Bajaj

Nitin Gadkari, Rajiv Bajaj, Rakesh Sharma at the CNG Bike LaunchWith its Freedom 125 CNG bike, Bajaj can now effectively challenge the ‘fill it, shut it, forget it’ killer campaign of the 90sFortunes keep changing in the business world, as new competitors emerge and grab a larger market share. There are also occasions where an earlier dethroned leader may reclaim its lost glory. In the context of the long rivalry between Bajaj and Hero Honda in the commuter segment, it appears that the former may now have an upper hand with its Freedom 125 CNG motorcycle.Tiger Zinda Hain – says Rajiv BajajAt the Q&A session held during the launch of the world’s first CNG bike, some interesting facts and insights were revealed. One of the questions asked was about the reasons why a petrol bike user will switch to CNG. Responding to that, Rajiv Bajaj shared the complete story thus far.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNGIt was in the 1990s when Hero Honda had started winning the trust and confidence of users in the commuter segment. With reliable products such as CD100 and the promise of higher mileage, an increasing number of people started shifting from scooters to motorcycles. Rajiv mentions that a motorcycle with around 80 km/L mileage was naturally preferred by people over a scooter that gave only 40 km/L. It clearly indicates that fuel bills were an important decision-making factor for users in the commuter segment.Based on sales data, Rajiv points out that it was in 1997-1998 that Hero Honda overtook Bajaj in two-wheelers sales in the domestic market. It was a defining moment, as a new leader had emerged in the two-wheeler industry. The shift was so dramatic that Bajaj eventually had to close down its scooter business. Instead, the company started focusing on the motorcycle segment.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNGRemembering the old times, Rajiv mentions that the late Hero Honda Chairman Brijmohan Lall Munjal had called Bajaj as a wounded tiger. Munjal had asked its dealers to be careful of the wounded tiger. This was after Hero Honda had taken a lead over Bajaj in two-wheeler sales. Now, after around 30 years, Bajaj is in a position to avenge their loss against their primary rival.To describe the situation in typical Bollywood style, Rajiv Bajaj said that the message of Freedom 125 CNG bike 30 years later is “Tiger Zinda Hain”. Below is the Media QnA session recording from the Bajaj CNG launch. The story about Tiger Zinda Hain remark starts at about 27:30 mark.[embedded content]Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG – Truly a pioneering projectWhile it is difficult to predict consumer response, Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG motorcycle has significant potential. One is looking at certified mileage of over 100 km/L when the bike is running on CNG. Add to that the savings that will come from the lower cost of CNG vs. petrol. Across most locations, CNG is around Rs 15 to Rs 20 cheaper than petrol.Apart from the fuel cost savings, Freedom 125 CNG bike offers various other advantages. It is the world’s first hybrid CNG bike with petrol as a dual-fuel option. Users can seamlessly switch from CNG to petrol and vice-versa with just the press of a button. Other highlights include an extra-long seat, a unique mono-linked type suspension, advanced safety features, digital speedometer and Bluetooth connectivity. Pricing is also quite reasonable, starting at Rs 95,000. More

Bajaj Freedom 125 CNGWhile multiple options were available, there’s a reason why Freedom 125 name was chosen for the world’s first CNG hybrid motorcycleBajaj recently launched its first CNG bike, the Freedom 125. At the launch event, Rajiv Bajaj shared details about the bike during his keynote address. He described the company’s journey thus far and why the CNG bike is a major milestone. Rajiv also talked about the various aspects of freedom that this motorcycle offers to its riders and other stakeholders.Freedom from petrol imports, emissions and high pricesWith the vast majority of the population in India using two-wheelers, petrol consumption is massive. Much of the petrol is imported, something that is a huge financial burden. Dependency is increased on oil producing nations, which presents geopolitical risks. Bajaj CNG bike can help reduce petrol import bills, assuming that it registers strong sales.Nitin Gadkari and Rajiv Bajaj at the Freedom CNG launchEnvironmental impact will be reduced, as Bajaj CNG bike has lower emissions in comparison to petrol commuter bikes. Users can get relief from high petrol prices by switching over to CNG. Dual-fuel capability ensures that riders can manage their fuel expenses in a better way.Freedom from range anxiety and charging concernsWhile electric two-wheelers are registering strong sales including Bajaj Chetak, issues like range anxiety and charging concerns are not completely eliminated. Bajaj Freedom dual-fuel CNG bike does not have to face such constraints. In case CNG is not easily available nearby, users can easily switch to petrol. A dual-fuel option ensures a seamless and worry-free riding experience.[embedded content]Freedom from carrying babies on lapRajiv talked about how commuter motorcycle users often have to carry their children on their lap. This is due to the small seat size of entry-level commuter bikes. Bajaj CNG bike has an extra-long seat, which means no more carrying babies on lap. While two-wheelers legally support only the rider and pillion, Rajiv said that practical necessities are also relevant. Freedom 125 CNG motorcycle provides a safer and comfortable family travel experience.During the keynote, in an address to Nitin Gadkari, Rajiv Bajaj says, “We cannot legally say that 4 people can sit on a two wheeler. So, I have said what I wanted to say.” He added, “I don’t think any babies will have to sit on their mother’s lap (on a motorcycle) anymore, after this motorcycle’s launch.”Freedom from boring design and uncomfortable ridesBajaj Freedom 125 CNG has an exciting design, quite distinct from the conventional look of commuter motorcycles. The modern and dynamic aesthetics will appeal to style-conscious users. Another key highlight is a unique monolink suspension, a first-in-class feature. This advanced suspension system absorbs shocks and vibrations more effectively. Users can expect smoother rides across both city streets and rough terrains.Freedom for every child to exercise their right to clean airBajaj CNG bike aims at ensuring clean air for future generations. Rajiv said that if all stakeholders work together, a dramatic change can be achieved in the automotive space. The shift from petrol and diesel to cleaner fuel options such as CNG and electric can be achieved much faster. This will ensure that every child can enjoy the right to clean air. More

Bajaj Freedom 125 CNGWhen opposed to rivals, Bajaj Freedom excels at offering exceptionally low running costs while matching the price of other sporty 125cc bikesRewriting the rule book of 125cc motorcycles, or any motorcycle sold in the world, Bajaj has launched world’s first-ever CNG bike. Called Freedom 125, this CNG motorcycle is very interesting in terms of its product positioning, overall styling and features. Here is how it would fare with rival 125cc motorcycles in a similar price range.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Vs Sporty RivalsFreedom 125 is specially designed for buyers looking to minimise their running costs on a daily basis. So, buyers are looking at 100cc and 110cc budget commuters. In the car world, a CNG kit like this would cost around Rs 1 lakh extra over regular ICE vehicles. But here is Bajaj Freedom 125, matching its price with other sporty 125cc motorcycles, despite packing complex engineering in the form of a CNG kit.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNGBajaj Freedom 125 has design elements like front fork covers, LED headlights, X-motif LED tail light, exposed trellis frame, muscular tank shrouds, longest-ever seat, playful colours, contrasting silver-tone parts, colour-coded components and more. Comparing it to 125cc motorcycles with a basic commuter silhouette feels wrong. Thus narrowing the competition to TVS Raider 125, Hero Xtreme 125R and Bajaj’s own Pulsar NS125.Where powertrains are concerned, Freedom 125 packs the least punch. At 9.37 bhp and 9.7 Nm, performance isn’t anything to write home about. The most powerful in this bunch is Pulsar NS125. Owing to its 123kg lightweight, TVS Raider 125 packs the highest power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios in this comparison. Interestingly, Freedom makes its peak torque at just 5,000 RPM, lower than others.Bajaj Freedom 125 Vs Rivals – SpecsAt 147.8 kg, Freedom 125 is the heaviest of this bunch and the uninspiring performance metrics signify it. At just 2L petrol and 2Kg CNG, Freedom 125 also has the lowest fuel capacity. That said, Freedom 125 was built to offer exceptional fuel efficiency and lowest running costs. Something which it does rather well. At 102 km/kg, Freedom 125 trounces all of its rivals. Even if one has a 50 km daily commute, they only have to refuel Freedom 125 once, at the least cost.Features and ComponentryWe already established that Freedom 125 weighs the most, that’s because of its added components and complex engineering, which is perfectly acceptable. Owing to its complexity, it has the highest seat height at 825mm and lowest ground clearance at 170 mm. Also, some of the component choices for Freedom 125 are very interesting too. For example, Bajaj is offering a 16-inch rear wheel, while rivals offer 17-inchers.Bajaj Freedom 125 Vs Rivals – FeaturesThat said, Bajaj is matching tyre width with Hero Xtreme 125R (90-section front and 120-section rear), which used to offer widest-in-segment tyres. These are wider than Pulsar NS125 and Raider 125. All the contenders offer RSU telescopic front forks and a rear mono-shock setup. That said, we liked Bajaj Freedom’s fork covers which look substantial and add a muscular appeal.Except for Hero Xtreme 125R with a larger 276mm front disc, all other bikes offer 240mm front disc and 130mm rear drum brakes. While LED headlights and tail lights are offered by all these bikes (at least as an option), only Xtreme 125R offers LED turn indicators. Only TVS Raider 125 has a TFT instrument cluster with a plethora of added features including navigation, while others offer Bluetooth with limited functionalities.Bajaj Freedom 125 Instrument ScreenBecause Bajaj Freedom 125 is their first CNG offering, the company is trying to appeal to multiple genres at once with premium attributes. In the coming future, there may be a CNG offering with the CT line that might hit a much lower price point, without any fancy gizmos and premium appeal.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Filler More

Bajaj Freedom 125 CNGWhen opposed to 125cc rivals like Raider 125, SP125, Glamour XTEC and even Xtreme 125R, Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG offers the lowest running costsBajaj has launched the world’s first CNG motorcycle in the form of Freedom 125. Prices for this motorcycle start at Rs 95,000 (Ex-sh) and go till Rs 1,10,000 (Ex-sh). There are 7 new colours and three variants to choose between. There is a lot to know about the new Freedom 125. Here are the top 5 things.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG – Official Specs1 – DesignThis is a rather surprising one. Aimed to please budget commuters, one would not expect style and substance from a motorcycle of this class and genre. That said, Bajaj has surprised us a lot. We did attend the launch event today and Bajaj Freedom 125 looks a lot better in person than in pictures. Bajaj has put their soul into making this a handsome machine and the results are fascinating.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNGFor starters, there is an ADV inspiration with Freedom 125, which is not a bad thing. The bike looks substantial for a 125cc motorcycle. There is a silver-finished exposed trellis frame effect, longest seat in any bike, a colour-coded grab rail, stylish tail light, beefy-looking front fork covers, engine cowl along with tank shrouds.2 – Variants and PricingInitially speculated to be 2 variants, Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG motorcycle has been launched in three variants. Called Drum, Drum LED and Disc LED, these three variants are priced at Rs 95,000, Rs 1.05 lakh and Rs 1.1 lakh (Ex-sh) respectively. As the name suggests, the base variant gets halogen headlights, top two trims offer LED headlights and only the top trim has front disc brakes.Bajaj Freedom 125 – CNG and Petrol fillingThere are 7 colours to choose from. Base Drum variant gets Pewter Grey-Yellow and Ebony Black Red options. The top two variants can be had in Caribbean Blue, Ebony Black-Grey, Pewter Grey-Black, Racing Red and Cyber White. None of the variants get knuckle guards, which was among the expected features.[embedded content]3 – Bi-fuel Petrol+CNG PowertrainThe primary highlight of Bajaj Freedom 125 is the new Bi-fuel Petrol+CNG powertrain. This 125cc single-cylinder engine is horizontally mounted to liberate space for the CNG tank to go underneath the seat. This engine is capable of combusting both petrol and CNG. At the flick of a switch, rider can change fuel preference from CNG to petrol or vice versa.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNGPerformance metrics of this engine are slightly below other 125cc offerings. 9.5 PS peak power at 8,000 RPM and 9.7 Nm peak torque at 6,000 RPM, mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The fuel tank can hold 2L of petrol and CNG tank can hold 2kg worth of gas. Bike’s trellis frame cradles this CNG tank and acts as a protective cage.On top of the fuel tank, we have a common filler cap that gives access to fill both petrol and CNG. Bajaj promises that the CNG motorcycle has been extensively tested and has passed as many as 11 safety tests based on industry standards. This should give buyers enough assurance and a sense of security.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG4 – Mileage and Running CostsThis is what will excite the target demographic. The all-important mileage figure (fuel efficiency). Bajaj is promising best-in-segment fuel efficiency figures with Freedom 125 and lowest running costs of any motorcycle. So, the headline figure is 102 km/kg when run on CNG and 67 km/l when run on petrol.Given that Freedom 125 has a fuel tank that holds 2 litres of petrol, it should eke out 130 km of range. Also, the 2 kg CNG tank promises 200 km of range. Combined, the total range from Freedom 125 on one filling is 330 km. Not bad at all, for a commuter.Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG5 – Features and ComponentryBajaj has made Freedom 125 quite feature-loaded for the segment. For starters, we get a fully digital instrument cluster with a reverse LCD screen. This cluster is quite informative and shows a host of vehicular information. It even shows gear position, time and side stand warning apart from CNG levels. Bluetooth connectivity is also part of the package and so is a USB port.Where componentry is concerned, Bajaj is offering RSU telescopic front forks behind those muscular fork covers and a linked mono-shock unit for the rear. 17-inch alloy wheels at both ends get tubeless tyres and Bajaj is only offering disc brakes at the front. While turn indicators are halogens, headlight and tail light were LEDs on top variant. The whole package with a CNG tank on Bajaj Freedom 125 weighs 147 kg. More

New Bajaj CNG Bike RenderWith the promise of reduced running costs, Bajaj CNG bike can appeal to a wide segment of usersCNG two-wheeler concept is not new, as seen with CNG kits developed for scooters a few years back. But with Bajaj CNG bike, users will be getting a factory fitted CNG option for the first time. The switchable dual fuel function is another big advantage.Bajaj CNG Bike – Performance and MileageOne of the key USPs of Bajaj CNG bike will be its reduced running costs. Across most states, CNG is around Rs 20 cheaper than petrol. CNG has been a spectacular success as an alternative fuel in case of four wheelers. And now, Bajaj is all set to introduce the same benefits to two-wheeler users.New Bajaj CNG Motorcycle SpiedBajaj CNG bike is expected to get a 125cc engine. As CNG is less energy dense than petrol, performance of Bajaj CNG bike could be comparable to a 100cc commuter bike. One of the big questions on everyone’s minds is the mileage of Bajaj CNG bike.Bajaj CNG Bike Launch TeaserIt could be comparable to 100cc commuter bikes or much higher. It is possible that the engine may have been tweaked to achieve a higher fuel efficiency. A claimed range of around 70-90 km/L under test conditions seems plausible. Based on the leaked spy shots, Pratyush Rout has created digital renders of the Bajaj CNG bike in new colours.New Bajaj CNG Bike RenderBajaj CNG bike – Design and EquipmentIt appears that Bajaj CNG bike utilizes a mix of various design elements and components. For example, a hint of retro is seen with the circular headlamp. The upright handlebar points to the typical 100cc commuter bikes. ADV elements are present in the form of fork gaiters and knuckle guards. The long seat is also something that is usually seen with an ADV bike.New Bajaj CNG Motorcycle SpiedThese features add a lot more dynamism to the bike. Bajaj CNG bike has a premium appeal and is visually attractive. It will help achieve a clear distinction from the conventional design language used with entry-level commuter bikes.Other key features of Bajaj CNG bike include alloy wheels, telescopic forks at front, a monoshock rear suspension, upswept exhaust and rear tyre hugger. The bike is expected to get disc brakes at both ends.New Bajaj CNG Bike RenderRiding ergonomics are fairly comfortable with centrally mounted footpegs. With expected seat height of around 800 mm, Bajaj CNG bike will be suitable for a wide segment of users. Tech kit could include Bluetooth connectivity to access calls, text and music.Bajaj CNG bike launch details, PriceLaunch of Bajaj CNG bike is scheduled for tomorrow, 5th July. It is likely to be priced in the Rs 80k-90k range. Unveiling the bike will be Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Indian Government. Gadkari has consistently highlighted the need to switch to greener fuels, with CNG as one of the options. That alternative fuel options have made their way to two-wheelers is a significant milestone. Assuming that lakhs of consumers make the switch to CNG, significant savings will come via reduced energy import bills. More