The majority of bikers look for a bike that delivers a good mileage. In that Bajaj changed the game, launching the first CNG bike. But is the bike really worth the money? Let’s discuss –
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Bajaj Freedom 125 Review – Best Commuter Bike?
For someone looking for a perfect mileage bike, the Bajaj Freedom 125 could be a great option. The motorcycle features a CNG tank placed under the rider’s seat, making it a unique product. Now, this is a well-engineered product from Bajaj, which isn’t made in a hurry. So, how does it feel riding this motorcycle?
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Ride Quality
Now, the model is positioned in the 125cc category to serve your everyday needs. During the drive, the Bajaj Freedom felt like every other bike in its category. However, we felt a loss of power on inclines, typically in CNG mode. Obviously, switching the bike to CNG mode will reduce its power output. Moreover, on the highways, the bike performs mediocre. Apart from that, there were no major distractions; we didn’t feel any vibrations at the foot pegs or handlebars, and the gear shifts were smooth (we didn’t observe any false neutrals).
Also, if the bike is out of petrol, then starting the bike will be a hustle. The bike runs on petrol mode automatically some times a day, and if it is empty then the engine will not get started. This is majorly done to not make someone rely solely on CNG.
Bajaj has tried to offer more at a minimal cost, but it has made some cost cutting, and one of those is the absence of ABS. While the brakes perform ordinarily, we wanted Bajaj to offer the ABS on this to improve the efficiency of braking.
The bike also has a ground clearance of 170mm, which makes it easy to ride on bad patches. The rear suspension does its job quite well absorbing bad patches and broken roads, while the front suspension makes a squeaky sound while navigating through rough patches. Suggesting that the front oil seals might have a need to be replaced regularly.
Now, if you are a lover of exhaust notes, this bike puts out different exhaust note sounds in the petrol and in the CNG mode. However, the engine makes a rough sound, before we reach the considerable rpm in each gear.
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Mileage
Most of us are waiting for this, right? This bike will mainly be bought to serve your everyday purpose. The motorcycle comes with a 2-litre petrol tank and a 2kg (approximately 12.5-litre) CNG tank. With both tanks filled to the brim, the bike will deliver a range of 300-310 km (which also depends on your driving style).
To make the math easier, the motorcycle provides a range of 90km/kg on CNG mode, approximately Rs 0.815 per km, while the most loved Hero Splendor (offering a mileage of 73 kmpl) costs approximately Rs 1.75 per km. This makes the Bajaj Freedom a better value for money than the Splendor.
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Design
Design-wise, the Freedom 125 stands out from other commuter segment bikes. It gets an oval-shaped LED headlight setup, a small fuel tank, a flat seat profile extending till the mid-section of the fuel tank, halogen indicators, a CNG tank tucked under the rider seat, 16-inch & 17-inch tyres at the rear and front, a digital LCD cluster enabled with Bluetooth connectivity, telescopic front and monoshock rear suspension, among others.
The design feels unique and stands out from other commuter bikes, namely Honda Shine, Honda SP125, Hero Splendor, TVS Raider, and Bajaj Pulsar 125, which share a similar design. The build quality doesn’t feel poor; also, you will not see any wires hanging outside, and everything has been placed quite well.
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Verdict
Now, if you are fairly looking for a bike for your everyday commuting, then the Bajaj Freedom 125 can serve your needs. With its unique styling and good mileage, the Freedom 125 stands to be a capable commuter bike in India. But, also keep in mind, the major benefit of this bike is the CNG tank, and if your nearby areas are not having a proper CNG infrastructure, then this bike will just be dust-parked in your garage.
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