The Bajaj Avenger Street 160 versus the Honda SP 160 is a comparison that gets asked constantly on Indian forums, despite the fact that these two motorcycles want completely different things from the rider. One is a cruiser. One is a sports commuter. They are priced within Rs 5,000-15,000 of each other. And buyers - especially first-time purchasers in the Rs 1.10-1.25 lakh bracket - genuinely cross-shop them.
There is one critical factor that changes this comparison in 2026: the Bajaj Avenger Street 160 is officially discontinued. Bajaj removed it from their active product lineup and now lists it under 'discontinued bikes.' The Honda SP 160 is in full production. Any purchase of the Avenger Street 160 today depends on finding remaining dealer stock.
That context matters. Here is the complete comparison.
Price Comparison
| Bajaj Avenger Street 160 | Honda SP 160 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom | Rs 1,11,569 | ~Rs 1,17,000-1,24,000 |
| Production status | Discontinued | Current |
The Avenger Street 160 is cheaper - by approximately Rs 5,000-12,000 depending on the SP 160 variant. But the Avenger is only purchasable from remaining dealer stock; the SP 160 can be ordered fresh with a full warranty and current production support.
Specs That Matter
| Spec | Bajaj Avenger Street 160 | Honda SP 160 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 160cc air-cooled FI | 160.7cc oil-cooled FI |
| Peak Power | 15 PS @ 8500 rpm | 15.6 PS @ 8500 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 13.7 Nm @ 7000 rpm | 13.9 Nm @ 6000 rpm |
| ARAI Mileage | 47.2 kmpl | ~45-50 kmpl |
| Kerb Weight | 156 kg | 144 kg |
| Seat Height | 737 mm | 790 mm |
| Front Brake | Disc | Disc |
| Rear Brake | Drum | Disc |
| ABS | Single-channel | Single-channel |
| Fuel Tank | 13 litres | 12 litres |
| Style | Cruiser | Sports commuter |
The Honda SP 160 wins on power (marginally), torque delivery (at lower rpm - more usable in city riding), kerb weight (12 kg lighter), and rear disc brake. The Bajaj Avenger Street 160 wins on seat height (53mm lower), tank size (1 litre more), and ARAI mileage (marginally).
The 12 kg weight difference is significant: 144 kg vs 156 kg for essentially the same engine displacement. That mass difference is felt every time you manoeuvre in traffic, park on a slope, or recover from a wobble at low speed.
The Ergonomics Gap: This Is What Actually Matters
The core difference between these bikes cannot be expressed in a spec table. It is a riding posture difference that determines whether either bike suits your daily life.
The Bajaj Avenger Street 160 has a 737mm seat height, forward-positioned foot pegs, and a wide pull-back handlebar. You sit low, your legs extend forward, and your torso stays relatively upright. This is the cruiser posture - relaxed, laidback, and comfortable on open roads at steady speeds. In stop-and-go city traffic, the forward foot pegs mean you cannot easily put both feet flat on the ground simultaneously while operating the controls.
The Honda SP 160 has a 790mm seat height, foot pegs under the rider, and a slightly forward-leaning handlebar. This is the standard sports commuter posture - more upright than a sport bike but with a natural weight distribution for repeated braking and acceleration events in city traffic. The 790mm seat height may challenge shorter riders at traffic stops, but the overall ergonomic package is optimised for the reality of Indian city riding.
For riders who primarily commute in cities: the Honda SP 160's ergonomics are more suited to the task. For riders who primarily do long open-road runs and weekend leisure rides: the Avenger Street 160's cruiser posture is noticeably less fatiguing over distance.
Power and Performance
The SP 160's 15.6 PS versus the Avenger's 15 PS is a small paper difference. The meaningful difference is how that power is delivered to a very different total mass:
- Honda SP 160: 15.6 PS / 144 kg = 0.108 PS/kg
- Bajaj Avenger Street 160: 15 PS / 156 kg = 0.096 PS/kg
The SP 160 has approximately 12% better power-to-weight ratio. In real-world riding - overtaking, keeping up with traffic at 70-90 kmph, climbing gradients - the SP 160 is meaningfully more responsive. The Avenger Street 160 is not a slow motorcycle, but it requires more throttle effort to maintain brisk urban speeds than the SP 160 does.
For buyers who regularly ride above 80 kmph or in traffic that demands quick gap-filling acceleration, this difference is felt daily. For buyers who ride more leisurely and are not chasing performance, it is much less significant.
Braking: SP 160 Has the Edge
The Honda SP 160 has a front disc and rear disc with ABS. The Bajaj Avenger Street 160 has a front disc and rear drum with ABS. In real-world hard braking, the SP 160's rear disc provides more consistent stopping performance - rear drums heat up under repeated stops and can feel inconsistent in emergency situations. For daily city commuting where hard stops are frequent, this is a practical advantage.
Mileage: Essentially Equal
Both motorcycles claim approximately 47-50 kmpl at ARAI. Real-world mileage depends heavily on throttle use, load, and traffic conditions. The Avenger's 13-litre tank versus the SP 160's 12-litre tank means the Avenger has approximately 50-60 km more range between fill-ups at equivalent real-world fuel efficiency. For long-distance riders, this is a minor convenience advantage.
The Discontinuation Factor
This is not a standard spec comparison caveat. The Avenger Street 160 is no longer in production. Purchasing it today means:
- Limited stock - only what dealers currently have; you cannot order a fresh unit
- No new model updates - you are buying the final version
- Potential service/parts availability risk - Bajaj will support the BS6 model for a reasonable period, but long-term parts availability is less certain than for a currently-produced model
- Negotiable pricing - dealers may offer discounts to clear remaining inventory; Rs 3,000-8,000 off the Rs 1,11,569 is realistic in some markets
- Resale uncertainty - discontinued models often depreciate faster on the used market
The Honda SP 160 carries none of these caveats. It is in current production, with a full model support lifecycle ahead of it, available fresh with a standard manufacturer warranty.
Who Should Buy the Bajaj Avenger Street 160 (If Stock Is Available)
- The 737mm seat height is specifically what you need - you are a shorter rider for whom 790mm is genuinely difficult
- You value the cruiser posture for leisure and highway riding over urban performance
- You can find remaining dealer stock at a meaningful discount over the SP 160's price
- You are comfortable with the discontinued status and have confirmed parts availability is not a concern
Who Should Buy the Honda SP 160
- You want a current-production motorcycle with a full warranty and long-term support
- Urban performance matters - 12% better power-to-weight and rear disc braking are daily advantages
- 790mm seat height is manageable for you
- Long-term resale value and ownership reliability are priorities
The Honest Take
Under normal circumstances - both in production, same availability - this comparison has a clear winner for most buyers: the Honda SP 160, for its lighter weight, rear disc brake, better power-to-weight ratio, and oil-cooled engine.
The Avenger Street 160's strongest case is the 737mm seat height. For shorter riders who genuinely cannot manage 790mm, the Avenger is the only new cruiser in India at this price point that solves that problem. That specific buyer - short, wants a cruiser, on a budget - has no better alternative.
But in 2026, with the Avenger Street 160 discontinued, the honest recommendation for most buyers is the Honda SP 160. It is a better motorcycle for everyday urban use, currently produced, and available fresh. Buy the Avenger Street 160 only if you specifically need what it offers - the seat height, the cruiser posture - and dealer stock can be confirmed at a price that makes the discontinued status worthwhile.
