Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220 mileage and running cost

Avenger Cruise 220's claimed mileage is 39 kmpl, and unusually, owners and our own riding land right on it: expect 36–41 kmpl in everyday use. Few bikes get this close to their brochure figure.

Among the 13 cruiser bikes we have reviewed it ranks 2nd for mileage, 8 kmpl above the group average of 31 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 38.5 kmpl, the Avenger Cruise 220 costs about ₹2.46 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹1,921 a month, or ₹23,047 a year, before servicing.

The 13-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 501 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 2 weeks.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the Avenger Cruise 220 works out to about ₹6.7 per km all-in, of which 37% is fuel and 50% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; a nameplate this established holds value well.

The quickest wins for the Avenger Cruise 220: keep tyres at the recommended pressure (under-inflation by 5 psi can cost 2–3 kmpl), shift up early and avoid idling at long signals.

Short trips hurt most. A cold engine on a 2 km run can return half its normal mileage; if that is your use, expect the low end of the real-world band.

Service on time. A clogged air filter or old spark plug shows up in mileage before it shows up anywhere else.