Bajaj Avenger 160 Street ABS: Pros, Cons, Should You Buy One?

Should you buy the newly launched Bajaj Avenger 160? We get you the answer

The Avenger 160 Street ABS now officially holds the honour of being the most affordable cruiser in the country. But is that enough for you to buy one? We take a look at its ups and downs to find out.

PROS 

Aggressive pricing.

At Rs 82,253 (ex-showroom Delhi), the Bajaj Avenger 160 Street ABS is the most affordable cruiser you can buy in India. It costs Rs 6,000 less than the erstwhile Avenger 180, while packing more features. In fact, the next available choice, the Suzuki Intruder 150 costs Rs 12,400 more!

Also Read - Bajaj Avenger 160 Street ABS: Road Test Review

Easy to ride in the city

While it might be a cruiser, the Avenger 160 is no slouch when it comes to handling daily commutes. During our tests, we found riding through traffic, astride the Avenger 160 quite easy. It helps that the suspension is set on the softer side, absorbing minor bumps and potholes quite easily. Apart from it, even the thick seat cushion does a good job of absorbing jolts well. 

Low seat height

Shorter riders have nothing to worry about. At 730mm, the saddle height of the Avenger 160 is quite low. In fact, it is the lowest in the segment. For comparison, the Suzuki Intruder 150’s saddle is 740mm high. 

CONS

Mileage could’ve been better

In our mileage test, the bike returned a fuel economy of 53.72kmpl on the highway and 46.83kmpl in the city. These are somewhat similar to what the bigger Avenger 180 used to return. We have to say the numbers are a bit disappointing as we were expecting the new bike to be more frugal than this.

Also Read - Bajaj Avenger Street 160: Same Price, Other Options

Same styling as older model

If you mistake the newly launched Avenger 160 with the now-discontinued Avenger 180, we won’t blame you. The design remains exactly the same here, apart from the Avenger 160 sticker on the centre panel. Even the same set of graphics have been carried over from the Avenger 180.  

Build quality could’ve been better

Take a closer look and you’ll notice a lot of visible welds and below-average finish on the Avenger 160. This is certainly not a deal-breaker, considering the cruiser gets a very affordable price tag. However, it does show that the bike is built on a budget.

Should You Buy It?

Other than being a value-for-money proposition, the Avenger 160 does everything you’d expect from an entry-level urban cruiser. Yes, it might not have the lungs for long highway miles, but you always have the option of going for its 220cc sibling. For those who want an urban commuter which is capable of weekend rides, the Avenger 160 Street does make sense.