Is this the best Bajaj Discover yet?

The Discover 150 is a value for money commuter bike which is high on performance, says Faisal Ali Khan of MotorBeam.com.

Bajaj Discover 150

Bajaj Auto always wants to create new segments, whether it's 180cc with the Pulsar 180 or 135cc with the Pulsar 135 LS. In a bid to boost market share, Bajaj has now created a new entry-level 150cc segment with the Discover 150 aimed squarely at commuters.

Offered in two flavours, the Discover 150 can be bought in either S (naked) or F (Faired) versions.

The company wants to lure 125cc buyers to the Discover 150 and has priced the bike accordingly. Three variants are offered: 150S Drum, 150S Disc and 150F (comes with a front disc as standard).

Bajaj Discover 150

The Discover 150 looks similar to other Discovers but the 150F is the surprise package here as the half-fairing lends it a lot of appeal. While pictures don't do justice to the bike, in real life, people will definitely appreciate the 150F for its well proportioned design.

The bike does look substantial on the road thanks to the tall height and long wheelbase. Featuring web spoke alloy wheels, the Discover 150 also gets an LED tail light along with a new 3D logo on the tank.

Bajaj Discover 150

The instrument cluster on the Discover 150 has been carried over from other Discovers. However, the Discover 150F gets a digital readout which has twin trip meters, service due indicator and a digital fuel readout. Other necessities including tell-tale lights are neatly placed on the Discover 150. The quality of switchgear is good but there is some cost cutting evident as the feel isn't as positive as we would have liked.

Bajaj Discover 150

The Discover 150 is powered by a 144.8cc air-cooled engine. This 4-valve unit outputs 14.5 PS and 12.75 Nm, coupled to a 5-speed gearbox. NVH levels are good and vibes are well contained, only surfacing near the redline. The Discover 150 has excellent low and mid-range performance but top-end isn't strong which is in-line with the positioning of this bike. The bike pulls quickly to 80 km/hr but struggles post that to its top speed of 106 km/hr. Mileage is between 55-60 km/l in the real world which is good for a bike of this category. The gearbox and clutch are smooth.

Bajaj Discover 150

The Discover 150 is a light bike and it uses a double-cradle frame. The handling is good and with the stiff suspension, it's quite eager to turn into corners. Although turn-in is slow, a normal commuter will be more than content with the flick-ability the Discover 150 offers in city conditions. The brakes work well and the initial bite is better than before.

The stiff suspension offers stability at speed while the ride quality is compliant on our roads.

Bajaj Discover 150

The Discover 150 is by far the best Discover yet and Bajaj has done a good job of sorting out the issues faced previously by owners. The company has managed to create a very good commuter, one which rides well, handles eagerly and has ample performance for daily duties in the city. Priced from Rs 56,343 (on-road price in Mumbai for the 150S Drum), the Discover 150 is undeniably immense value in the 150cc segment.