Bajaj Freedom 125

The Bajaj Freedom 125 was recently launched in India, making it the first production CNG bike in the world. Along with Maharashtra and Gujarat, the bike has also been launched in Delhi. Here’s how the bike has performed in terms of sales since its launch in July.

What is the price of the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike?

The Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Bike’s prices start from Rs 95,000 for the base NG04 Drum variant and go up to Rs 1,10,000 for the NG04 LED Disc, which is the top-end variant (both prices ex-showroom Delhi).

What are the variants of the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike?

The Bajaj Freedom 125 comes in three variants: NG04 Drum, NG04 Drum LED and NG04 Disc LED. The base NG04 Drum (Rs 95,000) has an LCD instrument cluster, halogen headlights and drum brakes (130mm front and 110mm rear). It is available in two colours including Pewter Grey - Yellow and Ebony Black - Red. 

The mid NG04 Drum LED (Rs 1,05,000) also has the same LCD console as the base variant. However, it gets an LED headlight with DRLs (daytime running lights) and drum brakes (130mm on both ends). The top variant NG04 Disc LED (Rs 1,10,000) has a negatively-lit LCD instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity and a dedicated call-receiving switch. It gets an LED headlight with DRLs and is fitted with a 240mm front disc brake and a 130mm rear drum brake. Both these variants get five colour options: Caribbean Blue, Ebony Black – Grey, Pewter Grey – Black, Racing Red and Cyber White.

What is the mileage of the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike?

The Bajaj CNG bike claims a mileage of 102km per kg of CNG and 65kmpl on petrol. That means both tanks would provide a combined range of about 330km (claimed). However, the bike delivered about 85km/kg from CNG and about 56kmpl on petrol in mixed riding conditions, with a total range of around 280km in the real world.

Is the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike good for short riders?

The Bajaj Freedom CNG bike has a seat height of 825mm. Despite the seat being on the taller side, its narrow profile makes it easier to ride for shorter riders as well, however, some may have to tip-toe to keep their feet on the ground.

Is the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike safe?

The Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike has undergone thorough testing by Bajaj to ensure customer safety. In addition to standard regulatory tests, the Bajaj CNG bike has passed 11 additional safety tests. These included hitting the CNG tank nozzle with a heavyweight, testing the maximum pressure the CNG tank can withstand, dropping the bike from a height, crashing the bike at 60 km/h into a 1.5-tonne moving impact barrier, and a truck run-over test where a 10-tonne truck ran over the bike. In all these tests, the CNG tank maintained its shape and pressure perfectly without any leakage.

What are the colour options for the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike?

The base NG04 Drum is available in two shades including Pewter Grey - Yellow and Ebony Black - Red. The mid NG04 Drum LED and top NG04 Disc LED variants have five colour options: Caribbean Blue, Ebony Black – Grey, Pewter Grey – Black, Racing Red and Cyber White.

Is the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike cheaper to run than an electric bike?

The running cost of the Bajaj CNG bike is approximately 80 paise to 1 rupee per kilometre, which is cheaper than petrol-powered bikes. However, this is still higher than electric bikes, which cost around 20 paise per km to run. But electric bikes are much more expensive to buy as well and are typically priced between Rs 1.3 to Rs 1.5 lakh (ex-showroom). Additionally, after 5-6 years, electric bike batteries tend to degrade and lose their charge capacity, requiring an expensive replacement. This won't be the case for the Bajaj CNG bike, but the CNG tank on the bike needs to be recertified every 2 years. Although Bajaj will handle the recertification, owners must bear the cost of any parts replacement during the process, which will still likely be cheaper than replacing a battery pack.

Should I buy the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike?

If you are someone looking to buy a stylish-looking commuter bike with a refined engine, and modern features that is cheaper to run as well, then the Bajaj CNG bike can be a great option. But because of the small CNG tank, you will have to visit CNG pumps more often. Moreover, the Bajaj CNG bike is only available in Maharashtra and Gujarat currently and will be launched in other states in a phased manner. While Gujarat has a good CNG pump network, Maharashtra lacks the infrastructure, but Bajaj is closely working with the oil and gas companies to make CNG easily available in the state.

Are there any alternatives to the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike?

The Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Bike is a unique and one-of-its-kind bike, it does not have any direct competitor. Despite being a 125cc bike, it produces similar power figures as a 110cc bike and the TVS Radeon would be its closest rival. However, there are other 125cc alternatives including the Hero Xtreme 125R and TVS Raider 125 which provide better performance and features at a similar price. Moreover, the Xtreme 125R provides better safety with its single-channel ABS.