 Bajaj has always tried wooing customers by constantly launching new motorcycles, especially in the commuter segment. The latest motorcycle to hit Bajaj showrooms is what the manufacturer is calling the ‘Bharat Bike’. This is the Boxer 150, targeted primarily at the rural and semi-rural markets. A soft launch across a few states including Maharashtra has seen the bike grace Bajaj showrooms. In a country like ours, a 150cc motorcycle is generally considered to be an entry-level performance motorcycle. Bajaj first tried to break this norm with its power commuter, the Discover 150, and is now offering a 150cc motorcycle to the rural market. The previous generation Boxer 100 that sold several years back was a huge success for Bajaj in the rural market, and Bajaj is hoping to reiterate the same success with the Boxer 150. As a result, the Boxer 150 bears a strong resemblance to the previous generation Boxer, and gets strong cycle components designed to take the battering on broken rural roads. It has a retro-looking round headlamp, surrounded by a shroud similar to the old Boxer’s unit. The fuel tank and side panels with simple graphics and the Boxer name on the fuel tank in large fonts are aimed at keeping the styling simple. While a rear seat cowl is missing on the bike, the seat is surrounded by a robust looking tubular steel unit with mounting points for loading heavy luggage, and this ends in a heavy-duty carrier for hauling loads. To keep costs in check the Boxer does not get a disc brake upfront, and has to make do with a 130mm mechanical drum brake. What it does get is an electric starter, and interestingly Bajaj Auto have done away with their famous ‘ride-control switch for the Boxer 150. The Boxer 150 uses a 144.8cc air-cooled single cylinder engine that develops 12PS of power and 12.26Nm of torque. Further, the bike is shod with a 3.00 x 17inch tyre at the front, while the rear gets a 100 section tyre. While majority of the motorcycles sold in the commuter segment today are still 100cc bikes, the Boxer 150 with its larger engine and robust feel is sure to appeal to the rural markets. The icing on the cake though is the Boxer 150’s price – the bike retails at an ex-showroom price of Rs 42,000, which is lesser than some of the 100cc commuters on sale in the country.
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Ankit
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