2018 Bajaj Avenger: What's new?

Bajaj had a smooth run with its Avenger series, thanks to it being the most affordable cruiser that you could buy in India and also the fact that it faced no competition. That was until the recent launch of the Suzuki Intruder 150 though. The Avenger was updated a few years back, with the addition of a 150cc variant in the roster and the 220 getting Street and Cruise versions. Now, Bajaj has chosen to update the larger 220cc Avengers as they are priced closer to the Intruder 150. (Read: Bajaj's new 2018 line-up). The Avenger 150 remains the same, though it might inherit some of the new design elements and features at a later date. Or, Bajaj might just replace the Avenger 150 with a larger and more powerful Avenger 180. While the new bikes remain mechanically untouched, the 2018 Cruise 220 and Street 220 get a substantial cosmetic upgrade. Here's what all has changed.

New lighting:
The most prominent cosmetic update is the headlamp. In place of the classic round unit, the bikes get an inverted triangle-shaped clear lens headlamp with a halogen bulb setup. Both bikes get a different shaped headlamp. Also, the Cruise gets LED DRLs inbuilt on the sides, while the Street 220 gets it at the bottom. The tail lamp is also new and is better integrated into the tail piece. It remains a conventional unit for now, using bulbs instead of LEDs. The headlamps, however, projects a halo ring once lit up. 

New Instrument console:
Previously, the Avengers used a single pod analogue instrument console. With the Intruder 150 featuring a digital dash, Bajaj had to up the game. The new instrument console remains a circular unit, but now houses a full-digital display. It displays a host of information such as the speedometer, odometer, two trip meters, fuel level indicator, clock and a service reminder. What's more? It comes in two backlit colours: blue for the Cruise 220 and amber for the Street 220.

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New graphics and colours:
Both bikes get new shades - moon white for the Cruise 220 and matte white for the Street 220. Other colours include auburn black (Cruise 220) and matte black (Street 220). The Avengers get new graphics now as well. The Cruise 220 gets understated fading graphics on the fuel tank and side panel, while the Street 220 gets solid graphics running across the fuel tank and side panels. Overall, the new Cruise 220 looks more understated while the Street 220 looks more aggressive now.

Avenger Street 220:
The Avenger Street 220 was designed to look more aggressive with blacked out parts and satin silver finished elements instead of chrome. For a more aggressive stance, the bike gets a smoked visor atop the new headlamp. For pillion comfort, it gets a new sissy bar.  

Avenger Cruise 220:
The Cruise 220 was designed to be the classic-looking cruiser and hence, comes with lots of chrome and a large windshield. For 2018, the windshield that accommodates the new headlamp has been redesigned. It also gets a new, premium looking seat with rich texture. 

Both bikes are available at Bajaj dealerships across the country, but the company hasn’t disclosed the pricing yet. We expect a formal announcement soon. Currently, both the Street 220 and the Cruise 220 are priced at Rs 93,466 (ex-showroom, Delhi). Expect a marginal increase in prices for both.