2018 Bajaj Avenger 180 Review, Road Test

2018 Bajaj Avenger 180 Review: The 180 is back after almost a decade and replaces the new Avenger 150. Confused? Find out more!

Enchanting –

• Classic cruiser with modern elements
• Superlative chassis, brakes, engine
• Value for money quoitent is extremely high
• Best in class NVH levels

Unsatisfying –

• Needs Better Switchgear
• Lacks Rear Disc brake

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The cruiser market is heating up and making sure there is space for more. Bajaj has used the concept of ‘more’ in a different way. The year 2015 was the time when the manufacturer revived the Avenger series and gave a 150cc heart to it and heavily revised the Avenger 220 in two variants as well. The sales soared dramatically from mere 2000 units a month to 11000 months and have been consistent to a large extent over the time period. Bajaj has done some changes yet again to regain that supremacy over its new rival, the Intruder 150. We spent some time with the Avenger 180 to tell you how is it over the Avenger 150 and how many changes are there.

Design

The Avenger 180 Street is similar in most parts when compared to the Avenger 150 Street. The body panels, the tank, and the wheels stay the same. Bajaj has added a grab rail at the back which serves as a backrest as well. The Avenger 180 gets the new headlamp, visor and the gator on the forks to make it look very sportster like. All black theme in the lower section makes it look sportier while the proportions are of a classic cruiser. Fit-finish is always improving on Bajaj bikes and Avenger benefits from the same. Quality is good at this price point.

Cluster and Switchgear

The disappointing part is the instrument cluster which remains the same as an earlier unit. Analog round dial which shows a trip meter and odometer in the digital part while the speedometer dominates the round pod. The RVM is good enough and the quality and fit-finish make are excellent all around. The switchgear could be more appealing and modern though. Seats are comfortable enough for rider, pillion seat could be more generous, but still better than the competition.

Engine and Gearbox

When it comes to performance, Bajaj has taken the game much forward. The NVH levels are spot on and it isn’t a soar point anymore. There are vibrations but only at the top end (redline) and only at the pegs and mildly at the tank. The engine now is detuned to make 15.5 PS of power and 13.7 Nm of torque. Throttle is easy and light to control and so is the light clutch lever coupled to a very smooth shifting 5-speed gearbox.

The 2-valve DTSi engine makes enough low and mid range torque and make rideability in the city a bliss. The engine is rev friendly, the gearing is well sorted with a long rev limit and tall gearing. As a result, there is enough top-end power as well, over the Avenger 150 that is to make sure that the 180cc does its job really well. The fuel-efficiency is around the 45 km/l mark in real life conditions and should be more efficient on the highway.

Dynamics

Ride and handling of the Avenger 180 has seen a change as well by a good margin. The rear suspension has been raised by 10 mm to make sure it takes bad roads really well, the cruiser is agile in the city and provides great ride quality over bad roads. The long travel suspension helps it not bottom out with a pillion. The Avenger 180 is nimble in the city despite a large wheelbase and turns-in quite quickly. The cruiser is stable around long sweepers, at top speed on the highway and takes corners with a good amount of confidence.

The tyres could be more sticker, but then it is a classic old cruiser and expecting any sporty isn’t an ideal thing to do. Bajaj has provided Eurogrips and MRF both as options and they provide ample grip and stickiness in most situations. Brakes are good at the front with good lever feel and progressive power post the initial bite. Avenger continues to miss on disc brakes at the rear but the drum does its job. ABS will make sure it gets disc brake at the rear.

2018 Bajaj Avenger 180 Review, Verdict

Avenger 180 makes perfect sense over the 150 variant which has been discontinued. Something you heard first here in December 2017 from us. The tune of the engine and differentiator between the 220 in cosmetic and mechanical terms creates a healthy co-relation on paper between the two siblings. Avenger 180 then makes sense, is an ideal upgrade and a very high value for money proposition which makes hard to ignore in this price bracket.

Price: 85,000 ex-showroom Delhi