Bajaj V15 review, road test

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