You could expect the Avenger to make you do things that you never wanted to. Everyone wants to be smug, proud and cocky while being on a cruiser, but there’s little chance you can be that way if you opt for the machine as ur preferred cruiser ride...
1. Engine is harsh, doesnt sound too relaxed, heats a tad too much and somehow doesn’t delight you as much as it does on the Pulsar
The speedo is pessimistic. Doesn’t somehow want to let you know that you are going fast. you’ll be told you are doing 60 when you are actually going at around 65 or 70. Its actually the opposite of what usually happens.
The position of the ignition switch is weird to say the least. Try parking the thing in a crowded lot and you’ll understand what I mean. You’ll try to locate the ignition key, but you won’t be able to as its not even remotely visible. Even when you locate the bloody thing you’ll find it hard to find space to take ur b*tt off the bike, position urself in a situation from where you could see the key and pull it off. And when you come back, you’ll have to perform a proper yogasan to locate and place the key in the slot, as its always harder to find a little slot and slip in the key, rather than just pulling it out.
No fuel gauge, so better keep it tanked up properly, you’d never come to know when you’re about to be left stranded in the middle of nowhere with no more fuel to go any further
5 Pillion seat is a pain in the a*.. literally! Its a kind of hump and you wont understand what I want to say till the time you sit there and feel it digging hard in your behind
Rear suspension makes life even harder, complimented with the weird seat, it makes sure that the pillion is one uncomfortable man
The bike hasn’t been as sturdily and as reliably put together as the Pulsar, which is in itself is a quantum leap in terms of build quality, refinement and reliability over the older versions
I think the Avenger doesn’t hold much for itself, except the fact that its the cheapest powerful cruiser that we have. The fact that it is pitted against the products from the likes of Enfield whose products dont have much to do with technology, refinement, reliability and power, makes it a better option. As a standalone choice, its not recommendable.
Other choices to have -
ZMA : The most reliable, the fastest but not the most fuel efficient. It also finds itself on the backfoot in terms of comfort when ridden for long. Back aches are sure to rear up if you keep touring with no modifications in the seat. Okay, the spares are a bit more costly than its Bajaj counterpart, but the probablility of them failing is bleaker too. Get the seat modified for sufficient support and there isn’t any element of doubt left, as the efficiency of the Avenger is only marginally better.
Thunderbird : Well, it might be comfortable and all, but reliability issues are a given with any RE, and if someone actually wants to buy it, there is no use telling him the vices, as he doesn’t care. So go ahead, opt for this one, if you are one of those eccentric types who want an RE solely for the love of it, and are ready to ignore a million arguments against it. I for one can never justify the price tag for that machine even if I keep trying to convince myself for the rest of my life. But then, its more about passion than logic... or so they say.
Whoever says Avenger is worth giving a go needs a reality check. The rear suspension is a punishment, the engine is way too harsh for a cruiser and the assembly is pathetic. If you want to ride with a pillion, you’re in for a sin. His back has no chance whatsoever to survive, the seat is a hump in itself, which you dont realise until you put your behind at that place. The ergonomics (except the handlebar positioning) are the worst I have ever seen. Though the VFM equation does give it a chance to breath, the bike all in all, doesnt hold a candle to the Karizma. Nags are free with the bike, so you wont find it hard passing time even when you are not riding, people at Bajaj service centres are known to keep you busy. NOT RECOMMENDABLE.