Bajaj V15
review, road test
In its prime, the World War II-era
British-built aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant, witnessed its fair share of
high sea drama and warfare after being purchased by India in 1957. Capable of
housing and launching legendary aircraft like the Sea Harrier and the
anti-submarine Alize, the Vikrant was certainly seen as a force to be reckoned
with. But as with all work horses, eventually, they must be put down, or in this
case, scrapped. In stepped Bajaj and appropriated the metal of the Vikrant and
used it as a seed for their upcoming commuter. So, how much of the INS
Vikrant’s fighting spirit does the V15 possess? This commuter motorcycle has
come all guns blazing with a 150cc engine and distinctive styling to tackle a
class of me-too commuters. We put the V15 through the test regimen to see where
it stands.
Design
As far as appearances go; the V15 seems to defy the general
commuter stereotype. There’s no denying the V15 looks distinctive, and mostly
for good reasons. The tank looks decently muscular and seems to be the core
attraction of the motorcycle, especially the fuel cap that textually verifies
its connection to the Vikrant. It is flanked by rather subtle looking side
panels that flow into a well-chiselled rear end and the detachable rear-seat
cowl adds a sporty touch to the motorcycle. But let’s be clear, with an engine
intended for commuting, the rear cowl’s primary purpose is to up the style
quotient of the motorcycle, which it does admirably. One unattractive element
on the V15 is the headlight, its free-form organic shape proving to be a little
hard to love. The instrument cluster includes an analogue speedometer, an
odometer and a fuel gauge. However, a trip meter is missing.
The riding position on the motorcycle
takes a little getting used to as you have to stretch a bit to reach the
handlebars. However, once you settle in, the V15 is quite comfortable. The seat
is wide enough and is surprisingly good on longer runs, even though the V15 is
intended for shorter commuting distances. The switches feel functional and
solid and there won’t be much fumbling around for buttons. One little niggle in
the V15 is that vibrations start to creep up from the seat at higher revs. For
two-up riding, the rear seat cowl is easily removable via a small Allen key
that is integrated into the motorcycle’s key. But the small and slightly
sloping rear seat will make longer stints tiring for the pillion. It’s a good
thing the V15 comes with a meaty rear grab-rail to help pillions stay on the
bike. The anomaly here is that the motorcycle has two distinct grab-rails; a
split one under the seat and another one behind the seat.
Performance
Now despite Bajaj already having a few 150cc engines at its disposal,
the V15 comes with a completely new mill that churns out 12hp at 7,500rpm and
13Nm at 5,500rpm. In keeping with its commuting intent, Bajaj has allowed for a
very usable torque band that is noticeable from the get-go; which translates to
comfortably pulling away in fourth gear from as low as 20kph. This
responsiveness from the engine tends to fade off once you start to climb the
rev range. The engine also starts to emanate vibrations and feels thrashy at
higher revs.
0-60kph Comparison
Bajaj V15- 6.17secs
Bajaj Pulsar AS150- 5.11secs
Bajaj Discover 150F- 5.29secs
Bajaj Pulsar AS150- 5.11secs
Bajaj Discover 150F- 5.29secs
