Bajaj Auto's V commuter motorcycle that has been made from the metal of the dismantled INS Vikrant — India's first aircraft carrier -- seems to be off to a good start. According to GaadiWaadi, the motorcycle, which made its market entry in early March, has sold 16,532 units in the same month.
Bajaj registered an overall growth of 25.87 percent in March 2016 at 2,64,249 units as against the 2,09,937 units in the same month last year. The company's Avenger cruiser range marked sales of 25,477 units in March. Currently, Bajaj Avenger portfolio includes Avenger Street 220, Avenger Street 150 and Avenger Cruise 220.
Bajaj V, which has been priced at Rs. 62,076 (ex-showroom Karnataka), is powered by a 149.5cc single-cylinder four-stroke air-cooled DTS-i engine that can churn out a maximum power of 11.8bhp at 7,500rpm and 13Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. Bajaj started the delivery of the V on March 23. The commuter motorcycle had received over 10,000 booking in the country within a few days of its launch. It was being said that Bajaj has collected enough metal from the scrapped aircraft carrier to produce the motorcycles for the next two years.
Available in two colours ebony black and pearl white, the V measures 2,044mm in length, 780mm in width and 1,070mm in height, with a wheelbase of 1,315mm. It comes with a ground clearance of 165mm and kerb weight of 135.5 kg. The fuel tank of the V bike carries a unique piece of metal from the historic warship and it comes with a special embossing on the fuel tank that reads: "Made with the invincible metal of INS Vikrant."
