My Dream Bike...... Review on Bajaj Avenger

After a long wait and spending many sleepless nights, I have got my Avenger 200 dtsi. I was surprised to know that they gave home delivery of the bike. Impressive, but one disadvantage which I see is that there is no choice you can make. What ever you get is by god’s grace.

Non the less. Let me tell you that I have been reading most of the reviews of Avenger here at mouthshut. So I was ready for all worse possibilities. I commute 30km one way daily so, I was looking for a comfortable bike. I thank all of you who had helped me to make a choice or make up my mind on buying this bike. And this is the only way I can repay you all. So here’s my review. Its not going to be a technical review, it will tell you of my experience with the bike.

I rushed from the office the day (18th OCT 07) I was expecting the delivery. But when I reached home, the delivery guys had packed up, and were about to move out of our society campus. But I stopped them and took them back to the bike to see if every thing was ok. I took a small test ride, checked the balance by taking my hands off the handle bar, and I was happy, it kept going dead straight. This was the most important aspect I was looking for. As it is the defect you cannot rectify for life. That’s my thought. Well, the color was good, I chose black, the chrome was spot less. In short it was looking like I had seen it in the show room. I had purchased a body cover which they had forgotten to deliver with the bike. The delivery guys instructed me about the gears, the starter and that I am not supposed to ride the bike at more than 45 km/hr for the first 1000km, etc and they left the scene.

I was desperate to ride it on the open road. This was going to be for the first time that I was going to ride an Avenger on the road. I hit the starter, and it was impressive. The firing was crisp and solid. The Pickup was orsome (Did I mentioned that I have been riding Splendor for last 7 years?). The sound of the engine was good. I was enjoying the ride when I had a look at the speedometer to check my speed, and it showed 0km/hr. Oopss…. The speedometer was not working. I thought it is Humara Bajaj, so some hick up is expected. I went to the show room where I had been dealing with. They said that they had no person to fix it or rather they indicated that our duty is only to sell the bike. Once the bike was sold I was the most unwanted guest at their show room. No one of the sales person was interested to talk to me. I said thank you and left the place thinking that it’s going to be a minor loose connection and will get it fixed from a local mechanic, who used to service my Splendor. But the mechanic discovered that the worm and worm wheel which drives the inner cable was missing or not working. Then I went to the bajaj Pro-Biking service center to get it fixed. But with no success, they did not had the spare part which had failed. So the speedo remains to be fixed till date.

About the seating: Some how I did not felt any were like God. After riding the bike for the whole day (Unfortunately I had to rush to and fro from a hospital as my father was admitted for a pain in his chest.) my back muscles had given up. I had to ask my wife to do “do minute moov ki malish”

Let me tell you, I am 5’ 6” tall & 30 years of age. Another honest friend of mine took a test ride and only after riding for a Km reported of the uncomfort in the back. He is 5’ 10”. He warned me that I may suffer with back aches, and he was right. I would like to know from all the avenger owners did you felt any thing similar. How did you adjusted with it, or if can you give a few tips to avoid it.

Rest, I love the ride except for the back ache. Overtaking is an all new fun now. As if the engine says don’t worry I will take care. Turning is not a problem any more. I am confident that its ready to take on the ghats.

The Gears are working realy smooth, contrary to what I had heard about Bajaj's gear box problems.

Clutch is also not a problem.

The ride is smooth, and I am realy enjoying.

I will update my review as and when I get a few points to add.

1-11-07

As the time has passed by, the back pain is gone, may be it was a changeover phase. One of the friends at mouthshut had advised that it would be temporary.

I am not yet sure about the milage my bike is giving, as the speedo is still not working.

04-12-07 after First Servicing.

At last I have an answer to the question most frequently asked. What is the Milage you are getting from your bike? and My Answer is @ **45 km/hr, **with air pressure of 32psi in the rear and 25psi in the front tyre. Initially I am sure it was not delivering me more than 35kmpl with the recommended air pressure.

Even my ratings for the bike have increased. Only one bad thing I discovered about it is the gear problem. I discovered a second neutral between the 4th and the 5th gear. the gear shift used to be smooth initially, but after the first servicing it became too smooth that I used to land into this second neutral. But have found a simple solution, press the gear lever till it stops moving any further. I am really happy that I choose this powerful beast, and enjoying every bit of it.