Bajaj Freedom CNG

After strapping in on the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG’s saddle, an excitement built up within me. This isn’t going to be only any common commuter motorcycle; rather it is a whole new machine which is all set to change the Indian two wheeler market. Such motorcycle is the world’s first CNG two wheeler and it is a significant step in the right direction towards cleaner and cheaper mode of transport. My first impressions were rather mixed; there was curiosity and skepticism, is this the revolutionary product they claim it to be?

Design and Aesthetics

It is safe to say that the Freedom 125 CNG bike has shed away the ‘regular commuter’ bike image in its design. Making my way around the motorcycle, I found it quite striking in its aggressive and modern looks. The very tall stance of the motorcycle, the angular tank shrouds and the bulky engine cowl makes the motorcycle look purposeful and not average like most motorcycles.

The prominent round LED headlamp (available in higher variants) is accompanied by a set of indicator lamps on elegant fairings, the design elements that are usually incorporated in the upper segment of cruisers. The relatively small flyscreen contributes a bit of sportiness. Next up, there was a long accommodating seat clearly made for comfortable riding experiences of the rider and the pillion as well.

The fuel tank design is one of the most interesting features of the design where Bajaj has stuck in the CNG tank. It Form Follows Function – The CNG tank completely concealed underneath the seat and partly surrounded by tubular trellis framework is indicative of the amount of designing involved in this motorcycle. The unique shape is achieved by including a short tank in the front that stores fuel of the motorcycle.

Moving to the back of the bike thereof, its all very modern with a good looking LED light and a tyre hugger that adds muscle to the bike. Aluminium alloy wheels are provided in all models without any exception for a classy feel.

For me, the styling of the Freedom 125 is rather nice. It looks fine and seems to have adopted up to date styling without being gaudy, a situation that could appeal to many riders. The CNG components have been integrated so well while remaining crafty that I find most effective.

Performance and Powertrain

But the real crowd superior of the Freedom 125 census CNG is its bi-fuel engine platform. This 124.58cc, air-cooled single-cylinder engine, as it is called, can accept both CNG and petrol, an enhancement varnishing the feature of any filled with gas motorcycle.

Looking through the performance figures, one may not be impressed although the figures still suggest reasonable output performance: a mere 9.5 bhp at 8,000 rpm and a torque rating of 9.7 Nm at 5,000 rpm. That does not fully drum up all the issues. When I pressed the starter button, the motorcycle‘s ductile and distinctive turbine made a booming noise that is peculiar for a bike with more than gasoline as fuel.

The performance is started off in CNG mode and I completely did not expect it …I could not have anticipated how very well the power is delivered. There is a little bit of a delay if you chop the throttle but this is such non issue when riding normally. The engine is quite responsive in city traffic with adequate low-end torque to dart between cars without hesitation.

Switching back to petrol mode is just a matter of turning a knob on the left side of the handlebar. The process is quick and efficient; I barely had time to blink and the changeover was complete with one millisecond’s delay. The machine feels a bit different, and quite so, in petrol mode where acceleration is good, especially at high speeds.

In this respect, I have to say that the Freedom 125 really suited itself to the urban traffic environment. It copes with stop and go traffic without any qualms and power is adequate to perform overtaking maneuvers. On naked highways, it cruises happily along the speed limit of about 70-75 km/h. I also managed to achieve some 85 km/h in CNG mode and just over 90 km/h on petrol, not blistering speeds by any means, but adequate for its more primary purpose.

The 5-speed gearbox delivers clean shifts as well as ideal step ratios while complementing the behaviour of the engine. I must tell that it was always relatively grown-up, as the vibrations even at the higher speeds were quite contained.

What I really liked was how the bike climbed inclined surfaces and flew over flyovers even with a pillion sitting on the back. It may be necessary to downshift on steeper hills such as those encountered in CNG mode but it never lacks power and feels underpowered.

Features and Technology

However, for a motorcycle designed for city riding, the Freedom 125 CNG comes rather thoughtfully equipped for a drug. For one, this makes a rather serious impression, of course, the lack of fuel, but this is not everything that can be appreciated here.

The top trim features a fully digital Bluetooth-enabled negative LCD instrument with an instrument cluster. I was able to clear the screen even outdoors under bright sunlight, during the day when I went for a ride. The connected features such as turn by turn navigation system and call/SMS alerts etc. performed without any hitch alongside a smartphone.

Safety features include a side stand engine cut off feature and a hydraulic front disc brake on the highest grade variant. The absence of ABS(brought about because it is not a legal requirement for this class segment) however, the Combined Braking System gives equitable braking efficiency.

Higher variants of the motorcycle come with LED lighting which is an added courtesy making it more appealing as well as enhancing sight. It is also wise to place a USB charging port anywhere near the instrument cluster for travelling users who may wish to charge the gadgets.

One aspect that I took note of is the easy push button that enables switching between the CNG and petrol modes. It is wise and helps one a lot in fuel management in transit mode.

Nevertheless, I have to admit that I was somewhat bewildered with the fact that there was nothing like a petrol fuel gauge. Petrol consumption will be based on the trip meter and riders will have to guesstimate a lot.

Variants:

The Freedom 125 CNG is available in three variants:

Drum: The most basic limb with a halogen headlamp and drum brakes.
Drum LED: Air-cooled mid variant including LED headlamp and Lund drum brake.
Disc LED: Ayaya variant fitted with LED headlam, front disc brake and Bluetooth enabled.

I believe the pricing for the top Disc LED variant offers the best bang for the buck. The inclusion of a front disc brake is a great improvement making the bike easier to stop while the connected features improve the satisfaction of many of the riders.

Market Position and Pricing

The Freedom 125 pertaining to CNG costs between Rs. 95,000 and Rs. 1.10 lakh (ex-showroom) clearly means that it is a premium product in the 125cc commuter range. Its about Rs. 15,000-30,000 higher in cost than similar petrol only motorbikes.

Though such benefit of natural gas is more of a company’s selling strategy. Therefore this price premium has to be considered in the light of what fuel savings may be realized. The extra cost is returned in about 9 months for an average user according to what Bajaj claims thanks to CNG, which is much cheaper to run.

In the wider market, due to the peculiar bi-fuel nature of the Freedom 125 CNG, there are no direct competitors as such. It is enabling the creation of a fresh sub segment within commuter motorcycle segment.

Target Audience

The Freedom 125 CNG however appears to be designed specifically for budget as well as mileage sensitive people using the two wheelers on a daily basis. It would be especially suited to:
- People who travel to and from work on a daily basis in urban and semi-urban areas equipped with CNG infrastructure.
- Delivery personnel as well as the owners of small retail stores are cutting costs.
- Riders are environmentally friendly who would rather use a more environmentally friendly solution apart from petrol motorcycles.
- Power Users who enjoy the utilization of the interactivity mode in every technological energy device that has a moving engine.

Value for Money

To appreciate the value evidence of the Freedom 125 CNG it is important to look beyond the limitations of the ownership cost dressing price at that time without ascribing to it immediately. Though it is more than its petrol counterparts at the outset, the savings over the horizon are considerable. From my experience and the advertised performance numbers, a rider that rides for 50 kms every day could be looking at savings of Rs. 1,500-2,000 a month on fuel. This makes the Freedom 125 CNG appealing to die-hard commuters. Furthermore, the bike does not come across as an equipment or performance compromise. The modern styling, the digital display, etc., the connected features justify the value addition of the customers.

Mileage and Fuel Efficiency

The self glaring uniqueness of the Freedom 125 CNG remains in its fuel efficiency. During test rides, I averaged around 95-100 km/kg in CNG mode during general riding conditions. This is still very impressive, even if it is a little short of Bajaj's 102 km/kg claim.

I recorded a figure of 55 km/l on petrol, which is fairly good in general terms but nothing to write home about for this particular segment. Having said this, the real benefit is that the performance is superb in CNG mode.

In my experience, a new 2 kg CNG tank is good for 190-200 kilometers. Add to that the 2 liters of petrol and a commuter bike would have no less than 300 kilometers of range, which is quite commendable.

CNG tanks can be refilled in just a couple of minutes, which alleviates one of the major problems related to the duration of the process. And one important factor still remains, the presence of CNG filling stations.

Competition and Comparison

There are no CNG-powered rivals for the Freedom 125 CNG but it can be discussed in a different light with the help of popular 125cc petrol commuters:
Honda Shine: It’s more sophisticated and has better brand equity but can’t excel in the mileage as the Freedom.
Hero Glamour: It’s inexpensive but doesn’t possess any of the contemporary benefits or the cost-cutting capabilities of the Freedom.
TVS Raider: It’s more powerful and sporty but bears enormous operational expenses.

CNG, as the name of the machine suggests, the Freedom 125 CNG cum bi-fuel machine, also helps in saving more fuel than usual. However, these assumptions would be incredibly contrived and misleading.