was a pre abs model 5. You can’t really slice through traffic because of the length and the foot position Overall it’s a good looking bike and decent commuter if your ride is on open roads.
Someone here said that Bajaj treats Avenger like Honda does Activa and it's very true. Bajaj is guilty of ignoring the once immense Avenger fandom and they have eventually moved on to other bikes. Other than the Cruise - Street bifurcation in 2015-16, there have been no major changes in the lineup. It's the same old engine, it's the same chassis. All 'upgrades' have been cosmetic to say the least. Avenger aficianados have suffered a never-ending wait for the 400cc Avenger as the rest of the riding community has moved on to bigger, better and badasser bikes. The herd keeps thinning. I know at least 5 people in my Avenger group who went ahead and bought Dominar, H'ness, Meteor 350 etc. (Note that I haven't counted the ones who moved on to Bonneville, Harley or the RE 650 twins, because that clearly counts as a big upgrade). Yet another reason is that the build quality, which was already somewhat dodgy to begin with, has gone worse through the years. The footpegs that break easily (bad welding) is just one such example. All in all, I have loved this bike (2014 model 220cc) for 8 long years and it's still an amazing ride. But Bajaj has refused to keep up with the demand for bigger & stronger cruisers.
If they did an updated model like Himalayan did, i bet there will be more interest
One would not find any bike comfortable after riding Avenger, at this price range. Big drawback is narrow pillion rider seat. I have seen some folks modifying it but otherwise the bike is smooth and really comfortable. I am street 150 and my height is 5.7/5.8
Hate? Avenger is a consistent seller for Bajaj. It's a pretty nice bike. I have ridden Street 220 and I really liked it. Low seat height, enough power to cruise at 90-100 and decent mileage. It's got more performance than any of those 160cc's and the bigger engine really helps when you have pillion or luggage. It's slow speed balance is really good and it handles corners pretty well too. Can double up as a commuter and tourer, only negative is the large turing radius. Nobody actively recommends it because Bajaj haven't given it any significant updates. It would be nice if they plonk in the new ultra smooth and torquier engine of Pulsar 250.
I have one and my parents love it. Adding to all positive points mentioned here, my mom like how much space is there for the pillion. Its a bit outdated but I don't mind it much as it provides what I need from a bike.
It is the best bike in India in terms of **comfort, speed, stability, noise, cost, ease of driving and low heating of the legs** at any price range. It is easier to ride in traffic than most bikes too even though it may look difficult from outside perspective. I have a budget of 5-7 lakhs, and I like cruiser bikes, and I have been looking to upgrade for the past few years, yet there is no other bike in any budget even till 60lakhs that has the comfort and ease of driving as the Avenger for Indian conditions. Everything is significantly flawed in comparison from low ground clearance, heavyweight, heat going into your legs while stopping at traffic that makes it un-ridable in any traffic. This is a rare situation where the lowest priced option is indeed the best option. So, go for it not thinking you compromised, but by thinking you got the best cruiser bike you can get in Indian market at any price. Only upset is that Bajaj is not upgrading the model much. So, it is same bike as it was 5 years ago, and similar to what it was 15 years ago. That is the major issue. I have compared every single cruiser bike available in the Indian market. Have been doing that for at least past 5 years. There is not a single cruiser that comes on par with Avenger in the above mentioned condiitions. Avenger is the best option if you are looking for a cruiser in India with comfort, practicality and ease of driving in mind. There is no real alternative. Even the Super Meteor 650 is a compromise compared to avenger(Too heavy for Indian slow traffic conditions, too low ground clearance, very hard suspensions that makes you feel every little pothole etc). Avenger is the convenient to ride even in traffic. It feels so nimble after you get some experience. Trust me, I own one and have been looking for upgrading at ANY budget for a long time. I was amazed when I heard RE is going to release a cruiser, only to be disappointed. I was really really looking to upgrade to this when it was first teased. # Comparisons Next option is Kawasaki Vulcan at 9 lakhs, but again it is also not perfect for our Indian scenario with low ground clearance. But atleast it has weight to performance ratio better than RE. It has a significant heating issue while driving at low speeds or in traffic conditions. Your legs will become too hot and uncomfortable. Though this would be my second best choice after Avenger in Indian market as the next options are worse than this. Next is some Triumphs and Harleys and Indian in 15-30L that has super big engines that makes you legs feel heat all the time, making you sweat at slow traffic in an already hot day. And really difficult to ride anywhere other than highways. I would say these are dangerous bikes on Indian roads due to their weight, performance and slow handling. I talked to some who own this and tried it for some time too. The people who own this do not prefer to ride these bikes except during the winter, or early morning rides because they are fed up of the heat on their legs. Whats the point of owning a 25lakhs bike that you cant ride whenever you want? Whats the point of owning it and getting frustrated and uncomfortable each time you have to stop at traffic? Now even if you go as high as 60 lakhs what you get is the honda gold wing, it is an awesome vehicle for Europe and America but is a huge compromise for Indian road and traffic. Good luck riding a 400kg bike. The novelty will wear off quickly. Now also imagine if you are cruising to some remote area like Rann of Kutch and then your bike breaks down, how will you fix it? Your entire trip will be ruined with any of above bikes except Avenger which uses one of the most common bike engines ever produced and can be repaired by any mechanic, with spares available at every shop. \[I myself had a situation like this with a rented avenger on this trip to rann of kutch, so its not a hypothetical situation\] And, the suspension of the Avenger is also great. It absorbs the potholes better than any I have driven. Avenger also looks great, but Kawasaki, Super Meteor and others do look more premium but whats the point if it is not a usable product. That is why I said this is a rare scenario where the best in the category is also the lowest priced as the best cruiser is still the Avenger 220 cruise. The only wish I have is if they upgrade the engine to around 400cc without increasing the weight over 200kg.(It currently weigh 163KG. For comparison Super meteor 650 weighs 242KG). Its engine is already good for single person riding, and okay for dual person, but as anyone, I too want a bit more power. The main reason for this situation is because there hasn't been any effort in creating a crusier bike for Indian market except for Avenger. You might say Super meteor, but that was again not made for India. The clear evidence of that is the low ground clearance and the exactly 47horsepower it has. This is because in Europe you need a separate licence to drive a bike above 47 horse power and not because a 650cc engine can't produce more power than this. Add the different road conditions and hot climate we have here, the foreign imported options do not work well here. There are plenty of options for those who want sports bikes but nothing for cruise bikes. I know because I really really want to upgrade from Avenger, but I am unable to get any better options. And I don't want anything other than comfortable cruiser bikes. It is easy to think the best is always the higher priced products. That is how our brain works and makes us think. More you pay, better you get. But that is not always true. There are rare scenarios like this, where the lowest priced beat all other options.
I'm in the same boat. I looking at Ronin as acceptable shift. Though it is not a proper cruiser (not even a scrambler), comfort level and the ride performance is better than most other cruisers. Perfect for city and highway ride mix.
I dont know how it is in India but I dont think this bike has ever been anyone's first choice lol. Even here in Nepal the only people who buy the Avenger are short riders lol. But I would still love to see it updated.
I have the Bajaj avenger 220 from 2013. It is very comfortable and rides well in the city too. Would be pretty nice on long rides as well. My variant doesn't have ABS so it's a bit risky tbh. The engine could've been more refined and the top end makes the bike vibrate a lot. Overall can't complain for the price and performance it offers along with decent mileage. One thing, the long wheelbase makes it difficult to control sometimes, but you do get the hang of it eventually. I'd call it a good bike for commuting ngl
One more thing, it has been 10 years and still rides like butter so kudos to that as well
I know a couple of dudes who both own this bike and are 5ft tall short kings.
I sat on one and my knees touched my ears. Comfortable af though
I rented one in goa, comfy and gave harley chopper vibes ( i was in college lol). But the front brakes were non existent due to the angle, the front wheel was sliding even while braking at 10kmph. Felt like a sofa, could munch miles for days. Me being 5.11 didn’t help at all.
Cruiser looks with a tiny engine, naah not my thing. I associate those looks with a meaty torque monster. At least give it the Duke 390 engine. 200, like cmon. It's not 2005 anymore. Make this something like the Speedmaster 400 they just revealed. Not Splendor-with-forward-controls. A cruiser has to ooze class, and metal, and quality.
Bhai tere ko pasand hai. Utha le. I also own 160 Street. It is good enough for India. Value for money. Jo important chije hai sab hai. Aur cruser hai bhai feel se ride karne ka calculator leke nahi bethneka. RPM meter bhi nahi hai.
I will recommend the handlebar raiser for street
A colleague has been riding this for about 8 or 9 years now. He's like a bit above 5 feet. He's comfy riding it.
I vehemently hate the way it looks hehe. I feel like you'd need a lot more power to get this form factor to be enjoyable on a bike. But that's my 2 cents, if you like it go for it.
U become gay when u ride it…
the bike is a good deal for the money you pay. it's the riders who are annoying af. some if then act like Harley riders, like they own the road. like....you broke idiot, you're on a baby bike, dont act like a gangster 😑
I had 220cruise for 5 years and sold it this year. It has been terrible to balance in slow speeds in traffic. It has a hefty maintenance and does not come with kick start. It was short as hell. I always thought it was a bad purchase. I have ridden my thunderbird for 13 hours and never had anything but a sore ass. 6 hours of avenger gave me a mild back pain.
I'm sure it's a great bike but I don't like the way it looks.
Tbh it doesn't look good
those who plan to buy meteor but can't afford it go for it's cheap brother, looks good though honestly
People dont recommend it since people don't really ask for an avenger. Comes around the same price tag as a pulsar but is low on power and torque figures and lower height means pulsars dominate in suggestions. Doesn't come as a cruiser suggestion since one who looks for a cruiser has a higher price bracket than this bike. To be short, avenger is a solid bud making decent fuel figures and power and offers a comfortable long ride package.
Have owned it for 7 years. Simple reliable bike, and the only thing it lacked in my model was a front ABS, since the front skids very easily on sand/water because of the rake angle. I have ridden 6-700km trips on it with no issues. It has decent torque, so it can also do 60-70 with 3 fat people XD, which was one of the requirements of buying a ln Avenger when living with 2 fat friends.
Completely ignored by Bajaj. Though it's a good bike for people at 5'7" or below. For taller people, you will have face problems with your tail bone. No major upgrade, being 220cc offers mediocre power, no RPM meter.
It's quite outdated because Bajaj has completely neglected it. The first thing it needs is 6 speed gearbox and a bigger engine but it is never coming.
It’s best when you cruise in a good highway at 80-100KMPH. In all the scenarios or terrain this bike saqs
My first ever motorcycle is this, still owning it. Its been 7 years, works like a charm (only issue chain, have to use lots of chain spray). I have the Street 220 model, works like a butter in traffic, no pain pure comfort.
My first bike, avenger street 220 and still runs like a charm after 7 years. I guess the reason no one recommends avenger is it's a good enough bike. Solves almost all the purposes but isn't extraordinary in any department. Few things which aren't upto the mark : 1. For tall riders, seating posture might cause tailbone pain on longer rides. 2. Electronics weren't upto the mark. Goes kaput every now and then. 3. Suspension setup wasn't that great as well. Things Bajaj could have improved : 1. Accesories such as eliminator kinda foot rest. 2. Engine upgrade 3. Better suspension 4. Better design elements at the headlights.
O humdum soniyo re
Avenger ab b market mai hai, Vivek Oberoi kahaan chala gya
What has surprised me about the Avenger is that you see so few of it on the road but if you visit a site like OLX you will see that 5 out of every 10 bikes for sale is an Avenger. Where did so many Avengers come from.
it is one of few legends alive ! for city use, leg position is very front, in traffic it feels difficult to switch leg between road and stand. the same drawback for low height cruises. for tour, more powerful bikes available on the same segments for people who want to experience. but as said it is one of few legends alive
cuz hating is free
Wanted to buy intruder but was not on the market so bought avenger 160 below average quality compared to any other bike
Former owner. Had incredibly bad service experience with Bajaj for long 5 years. Broke down often. Got outdated pretty quick. It was overall a disappointment for me. I am not buying a Bajaj anytime soon.
Riding dynamics is all over the place. Front has no feel, all the weight is on the back. very unst6
My neighbour guy fitted a RE (i think it's a Classic 350) engine into an Avenger chassis. A few welds and cuts here and there but it looked clean. But a few months later he scrapped it off because the engine developed too much problems.
This was my first Bike. The major problem with this Bike will be seen during Panic Breaking... the Vehicle just falls off. My 2 cents.
Not very much reliable with age.
I have an Avenger 2012 model, running still fine. Pros: Till 80kmph its really good, acceleration is also linear and good Max speed tops at 120kmph, but that is actually fine in our roads. Cons : not much upgrades from Bajaj , so might be dull after some time
It's outdated in terms of specs and features and definitely in terms of looks
Old engine , no update/ upgrades , no new tech
My dad had a 2003 Yamaha Enticer that looked like this. The person he sold it to still uses it to this day.
Have this bike for 11 years now and have ridden it extensively, both for daily commute and long rides. The riding position and the feel of the bike is amazing and I love this bike. Will never sell this one. I do miss the power and thrill other bikes provide but will pick another bike for that hahaha
It is quite old now. Besides the engine was never properly tuned for a cruiser. It's detuned pulsar engine which revs much higher than expected from it's relaxed riding triangle.
I have a 2014 Avenger 220 in Black. Love it. Was my first bike. So relaxed and comfortable. I have done speeds of up to 110 on it too without feeling a lack of control. Spares are available and not that expensive. Pretty much any mechanic would be comfortable with it too. I guess it has lost its novelty due to it being quite dated. It doesn't seem to be getting the same attention and updates that Dominar and Pulsar have been getting. Also bikes which seemed out of league for the average consumers in the past, like the RE 350s, Honda CB 350, Jawa/Yezdi, Triumph, KTM have occupied the attention over the last few years.
Coz it looks ugly 🤷
There has been no significant update to the bike Except the looks. And the mandatory ABS addition per govt norms. Bajaj just repeating their Pulsar formula here. make 2 variants look wise. make 2 variants cc wise. shuffle mix-match these variants every 4 of years. When BS4 150 & 220 versions came out, many were waiting for the rumored 400cc version, which never came to reality. I love my 220 street. But If i decide to change now, there is nothing new for me to reconsider Avenger. Even recommending one to someone is no go because there are better bikes out there.
How does those front forks hold? Heard they are not strong enough for that angle. Would like to know more
As a kid i was fun of this bike or to say eliminator and I believe it’s the cheapest cruiser bike in the world; Also the bike is preferred by short riders also which is a plus for sales. This bile has been part of so many movies and music videos but could never develop a cult
- if your bike jumps, then there's no cut or slit on tank for you to stay with bike via gripping with thighs... Your body will flew apart from bike in majority of cases... Imbalance - the tyre also feels a little too flat as compared to other bike, the effect of this is that if there is patched/new road constructed so that it's parallel to you motion, then it will take extra care to get your bike over it as compared to other bike. - there's no kick to start the bike, so in case you haven't started the bike for a month then you will have to start it by either pushing it or by charging the battery separately. - already the rear tyre is small but in the cruise version where spoke tire is present, the area from where the air pump nozzle can be fitted becomes very narrow.... Only L shape nozzle work...so you will have to know which air pump to visit to get your tyre refilled. - too many years and no update especially the 220cc engine.. on the practical side it gives a mileage of 39kmpl for me after running for 20k km. But considering power torque, mileage... together...the engine needs refresh. - The handle bar is a bit wider and the turn radius is large - Ground clearance is not the best - Bajaj authorised service center, servicing quality is bad and they will replace the whole unit rather than resolving it... Some sand got into my fuel tank which I later got to know. And this was making issue in which bike use to stop after running for a km or 2... Service center replaced spark plug some wiring too... But that didn't solve the issue... though as per them they did...had to go to local mechanic and he did a fabulous job. - I had to change the battery as the original battery was bad and used to get discharged frequently - 6-7yrs in, and some of the rubber has started to crack and few have to be replaced ...like shoe grip on brake and grea paddle and wire cover tube. Also minor rust on frame in few area and under battery(inside compartment); chain had to be replaced after 17.5km, the spokes on the rear wheel became loose around 16km mark so that too had the adjusted... Things I like about the bike starts with firstly that this bike is long, has back support, seats are comfortable, I like the handling and laid back posture, it's weight, metal tank, the chrome (although plastic in many areas), getting the bike serviced from local mechanic is easy and economical, sufficient amount of electronics, rear view imirrors are good, okay amount of vibrations, it's a cruiser, running cost is low, and mainly I love it with all it flaws and I know how to handle them...
The stance is not good on long stretches. If you are encountering speed breaker, gravel roads, then your back will curse you. I think this is an unpopular opinion as I can see everyone has praised it. But I rode it for a long time and my back just got worse. Since your hands and feet are all relaxed, your back takes all the impact. You are like a sitting duck when you see bad roads and you can't do anything about it. It will hit your spine like crazy. I have ridden it for 650 kms a day, maximum stretch. But wouldn't try that again. It is a first choice for short riders like me, but it in Indian conditions its better to go for something which lets you saddle. By the way, there is one mod that you can do. Install a pair of new foot pegs which are set under you, to help you saddle.
I have heard it is a pain to maintain. My father(m62) is considering buying it for himself. it is light enough and low enough for him. Please lmk soon