Hi Guys. I am from Bangalore and just got delivery of this Black beauty last week. Since I am used to an Yezdi CL II, this bike feels a bit less powered. But the riding comfort and performance are superb. A bit unweildy in city traffic, but one will get used to it, I guess. I have a few questions, though.
Hope some of you will have the answers:
Where will I get MAG wheels (Black coated) and MICHELIN or PIRELLI T/L tyres to fit the Avenger in Bangalore? (To look close to the attached pic)
What is the fattest tyre I can fit in the front, without mods?
I cannot wait for the run in period to finish so I can take this baby for long rides, as it is meant to be. Any one knows if there is an Avenger/Cruser club in Bangalore?
After I posted this review, I have been reading other reviews on this site and other sites. When I was in Australia, I had the great oppurtunity to go on a biking expedition from Sydney-Bega-Melbourne-Perth-Darwin-Alice Springs-Brisbane-Sydney, a distance of 10, 000 + Kms, on a Harley Sportster. I am no way trying to compare the Avenger with Harley, here.
The general grouse with the reviews seem to be pillion comfort, lack of fuel guage and kill switch.
In my great trip we were 12 men on 10 bikes - only 2 with pillion riders. Cruisers are basically lone riders. Those guys who want to have a chick on the pillion and show off, please go and buy yourselves one of the sporty ones. Given Bangalore roads, I doubt if there is a bike out there where the pillion rider feels very comfortable. Also make sure you keep the tyre pressure at 21 for front and 25 for rear, in case of a pillion rider, and 21 for both in case of solo. Donot let the service station attendant just check the pressure, he will probably fill up 30-32 on both and the ride will be hard.
Fuel guage???? Cruisers are minimalist in instrumentation and dont we have a reserve anyway??? Kids who like to fill up 1 litre at a time should stick to mopeds. Fill her up and when she goes to reserve, top up again. How can you get stranded with no fuel??? There is a board that says " Next service station after 460 kms" in The Strzelecki Track, Innamincka, South Australia. That is where the mopeds stop and Cruisers take over.
Kill switch???? To turn off engine at traffic signals??? Who ever turns a Cruiser off in traffic signals?? When I shared this with my friends Down Under, John Duncan, the trip organiser said, "What? You turn off a cruiser when you reach your destination!!!! Not at traffic lights!!!!!" (I sent him the technical specs of Avenger and he thinks it is a good bike for Indian conditions, where cruising is not a big time hobby yet. He rides a H-D-Touring) I am actually sorry that my bike came with a kill switch----Bajaj seems to have taken everyone seriously.
Come on guys, this is not a street bike or a city bike. This is for serious cruising. Like Bullet lovers, who will buy a Bullet anyway- no matter how much you reason with them--Cruisers are a different class of men, who love biking for the sheer joy of biking.
And talking of gear shift, I would love Bullet owners to comment. I honestly feel that people who complain about changing gears on an Avenger, don’t know how to operate the gear shift.
Anyway, for those who believe - No reason is necessary;
for those who don’t - No reason is possible.
Happy crusing...
Cheers