Bajaj has launched the Avenger Street 180 in India. The bike replaces the Avenger Street 150 and is positioned below the Avenger Street and Cruise 220. Its biggest competitor in the Indian market is the Suzuki Intruder 150. While the Avenger sports a bigger engine, the Intruder fights back with its modern features. We find out how the bikes fare against each other.
Design and features
The Avenger Street 180 borrows its styling cues and components from its bigger sibling, the Avenger Street 220. It sports a low-slung cruiser look along with blacked-out wheels, exhaust, grab rail and frame. The Avenger Street 180 also gets an oval headlamp unit with LED DRLs and a small fly screen along with graphics similar to the Avenger Street 220. At first glance, one would mistake the Avenger Street 150 for the latter. However, the bike misses out on the LCD instrument cluster and makes do with an analogue unit with a small digital display instead.
On the other hand, the Suzuki is distinctive and scores high on street presence. The muscular fuel-tank, twin outlet exhaust and the triangular headlamp borrowed from the bigger Intruder M1800R boost its appeal. Unlike the Avenger Street 180, the Intruder sports a LCD instrument console.
Engine
The Intruder is powered by the same 155cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine used in the Gixxer. It produces 14bhp and 14Nm of torque via a five-speed transmission.
Meanwhile, the Avenger Street 180 is powered by a revised version of the 180cc single-cylinder DTS-I engine used in the Pulsar 180.This unit produces 15.3bhp and 13.7Nm of torque and is mated to a five-speed gearbox. The Avenger Street 180 is more powerful thanks to its higher engine displacement.
Cycle parts
Both bikes ride on telescopic forks up front. However for the rear, the Suzuki gets a monoshock and the Avenger Street 180 sports a twin-shock setup.
Braking duties on the Avenger comes from a 260mm disc up front and a 130mm drum unit at the rear. Bajaj does not offer a rear disc or ABS even as option. The Suzuki Intruder gets superior braking power thanks to the 266mm front disc and 260mm rear disc aided by single-channel ABS as standard.
Nevertheless, the Avenger Street 180 will benefit from fewer fuel stops with its 14-litre fuel tank. The Suzuki Intruder gets a smaller 11-litre fuel tank capacity.
Pricing
The Bajaj Avenger Street 180 is priced at Rs 83,475. This price is just a premium of Rs 3000 over the now discontinued, Avenger Street 150. The Suzuki Intruder maybe more expensive at Rs 99,996 but justifies its pricing with the additional features. Suzuki also showcased the Intruder FI at the 2018 Auto Expo and is expected to launch the bike with a slight increase in price soon.
