POWER TO THE PEOPLE! Boxer 150

WE GOT OUR HANDS ON THE LATEST OFFERING FROM BAJAJ AUTO, THE BOXER 150 AND TOOK IT FOR SPIN AROUND THE COUNTRYSIDE. VARAD MORE DECIPHERS HOW COMFORTABLE IT WAS AND HOW WELL THE NEW BOXER HOLDS UP FOR THE RURAL PUBLIC


After a successful stint with the CT Boxer motorcycle which went on to become one of the bestselling products to roll out of the Bajaj factory, the Punebased bike maker is back again in the commuter game with the new Boxer 150, which aims to lure the Splendor-crazy populace of rural India with its capacity hike and long-standing legacy of the Boxer brand. And by the first impression of the new Boxer, the new kid on the block certainly has the potential to rattle the cages of existing rulers of the commuter regime.

Looks

Practical and functional are the first words that come to the mind looking at the new Bajaj Boxer 150. No frills styling with a mishmash of the previous generation Boxer and the Splendor overtones are clearly visible on this new budget Bajaj. The large-ish fairing up front keeps the air out of the rider's way, while the curvy tank is neatly drawn to accommodate short or lanky riders alike. For the rural public, the utility of the carrier is of far greater value than the need for something that looks good but doesn't serve much purpose.

Ergonomically friendly

The raised commuter friendly handlebars on the Boxer 150 make no fuss and offer decent comfort especially when riding over bad roads. As soon as you swing a leg over the bike, the striking bit on the Boxer 150 is the XXXL-sized saddle that comfortably seats two large adults and still has room for a third one before the fourth one spills over the steel cradle on the back. Not that we condone such law-breaking practices; it is just an indication of how spacious the Boxer's saddle is. Also it is soft, cushy and suggests that spending hours on it won't really transform into fatigue or exhaustion. No fancy tid-bits on this one to lure the village folk but just a very approachable and familiar set of wheels that they find comfort with.

Motor-Mouth

The idea behind plonking a 150cc mill into a hardcore efficiency friendly commuter is to not only offer added value but also a better ride and power delivery thanks to increased capacity. And this is what sets apart the bigger Boxer from its competition of 100cc commuters. The 144.8cc motor borrowed from the Discover 150 comes minus the twin-spark plug head unit and replaces it with a single spark plug set-up. Pumping out 12.01PS of power at 7,500rpm and an impressive torque output of 12.26Nm peaking at 5,000rpm, the engine is mated to a conventional alldown shift pattern 4-speed transmission which has been a favourite trend amongst the rural markets for generations.

The thoughtful approach of trashing all unnecessary parts around the bike has helped the maker to limit the weight of the Boxer to just 123kg, which transforms into a killer power-to-weight ratio of 97.64PS/tonne. Lesser weight to lug around combined with added disposable torque from the 144.8cc motor means significant improvement in the vehicle's performance with regards to fuel consumption as well as pick up.
Handling and dynamics
What many will explore is the comfort and ease of riding the Boxer 150 on the bumpy, bouncy village roads in our country. The steering is light and easy, swiftly responding to minor inputs from the rider without any twitches or drama. The upright sitting posture makes it very comfortable for quick and effective maneuvering without having to fight the handlebars and the rider finding himself in control of the machine at any given point. The front suspension duties are managed by 125mm travel telescopic forks while Bajaj-patented SNS suspension looks after the rear end.

Final say

With the Boxer 150, Bajaj Auto has certainly pulled a fast one but even more important is the company's straightforward attitude to correctly position the brand in a segment where nononsense and no-frills products make the cut above all the unnecessary jazz. The switchgear quality is bare basic but well made, while the twinpod instrument console up front houses the speedometer, fuel gauge and the usual telltale lights. And being Bajaj Auto, the new Boxer has been radically priced too at just Rs 42,000 (exshowroom, Pune), which is cheaper than most of the 100cc commuters on offer in the Indian market, which will unquestionably work in the Boxer's favour.

India's second largest two-wheeler company, Bajaj Auto, has taken the challenge to claim the number one spot in the market and the key for it to achieve this goal is to infiltrate the colossal rural India which has been Hero MotoCorp's (formerly known as Hero Honda) playground for over sixteen long years with its 100cc offering, the Splendor. Bajaj Auto's top boss Rajiv Bajaj recently made a very interesting statement when he said that the numbers are not as important as profitability. He also added that for a product, especially a motorcycle, to be doing well in our markets it is important to create a brand and correctly position it.

A clear example being the Splendor brand which established itself as an icon of reliable commuting and efficiency especially in the price-conscious rural India. So is Bajaj Auto trying to re-do a Splendor with the new Boxer 150? One can say that, but this is a whole new era and whole new market than what it was in the nineties when the Splendor happened. Bajaj Auto certainly has a winner on its hands with the new Boxer 150 but if it will revive the magic of Splendor in today's date and time, that only time shall tell.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 144.8cc, SOHC, air-cooled Power: 12.01PS @ 7500rpm Torque: 12.26Nm @ 5000rpm Transmission: 4-speed Wheelbase: 1285mm Length: 2016mm Width: 740mm Height: 1055mm Price (ex-showroom, Pune): Rs 42,000