Friends called me a crazy chap. Even relatives murmured the same sort, when I openly told them that I want to own a car! Believe me all the time I had thought & spent my precious childhood time calculating various strategies towards the aim of owning a car. It was around 15 years ago.
Forget about the purchase of a vehicle even thinking of it was far from the thought process. Virtually it was a luxury item of the life. When I was around 5 yrs. I used to be fetched to the same school where my mother was a teacher. The school was located in an isolated village & it was around 10 KMs away from our town. Wherever she used to be transferred in her career ladder I used to follow her as an honest follower.
We have experienced the circus of going 4 members of entire family in my Papa’s TVS 50 vehicle! In the vehicle all seats were prior reserved for all the time! Since I was younger to my brother my place was front at the foot rest. Believe me, what an awesome picture view from there. None of the cameramen of Hollywood has enjoyed so.
It was like wearing the goggle & watching the 3D movie! With great speed of 50kms/hr, my Papa was a real hero, over taking all the rikshas, bicycles & tractors! I was a navigator to my papa in exploring the patches & holes on the road & to instruct him. My Papa was a rider, Brother in between & Mom at last. This was the transport structure we had to commute to school daily.
Once in an evening of July the rain was literally pouring. And the buses stopped traveling as the only main road was drowned with full of water. No telephone service was there or though it was there we were unaware of it! The time was 8 in the night. There was a car from other city was passing through & we waived our tiny hands to stop & drop us till our town. But he didn’t even care to say no. He simply vanished. That was the first time I accepted the challenge to have a car to my family!
Myself, brother & mom waited there itself in the school. The time was running very fast it was 10pm totally we were tired without food. There came my real hero my Papa by our TVS 50! He had crossed 22 KMs in the same heavy rain. He had taken a long route as the road was blocked. When we saw him we were recharged with high voltage. More over by that time the rain started slowing down. And we reached home by 12 in the late night.
The entire scene of this marked in my mind & tempted me to go for a car. After my MBA I went to Bangalore for job hunting. And luckily with a less time I could able to get a job in a consultancy. As I was directly from the college my package was so low that living in the expensive city like Bangalore was toughest task.
Some how, I managed the show in a PG. And when I realized that living with friends may be still cheaper than staying in PG I shifted to Kavika Lay out of Bangalore. One fine morning of the Sunday all my friends went to road side & as usual we sat on the road walls. So many different cars with dazzling colors.
This time again it hit my mind I said openly that I would own a car. Friends started calculating my CTC per annum told & started kindling that I will have to wait at least 10 years that too without spending lavishly to purchase the car. One point of time it looked apt but it was not difficult. I quit the job there got a better with unexpected and handsome salary & I got the same Swift vehicle of Maruti after exactly 3 yrs & 5months later.
My hunt for the toy did not stop there. It was cherished once again when I & my friends had gone for the movie ‘Saathiya’! I was stunned by watching the vehicle – Avenger of Bajaj. (That time even the name was unaware!) This time I again shouted that I own this! But this time they did not laugh at time. Now I own an Avenger 220 of Bajaj! A real wonder on the road. As Bajaj says one will feel like a God!
As the wheelbases of the rear & front wheels are high they lend the bike its characteristic cruiser looks & performance while the broad rider seat and splayed out riding position ensure comfort and better dynamics, even when handling corners and cutting bends of the awkward kind.
A flat handlebar, a twin down-tube frame in the front, the steel swing-arm reaching the rear wheel all make for old-fashioned bike mechanisms and heavy traffic does bring out the horrors of handling this heavy cruiser, so corner tackling is a challenge then. However, braking being incredible, the stability is rock-solid. The intensive utilization of the chromium offers an elegant & fresh look. But when the sun is at your back the plated part over the petrol tank hinders the rider’s focus!
My Avenger answered almost all the answers I was looking for a pleasure & comfort ride by way of a cruising experience on two-wheels with low-slung rider seat design, lifted pillion seat, exemplary braking, enhanced engine and gear box performance courtesy bigger 5-speed fundamentals and a neat oil-cooler to ensure lowered temperatures.
Bajaj would have offered the two variants i.e. with front disc brake & without of it. Only concern is the mileage of its as it offers only 40 – 44Kms per litre (long ride) & 35 – 38 Kms per litre (in city limit). As the bike does not have any storage possibility, the bikers can go for the stylish customized side bag which may cost you around Rs.150/-.
Regards,
Praveen
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Your childhood experience is interesting. Your review could be longer. Mileage of 40 kmpl is not bad for 220 cc.Have lots of fun on your bike
Dear Nitin,
Thanks for the instant feedback over my article.
In the cruiser segment as you have uttered the milege is apt. But still further meliorations can be focused by Bajaj team. Though the enfield has got 350 cc the average milege is of 45Km/ltr on road! But not to regret, keeping in my mind the luxury we enjoy with Avenger:)
U are right praveen. One need to be a hardcore fan of enfield to own one and others definitely feel it as a headache. Avenger is smooth and maintenance free bike compared to Enfield.
Ride safe
I still wonder how can royal enfield motorcycles provide 40 to 45 kmpl in spite of 350 cc engine !!!! Good work by them. You are right about the comfort. Avenger is great for cruising on highways. But did you find any problems in city handling? It is having a long turning radius. I have rtr 160 and i find it difficult to do round turn in small congested lanes here. I wonder how can avenger manage in these conditions !!!!
Dear Nitin,
As you know, basically the Avenger is a touring segment vehicle which is meant to alleviate all your routines. I have other two vehicles which would be utilised for other alterative purposes i.e shopping within the city limit etc., Basically we Indian fail to avail the hard core quality of any commodity but wishes to have all the requirements from a same source:)
Otherwise also Avenger offers, may not be the best but good comfort even in the limits…
Regards,
Praveen
Good Selection..
Its a very good bike on highways especially. A true touring bike.
I would say tat its d best bike from Bajaj.
Dear Abhilash,
I completely nod my head to your views…
Thanks for sharing with us your life experiences…
Realizing one’s dream is a great accomplishment and i feel very happy for you…
It was very funny i almost laugh and tears roll from my eyes as i can’t stop laughing, very beautifully narrated funny.emotional and dedicated story in true bikerz style though i don’t like Bajaj bike but your article bound to read the whole story
ride safe
ride safe dude!
Very entertaining indeed but more pictures could have made it more likeable.
You buyed swift before the release of movie ”saathiya” ? Might be you would have bought alto , because that was the model released at the time of movie ”saathiya” releasing !! Most amazing review .
Great story. A good starter bike for a serious rider.
a great childhood story, but it’s not a ownership review about a bike , just waste of time
Yeah, a great childhood story – albeit with quite a few grammatical mistakes – but it’s missing the ownership review. Had Praveen added it, it would have been fantastic.
Praveen – you disappointed me as for a long time I had wanted to read about the Avenger 220.
Dear DaCentaur,
Thanks for your inferential feedback. As per my knowledge the article has the blend of emotions & the required stuff. And please note that the review need not to be over the technical specifications alone.
And you are requested to reach the bottom page of the article wherein your quest for the review may be parked…
Regards,
Praveen
Dear sarath,
I value your precious time! Each has got different taste to bite dude & I think you logged into a wrong automat, which is not of yours…
Any way you are welcome to comment:)
Regards,
Praveen
A nice Story of your childhood.. Loved it
I can feel the scenes in my mind as i read your review…
Dear Nagamani,
Thanks for smelling the childhood days. And am happy that I could able to bring the smiles on the faces.
Cheers,
Praveen
Hi Praveen,
Good review….
My dad bought an Avenger 180 when it was launched about 7 years back.
I had the privilege of riding it whenever I went to my hometown, I’m in Bangalore and my hometown is Udupi.
Avenger is a great bike and you truely feel like God while riding it.
Good review.
Few more details on your experience with the Avenger would have made it better.
Dear Alan,
Your ponits are noted:)
Dear Praveen,
I am planning to buy Avg 220 but onething i want is hw is its performance in village roads i mean sand & dirty roads…………………….. Please suggest me as i leave in a village
Vijay Sekhar
Hey ,
I Just want how comfortable this vehicle for 6 feet person, i liked the model and looks which is quite different from Basic Enfield Bikes.
Only thing i am looking how comfortable for height people , please let me know your view on this who is of 6 and using this 220cc .
Thanks,
Sanju.
Hey Sanju… im 6’4″ and weight 105 kgs (at least). Hve got an Avenger 200… it is perfect for tall people as u’ve got plenty of leg room with no worries of ur leg or butt getting cramped….
hi praveen this is prakash, read ur review regarding ur childhood, ur challenge n ur bike…. review was really cool,if possible send me ur family picture … im collecting single penny to get this devil avenger i don wanna fell god i wanna feel devil while riding it…. but on the other side im feeling that i may regret aftery buying it…. plz help im in dilemma ..
thanku
Hi Praveen,
. I want to buy a 2 wheeler (car would take some time). My main purpose of purchasing the vehicle is to commute daily to the office so I would be driving in the city conditions (with lots of bumps and traffic). I want a vehicle that requires less maintenance. I also have a knee problem (it was fractured so its weak). So keeping in mind all these, what would you suggest. I am confused about Avenger or Activa (activa because of city conditions and avenger because of looks and 220cc engine).
I really like your description of your childhood, it reminded me of my days
Hi Praveen,
Good review. Can you help me decide which 2 wheeler to buy? I want it for daily commuting purpose which is full of city traffic and bumpy roads. I had a knee ligaments rupture in the near past. I want a vehicle which requires less maintenance and which is not a burden for my problematic knee. So can you please help me with my purchase. I am confused between Bajaj Avenger 220, Honda Stunner and Honda Aviator.
Hello Praveen,
Thanks a lot for sharing your childhood experiences with us, which is really interesting one.
My only question is “Does this bike suitable for driving in city conditions…that to around 80-100 km per day”.
Awesome story man, I really enjoyed reading…. Finally the hard harsh times of your life pays off. I am happy for you and may you have more wonders in life with less effort.
All the best, I say again, it’s really good to hear that story from the past….. I suggest you should write it to “Chicken Soup for the Soul” Author. I am sure he will be very surprised and would love to publish in his mega selling book series. Take care.