What about the handling, and braking?
The Discover 150 twins are no canyon carvers. Still, when pushed hard, those new MRF Zappers do provide decent grip and even a supple ride. The chassis and wheelbase are shared with the 100T and the now defunct 125 ST, hence the handling is predictable, although not the sharpest. Also, a commuter-centric riding position means low set foot pegs, which don’t encourage much lean. Handling city traffic is easy, and the 150 gets the job done.
Braking performance is adequate on both the bikes, considering the commuting intents. The 240 mm petal discs up front offer decent bite and confidence inspiring braking. The 130 mm drums at the back, however are less capable, and lock the rear wheel easily under hard braking. The base S variant can be had with a 130 mm drum brake option as well.
Kitna deti hai?
A brief ride wasn’t much conclusive regarding the efficiency figures, although the bikes have claimed figures of 72 kmpl under standard test conditions. Bajaj reckons it’ll deliver 55 kmpl under normal riding conditions.
How much do I get one for?
The top- end, fully loaded Discover F- with half- fairing, electric start, 10 spoke alloy wheels, front disc brake, tubeless tires, partly digital instrumentation and LED tail-lamps will set one back by Rs. 58,739*. The Discover S gets all of the above, except the half-fairing, digital instrumentation and LED tail lamps, and costs Rs. 54,725*. It can also be optioned without the front disc brake, which sees it with an even aggressive pricing of Rs. 51,720. It goes without saying that all the bikes are competitively priced and is more towards the 125 cc ballpark, especially the S.
To sum it up:
The bikes are typically Discover, blending comfort and tractable performance. OK, it’s no Pulsar, but that’s not the point here. Most aspects of the 150 are honed exhaustively to cater to the premium commuter segment, and it shines in that area. While the 150S sure does have a slight performance advantage thanks to its lesser weight, the F is the one for people who’d prefer something snazzier for their commute.
*all prices ex-showroom Pune
Specifications:
Fuel Petrol
Engine type Single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke
Power 14.3 bhp at 8500 rpm
Torque 1.3 kgm at 6500 rpm
Power to weight 108.3 bhp per tonne
Transmission Manual 5-speed gearbox, 5-up
Dimensions
Length 2038 mm
Width 714 mm
Height 1117 mm
Wheel base 1305 mm
Chassis & Body
Wheels 10-spoke 17-inch alloy
Tires 80/100×17 / 100/90×17
Suspension
Front Telescopic forks
Rear Mono-shock, rectangle section swing-arm
Brakes
Front 240 mm disc
Rear 130 mm drum