Key Features
Removable Cowl To Make A 2-Seater Bike.
Pumped-up Fuel Tank.
Classic LED Tail Lamp.
All New 150cc DTS-I Engine.
Imposing Front Fascia.
33 Dia Big Front Forks.
Ergonomic Handlebar For Wide Open Chest Feeling.
Premium Instrument Panel With Color Changing LEDs.
5 Double Spoke Aluminium Cast Design & Dust Cover.
Bajaj V15 is not just built from the metal sourced from the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier used in the 1971 war, but the nameplate too has been derived from the former. Bajaj has worked on an all new design for this 150cc commuter that lends a tough stance to V15. For power generation, a new 149.5 cc, single cylinder, four stroke engine has been employed producing decent power and torque output. It is to be noted that only the fuel tank is built from the metal of INS Vikrant which also gets a mention on the meaty tank. On feature front, the bike lags behind, but it does well in terms of performance.
Bajaj V15 Standard
Petrol, 70.0 kmpl
Pro’s
150cc bike in price bracket between current 125cc and 150cc offerings; Value for money
Proven DTSi engine tuned for better urban performance and fuel economy
Riding position and styling of a street bike, comfort like a cruiser
Con’s
Styling may prove divisive - love it or hate it
Unequal tyre, rim sizes may become a headache during maintenance Stand Out Features
INS Vikrant scrap metal used in manufacture of tank assembly adds patriotism factor
Muscular styling and a beautiful rear seat cowl option rank it high on aesthetic appeal
Design
When the Bajaj V was first spied, weeks preceding its launch, we wondered what the design team at Bajaj had been sniffing. Taking a look at those spy shots, the bike had looked like a botch-job of a Pulsar front and Avenger rear. It was difficult to imagine that the bike would even be accepted as a viable option in a segment with such well-designed bikes as the Honda Unicorn, Yamaha SZ-RR and others. However, when it was finally unveiled, we stopped in our tracks for a moment - it is that attractive.
It carries an air of freshness with its fine balance of upright seating position and cruiser comfort owing to the large front, small back wheel setup. It is butch, muscular even, and looks solid due to its compacted aesthetic.
The seat is well-contoured, not as padded as others in the segment, and carries a segment first - a cowl to cover the pillion seat. When attached, the cowl gives the V a single-seater look and blends into the rear rather beautifully. The black painted wheels feature 5 sporty dual-spokes. The black-painted upswept exhaust further enhances its powerful presence.
It is at the rear where the look is truly distinguished, with an extended rear and integrated LED tail lamp, which also gets a chrome surround. This gives it a classic cruiser look from the rear head-on angle. While the size and shape of the tail lamp make us wonder if it’ll hinder visibility, we rest assured knowing that the bright LED lamps will light it up rather clearly.
The Bajaj V is powered by a 149.5cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled DTS-i engine that is coupled to a 5-speed transmission. However, unlike its donor bike, Pulsar 150, this engine produces a lower maximum power of 11.76bhp at 7, 500rpm with high peak torque of 13Nm at 5, 500rpm. The engine is touted to return a fuel efficiency figure of around 60 kmpl. That usable power and an excellent fuel economy puts the bike in a squarely practical bracket, and will hold a much wider appeal than the Pulsar could in this segment.