Road Test Review: 2011 Bajaj Avenger 220 DTS-i
Road Test Review: 2011 Bajaj Avenger 220 DTS-i Featured Stories, Reviews, Slider | Rash a.k.a Rohit Paradkar | August 30, 2010 at 12:36 amStraight Jacketed Cruiser
Has the Avenger become insanely wild after getting the Pulsar 220′s heart? Or is it still the docile cruiser that makes it so popular?
Words: Rohit Paradkar | Photography: Eshan Shetty
I have never been a big fan of the sole cruiser from Bajaj. But this low slung bike breed from Chakan has often spent significant time under my butt during the varied iterations in its life. Way back in 2003, when it was difficult to procure spare parts for the newly launched Karizma (more so in Yellow), the original Kawasaki Eliminator used to serve as my back-up bike whenever I would crash my white elephant and send it for the fortnight long repairs. Later when Bajaj skilfully sidelined Kawasaki and came up with the ‘Avenger’ with the Pulsar 180’s heart, one of its examples took refuge in my garage for a month when the owner went out of town. In 2008, when I was working with another two wheeler magazine the Avenger with a 200cc mill was my long-term motorcycle for over four months. Going by the last two generations of the Avenger, it was pretty much evident that Bajaj would upgrade the cruiser to top of the line 220cc capacity mill especially with the Pulsar 200 now dead. So when the Avenger 220 finally came through for the test, I wasn’t too excited – nor was Bajaj I guess, since the Avenger 220 had a soft launch with no grand announcements that you generally notice from a Bajaj product. Why the silence? Has anything really changed in the Avenger at all? Let’s find out…
Give us your opinion about the new Avenger 220 over here!
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Related posts:
- Bajaj Discover 150 DTS-i v/s Hero Honda Passion Pro: Comparative Road Test Review
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You are an expert in taking pictures. Avenger looks super cool.. Even Bajaj’s wall papers aren’t as stunning as the pictures you have posted. A detailed and stylish narration too..
Fantastic pictures – Mr. Shetty I guess
Retuned – You sure? IMO the weight killed 1.8PS!
really a nice road test review… loved and enjoyed the photos and reading… keep on the good work…
To author:
What bike will be your choice if I wish to travel throughout the length and breadth of the country?
why didn’t bajaj provide some classic cruiser bike handelbars? just like with yamaha enticer… it will enhance the bike look and cruiser feel drastically.
if bajaj will do another mercy on poor chaps like us, by providing silencer which give bullet type note…. then its like iceing on cake…
then and only then, i think mr. fat biker will feel like god!
Lovely review Rash and an equally fantastic job done by Ehsan….
My views about this are pretty open… Its a criminal upgrade, read more on the forum!
So you feel Avenger is not as good as an RE boy for long distance travelling?
@Everyone: Glad you liked the review. The queries you have posted have been answered here:
http://motoroids.com/vb/motorcycles/873-road-test-review-2011-bajaj-avenger-220-dts-i-2.html#post7791
You are such a fat fellow
you will feel a lot of pain after 100kms of long travel.
i own avenger200 i can travel to almost 250kms at a stretch easily
I’m planning to buy this bike. Would be driving more in City and occasional long cruises. Is this bike going to help me with city traffic? I don’t expect 100% commuter friendliness. Still would love to hear from you to set expectations.
totally in luv wit wit da avenger 220…infact got ma selv 1 today itselv…..i opted fr back,though nw i feel red would ve bin better…unlike Mr. fat biker (whose review btw i liked) i m dude in my fit leane phase of lyf n da Avg carried my 5’9″ frame with ease…i rather felt it to b zippy oltogether…..
@raj:i cant tell u bout it make quality as of nw(its too early fr me to say dat)bt my experience wit dis bike in delhi traffic has bin quiet satisfactory….1s u get used to its handling,its pretty menuvrable(dont take as jus another spots bike dat luks lik a cruiser cauz it has a large wheel base….so dont donk down on every nuf n corner)
>>To make this Avenger test more realistic, I made sure that I fought with my father before leaving for the ride, browsed through my ex-girlfriend’s marriage album, asked the barber to give me a blade cut and a weird hairdo and gazed at ceased and crashed motorcycles. Still, even with its potent handling characteristics, more powerful engine and a few added mechanicals, the Avenger was far from making me ‘feel like god’ like the promotional activities claim.>>
May be the author needs to swing his leg over a Pulsar and try to imitate Chris Pfeiffer as shown in PulsarMania Ad. or may be try to jump over a cliff on a CBZ extreme.
Didnt understand the point that the author was trying to make here?!
Hi I am using this 200CC Avenger for more than a year. Even at a sped of more than 100 you just feel like it is on 50. Handling is very easy. On traffic it is a little problem initially but after few months of riding when u become familiar with the bike it is ok. Anyone who don’t like Avenger ca they suggest something better than that in India for such a low price. When you ride it you can just feel yourself like Arnold riding Harley Davidson in Terminator(who can forget that). Nothing in this world is perfect same u can feel for this bike also. But overall for a cruise lover nothing better than this machine. I love my bike. Best thing is when u race with some it’s awesome pickup gives u an advantage than for safety it comes to zero within seconds without skidding. When you get stuck in the traffic you can see people staring at you that time you really feel like GOD. Turning radius is more but when you really want to turn just rotate the handle and people will stop to give u the path.
Really Awesome.
Indeed, it is best review. never seen such clear Pictures not even bajajsite.
Yeah I’ve plan to buy in March 2011.
But only question is in my mind, why cant Avenger have alloywheel?
Booked Avenger today only will get to ride within two days ( cant wait anymore too excited!!!), Shortlisted three options considering my preferences, a) ZMR, b) CBR, & c) Avenger, but still zeroed in on the Avenger ( Gut Feeling ), now only time will tell whether it really feels like a ‘GOD’ riding the Avenger, will come back after the hands on experience,,, just wishing the same!!!::))
hey guys am interested in buying a bajaj avenger 2200 dtsi but i got to know all the pros bt nt d cons………. P0so please can anyone help me out the above post helped me a lot but still i need the problems of the same bajaj avenger 220 dtsi so that if box problems i can handle it out so
Hello All, i must say that this is awesome bike. u ll get comfort and attraction as well. pepole will asked wht is this .. when u ride and some other bike like YAMHA FZ OR something else. only we can saythis my bike..
Anian= there no such proble in dtsi eng.
Ahmaed= this is not so much possible for alloywheel .
prasnjeet= u r right.. this is grt8 feeling when u ride.
raj. if u are going to ride in traffic .as far as handle is concern it is easy. initially u feel something but only for 10 days not more than that. go and get the bike..
hello
Its such a rare treat to read something informative yet so well told like this on the web. More so, considering the proliferation of webpages and what we have to read from them. I chuckled here and there while reading it and the article confirmed that I should go for something more sporty (or plastic like the author echoed), to discount the looks of a 35yr old dude that I am while riding a bike. Yamaha Fazer 150, anyone?
On 17th June 2011 i Purchased Bajaj Avenger 220 from SHREERAM BAJAJ, there were 3-4 Manufacturing
Defects in that Bike,
1. Exhaust was Producing improper Sound as compared to other Avengers,
2. Handle Alignment was not proper bike automatically goes into right Direction while riding &
3. Rear Mudguard is not into 90 degree Angle its not in center……
Today i got Exhaust’s Problem solved from Service Center but Handle’s Alignment n Rear Mudguard
is pending, They said we have done our job we are unable to push Rear Mudguard to center,
Handling[While Riding Bike Switching to Right Direction] is not done upto mark as it should be
they said its certified but after getting my bike compared with other avengers it turned to
be a different story.
Finally they ended up by saying tht Bajaj’s Manufacturing Engineer Visits
Service Center Once in Every Month, so they told me to hang on till August. People are Suggesting
me to go for Replacement of bike
hi,
Im planning to buy avenger 220. n i hav few very imp dobts.
1. does it actually vibrates at 80 kmph?
2. does its sitting posture result in back problems. i have read that it affects lower back.is it true? im buying this bike just for the sake of comfort. and thats all..
hi.
1) Every bike has vibes at a certain range. To the best of my knowledge, you will see these once you are in 6000-8000 (this is where you hit 80kmph in 5th gear) RPM limit.
2) No, we have not come across any such problem before and the seat sure is comfy but for comfort and mile munching capabilities, look no further than Royal Enfield Thunderbird. With the introduction of UCE, the bike is lot more reliable and is a true cruiser. As for avenger 220, do you know it employs a detuned pulsar 220 motor? instead of changing the characteristics to meke the engine suit a cruiser than a street bike, bajaj simply de-tuned it.
Go for Thunderbird unless you wish to stick to Bajaj. And if latter is the case, go for Bajaj Avenger, one should buy only what his/her heart truly loves.
I am agreed with what my friend Mr. Prasanjit. I am riding this bike since mid of October this year. It is a pleasant machine with regard to its price, performance, and look. Infact, as i have noticed it is the cheapest bike of this segment. While on ride, usually i meet atleast a rider daily with plenty of questions about it. No matter, it is a traffic police constable or delhi police or a common man. Everyone looks it with excitement, which obviously gives me a chance of feeling pride on it.
However, to be honest, i am also experiencing some problems and don’t know whether it would be rectified ever or not. take the example of starting the byke, when i start it in the morning first time, it takes time and goes off 6-8 times within first 100 meters, thereafter it rides perfect. needless to mention that it doesn’t have a kick to start. And as I have experienced so far that it needs acute maintenance after every 800-1000 kms.
But rest everything went fine with the byke so far and the balance of it is amazing….so anyone luking forward to owe this may go ahead.
Really 220 Avenger is awesome bike i purchased nov 2011.I m fully satisfied with this.When we are talking about fuel conception,it cheapest bike compare with other crusher bike.When u ride this u will fell proud.