Bajaj V

As we stated earlier, the motorcycle enjoys having no parallel at the moment in terms of design and has been developed afresh. Its DTSi engine comes the Pulsar 150 but has been tuned for better fuel efficiency and responsive city riding. The wheel/tyre setup is similar to cruiser motorcycles with an 18-inch wheel up front and a 16 inch one at the rear which is bound to prove a boon. The V, with its ‘Invincible’ tagline, is the company’s fresh salvo to “crack the impenetrable hold that Hero MotoCorp has over the commuter motorcycles market”. You can see the idea behind the development of Bajaj V here.

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. 

Up front is a large 60-watt headlamp - powerful for its segment - with 2 pilot lamps on either top corner, and sports an inverted triangle shaped windscreen, reminiscent of a ship’s hull (references much?). The headlamp also gets a chrome surround to lend it a premium touch. This along with the stubby side indicators gives the V a solid face. 

The 90mm EuroGrip tyre on 18-inch front wheel hints at the capability of the bike, while the fat 33-mm front forks enhance the muscle factor.

Moving to the sides only consolidates this strong impression further. The large 13-litre sculpted tank with muscular-looking flanks carries the INS Vikrant-inspired 3D ‘V’ insignia. The tank and side panel also receive thick sporty red stripes to accentuate the detailing. The fuel tank cap also bears the INS Vikrant insignia as a reminder of the V’s origin. 

The company claims to have acquired metal from the dismantled warship and is using it to form part of the tank, and says it has enough metal to last 20,000 units per month manufacture for two years. 

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 120mm rear tyre sits on a 16-inch rim, and its high profile makes it look big. Under the seat is a red-coloured grab rail that has been shaped to be in tune with the seat and cowl and becomes a good detail to break the monotony of the black seat and rear panel, especially on the Ebony Black variant.

The Bajaj V has a wheelbase of 1315mm with a 780mm seat height, and a compact overall length of 2044mm, compared to the Honda CB Unicorn’s 2095mm.

The instrumentation cluster is nothing elaborate but functional and gets a light-up Bajaj logo next to the speedometer. It also gets a digital fuel level indicator which changes colour depending on the amount of fuel left and can serve as a good reminder for those of us who choose to fill, shut, forget.

Overall, the design is so unique that it will polarise opinion - whether you will fall in love with it, or not at all. In either case, there is no ignoring the Bajaj V and it is definitely a head turner.

Engine

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. 

Braking

Sporting a 240mm wave pattern disc brake up front and 130mm drum at the rear as standard, the Bajaj V rides confidently and can come to a halt in a hurry. The tyres help translate this braking power in real-world conditions, and do their job well, but brakes lack some feel due to the cushioned ride. The bike sports large rectangular mirrors for easy view and has bright lamps at both ends to make sure visibility remains high.

The peak torque coming in early translates into the bike being better suited to quick take-offs in traffic as well as smooth cruises with a powerful mid-range. However, with all the power coming in early, the bike is certainly not a rev-monster. At the same time, it is premium enough to not seem like a newer Discover series. 

The front telescopic suspension with 33mm conventional forks do their job well in eliminating vibrations and potholes with ease. The rear twin hydraulic springs and gas-charged shock absorbers work in tandem with the 16-inch rear wheel sporting 120mm tyre, to offer a supple ride. 

The ride refinement, so far considered a Honda trait, is now an open battlefield and we feel the V outdoes the ageing competition with its unique weight distribution and tyre setup. Its shorter wheelbase makes it more flexible in urban conditions and increases the rider’s confidence, with easier flickability. This is aided by the low 136 kg kerb weight of the motorcycle.

About town, the raised handlebar provides comfortable reach enabling an upright ride position. The seat feels adequate despite the seemingly low padding, but its long-term comfort will become clear over time.

So far, the Bajaj V is only available in a standard variant with two colour options - Pearl White and Ebony Black.