The motorcycle, which Bajaj Auto hopes will spawn an all new segment, of that of rugged load carrying motorcycles, the Bajaj Boxer 150 or the “Bharat Bike” has already been soft launched in some areas of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. This motorcycle will see a pan India launch in August, this year.
Touted to replace the likes of the long serving but now defunct Escorts Rajdoot and the Ideal Jawa Yezdi, as a workhorse motorcycle for India’s hinterland, the Bajaj Boxer 150 will come with a tough four stroke engine that is expected to be a torquey performer in order to lug big loads in rural India.
With a 150cc engine, Bajaj Auto might not really be able to offer the same level of efficiency as that of a 100cc four stroke motorcycle, and this could be a big factor that makes or breaks the Boxer 150. On how exactly the Indian hinterland’ motorcycle market takes to this particular trait of a larger engined motorcycle is something that would be very interesting to see.
With the existing Splendors of the world doing a reasonable job of hauling three adults around and on other occasions helping to carry loads too, the Boxer 150 is set to challenge the status quo. This apart, the Bajaj Boxer 150 is also expected to equipped with a load carrying platform that could be used to lug large loads as pillion.
Bajaj Auto will be hoping that the INR 40,000 price mark for the Boxer 150, in true Bajaj tradition of offering more for less, will be a big factor that entices motorcycle buyers of the Indian hinterland. All said and done, it is quite commendable that Bajaj Auto is trying to create an all new segment in the Indian motorcycle market than being a mere follower of trends.