I own one of these babies (in green!) since last two months and I gotta tell you, this is one hell of a machine. I had an Yamaha RX100 before so had quite a different riding style. It hardly took me a day before the bike changed my whole approach toward biking. Its not about riding fast like a maniac, but it is about savoring every moment of the ride...the sunset, the breeze, the chicks. The bike looks royal with chrome winking in the sun – turns a lot heads and I enjoy every bit of it.
Fuel economy of around 40 km is decent for the 180 cc engine. So, if you want a 70 km average bike, stop reading NOW! Though the bike’s power matches the Pulsar 180 exactly at 16.5bhp, high weight of around 150 kg makes the Avenger a bit slower when it comes to pick up. But as I said, ’Its the riding style that matters baby!’ Talking about cruiser bikes scene in India, the Avenger comes in as a nice buffer between the two extreme. Yamaha Enticer and Bullet Thunderbird. I don’t consider Enticer as a cruiser but rather normal bike disguised as a cruiser (125 cc and just 11 BHP!!! can you believe that?) and the Thunderbird with 350 cc and 18 BHP have a price-tag excess of 90 grands.
*Now the bad stuffs.
*1. The gearbox is pathetic. Gear pattern is same as the Yamaha I previously owned but it takes me hours to find the neutral gear and shifting gears are not smooth.
Despite the wide wheel base, and much touted front disc break and rear drum breaks...the bike skids!!! Never expected that from such a bike.
The rear suspension definitely needs to be re-worked..(Bajaj guys if you’re reading this). I got mine adjusted in a service center and now is pretty fine but to tell you frankly, I’m not satisfied.
The bike has its good and bad sides....it up to you to decide....as for me, I am quite happy.