The Hindu Business Line : Bajaj's confidence built in the Avenger

I AM planning to purchase a cruiser bike and the options available in the market seem to be too few. I am lean and 6 feet 3 inches tall. I am afraid that sitting on a short bike like the Bajaj Eliminator or the Yamaha Enticer will be uncomfortable and also look odd. Is it true that these bikes are not suitable for tall people like me? So, I am left with the only option of purchasing a Royal Enfield Thunderbird. What do you suggest? Are new cruiser bike models expected from Honda or Bajaj?

Hari Prasad

The Bajaj Avenger that we have profiled this week has just been launched and will be available nationwide in a phased manner. The Avenger is not exactly an all-new cruiser. It is just a reworked version of the older Kawasaki Eliminator with a new engine and a new price tag. But that is the reason why it is that much more attractive now. Bajaj's confidence with its own engine technology and finish quality is showing through amply in the Avenger.

Further, by retaining the fit and finish that the Eliminator was known for and by slashing the price by nearly Rs 30,000, the Avenger has been delivered a huge advantage over the other cruisers currently in the market.

Cruisers are coveted for their easy riding. But their size, length and weight often tend to make buyers hesitant. Bikers who are used to lighter two-wheelers worry about the possible handling characteristics of cruisers and wonder if their relatively lower agility will be a problem on the road. Of course, another big deterrent has been higher than commuter-class pricing for cruisers.

But the Avenger could be the answer that cruiser bike aspirants have been waiting for. Cruisers need not necessarily be inappropriate for tall riders. Yes, the Enticer and the new Avenger are set lower than cruisers that are available globally, but that is because the average Indian is shorter. But that does not mean that it will not suit taller riders.

With your height, you may find that the riding posture is compromised a little. Instead of your hands being fully stretched out and legs curved gradually, your posture may resemble the more upright stance that is characteristic of 100cc commuter bikes.

Thanks to the taller, swept back handlebar, the Enfield Thunderbird may offer a slightly better posture for somebody as tall as you are. But you may have to deal with a heavier and more powerful bike. You will have to make the choice after considering these aspects.

The new Avenger is also priced very attractively and that could be a big draw for cruiser bike buyers. There is no information available currently about new cruisers that may be launched by the other bike manufacturers, though almost all of them are rumoured to be testing potential entrants in this segment.

Can you tell me the mileage that Bajaj Pulsar DTSi 150 ES offers on city roads? What is the bike's on-road price? Going by the current cost of petrol I am wondering if the Pulsar will prove to be expensive to run and maintain.

I am also thinking if the Hero Honda Passion Plus will be an option worth considering. Which one would you recommend considering the running costs? If I do decide to opt for a Hero Honda bike, which one do you suggest — Splendor, Splendor+, Passion or Passion Plus.

Chandu Sujay M.

Hero Honda now offers the Splendor + and the Passion Plus. The Bajaj Pulsar DTS-i 150 costs about Rs 56,000 on road for the base variant and the higher trim variant, which offers electric self-start, alloy wheels and gas shock absorbers at the rear is priced about Rs 5,000 higher. The Pulsar 150 will be able to come up with a mileage of about 45 kmpl in city riding conditions, with minor variations based on you're riding style and traffic conditions.

In your case, considering the fact that running cost and mileage are important parameters, the Pulsar 150 will get ranked lower than Hero Honda's 100cc bikes. In comparison with these commuter segment bikes, the Pulsar's forte is looks, performance and style, definitely not fuel efficiency.

So, if mileage is your benchmark choose the Hero Honda Passion Plus. For somebody who has short-listed the Pulsar too, the Splendor + must look drab. The Passion Plus will be able to satisfy your desire for a good-looking bike and should be able to come up with a mileage of 50-55 kmpl on city roads. If you think that the Passion Plus is too underpowered, you may want to wait for the 125cc version of the bike called Glamour that may be launched later this month. But that will be priced almost on par with the Pulsar 150.

I am going to buy my first bike. My priorities are safety, mileage and style. And the budget is Rs 40,000 to 45,000. I have the Yamaha Fazer and Bajaj Discover in mind. I am looking for a mileage of 50-60 kmpl. Please suggest the most suitable bike for me.

Ganesh Kumar Reddy V.

Our ranking of all the 125cc bikes available in the market had put both the Yamaha Fazer and the Bajaj Discover on par at the top of the heap. So, it boils down to a ranking of your priorities. If safety and ride quality are the most important parameters that you will look out for, then the Fazer will win, thanks to the optional disc brakes at the front and the excellent build.

If mileage is all-important, then the Discover should to be the one to choose. Both the bikes are priced close to each other and both of them come with electric self-start variants. Though offbeat, the Yamaha Fazer's styling is better than that of the Discover.

Queries may be sent to: q&a@thehindu.co.in or by post to Q&A, Business Line, 859/860, Kasturi Buildings, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

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