The world’s first CNG motorcycle, the Bajaj Freedom has created quite the stir in the market. It is expected to redefine economical commuting for the masses, halving running costs and protecting their wallets from bleeding dry. The sky high price of petrol is well and truly the burden of the common man. However, even if you've got yourself the Bajaj Freedom, some general rules about extracting the best possible fuel efficiency remains the same. We’ve listed them down below.
No need for speed
The Bajaj Freedom is a commuter motorcycle and hence must be ridden in that manner. Its 125cc engine's sub-10bhp and sub-10Nm figures are indicative of what this motorcycle is all about. Hence, it is imperative that one rides in a non-aggressive manner to cover the most distance on a kilogram of CNG.
This means, accelerate gradually and never go all the way to the stop. This engine has a decent amount of torque that’s spread across the range. Remember to shift to a higher gear as quickly as possible and keep the revs low while riding in the city. Stick to around 50-55kmph in fifth gear to ensure that the engine is only revving as high as required.
Also, don’t slow down abruptly. Read the flow of traffic and ride accordingly. Keep an eye on approaching traffic lights and try to gently come to a halt.
Keep the pressure
The pressure of the gas at CNG pumps is of primary importance and you must keep an eye on the same. More pressure means a more dense CNG gas is going into the 2kg cylinder. Typically, the CNG pressure at fuel pumps in Mumbai is a little higher than 200 bar and that means you’ll be able to fit more CNG into the tank versus when the pressure is around 180-190 bar. More gas means more range.
Maintain on time
Service schedules are designed to keep your motorcycles in top shape and the same applies to the Bajaj Freedom as well. This means changing oil regularly, along with the oil filter is important. However, one also needs to clean the air filter on time and even replace it if needed. Lastly, ensure the spark plug is in good shape and it must be examined periodically.
Tyre pressure matters
Low tyre pressures will lead to under inflated tyres and this causes drag. Think of the effort required to pedal a bicycle that's running on underinflated tyres. It’s the case with a motorcycle too. And since the Bajaj Freedom is a heavy motorcycle while also not being very powerful, little steps like checking and filling up the tyre with the prescribed air pressure will go a long way in helping you save your hard earned money.
The fuel efficiency we got
Our fuel efficiency runs were done while riding the Freedom as any commuter motorcyclist would. We tanked up the bike, ran it for a set number of kilometers and then tanked up the bike at the same pump and nozzle. We managed to cover 104km/kg of CNG which makes the Bajaj Freedom astonishingly pocket friendly.
