The 150cc motorcycle space has diversified into multiple sub-segments ranging from commuters to tourers offering something for everyone. The newest body style to join this bandwagon is the new Bajaj Avenger Street 150 cruiser, the smallest of its kind to go on sale in the country.
With big dimensions and a puny engine, does the Avenger Street 150 make the cut? Indian automobile website MotorBeam finds out.
The new Bajaj Avenger Street 150 borrows its styling from the Street 220 and looks striking with the all-matte elements and the single midnight blue paint job. The Avenger logo on the fuel tank stands out prominently.
The cruiser's underplayed styling is a head turner with the low set handlebars, alloy wheels and all-black exhaust while the yellow body graphics create a nice contrast.
The simplistic instrument cluster now integrates a digital display showing the odometer, single trip meter and fuel gauge. The switchgear boasts of good quality but the buttons feel a bit small and the pass light is different.
The new cruiser gets a comfortable seating position while the handlebars are easy to reach and the low seat height makes it convenient for short riders. The single-piece seat offers good comfort thanks to increased foam thickness.
Power on the Street 150 comes from a 149cc single-cylinder 2-valve engine (same as Pulsar 150) producing 14.5 PS and 12.5 Nm of torque, paired to a 5-speed gearbox. The motor has been retuned for improved low and mid-range performance.
The new mill also boasts of better NVH levels, but vibrations are still felt around the pegs and mirrors. Power delivery is linear throughout the rev range while cruising speeds are around 80 km/hr. The baby Avenger does a speedo indicated top speed of 120 km/hr.
The new Street 150 gets a 10 mm shorter wheelbase over the Street 220, which results in better flick-ability within city limits. The chassis is stiffer now and the front-end offers good feedback.
The revised suspension setup is tuned well and irons out the road with ease while also bottoming out over speed-breakers. Despite the soft rear setup in favour of comfort, the cruiser feels calm at triple digit speeds.
Bajaj has opted for Endurance brakes instead of Bybre with a 240 mm disc at the front and a 130 mm drum setup at the rear. Stopping power though good, does leave scope for improvement.
At Rs 86,110 (on-road, Mumbai), the Avenger Street 150 is a bold step by Bajaj and is aimed primarily at urban users who appreciate a cruiser's aesthetic and comfort value but want it at an affordable price tag.
