The Bajaj Freedom CNG motorcycle has just gone on sale in India. It ushers a new form of economical commuting as it is the World’s first CNG bike. While it does have a 2-litre petrol tank to add to the range of the bike, the low operating cost of CNG is what is expected to bring relief to the wallets of those burdened by the high price of petrol. Here’s a detailed look at the bike in images.
The design of the Bajaj Freedom is unlike your typical commuter motorcycle. It’s got a hexagonal shaped LED headlight, a dirt bike style fuel tank and small side panel. The rear subframe is partially exposed and has a nifty, body coloured grab rail for the pillion. A tiny LED tail light sits below the seat and the overall design is interesting. Considering the curiosity around the bike and how different this design looks, it should attract a lot of attention.
Remove the long seat and one can see the trellis frame of the bike with the 2kg CNG tank fitted within the structure. Bajaj claims that the frame is robust and that they have conducted multiple crash tests to ensure the safety of the rider and pillion. The CNG tank remained intact in these tests to show no chances of the tank being punctured and exploding.
Bajaj claims that the 2kg CNG tank and the 2-litre petrol tank together manages to offer a range of approximately 330km. While that may not seem like a lot, one must remember that CNG in Mumbai costs 73.50 per kg while a litre of petrol is priced at Rs 103.44. Which clearly shows the lower running cost of CNG vs Petrol. The rider can use a switch on the left switch cube to toggle between CNG and petrol modes.
Powering the Bajaj CNG bike is a 125cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes 9.37bhp at 8,000rpm and 9.7Nm at 5,000rpm. It is paired with a five-speed transmission.
The Bajaj Freedom weighs 147.8kg (kerb), has a ground clearance of 170mm and a wheelbase of 1340mm. The seat height is 825mm which is on the taller side.
Coming to the hardware, the Freedom, as we’d mentioned, has a trellis frame that’s suspended by a 30mm telescopic fork and a link-type monoshock. The bike rides on a 17-inch front and 16-inch rear alloy wheel. Braking duties are taken care of by a 240mm disc at the front and a 130mm drum at the rear in the case of the top variant of the Bajaj Freedom. The mid and base variant have a drum brake at both ends. CBS or Combined Braking System is standard.
The Bajaj Freedom is available in seven colours and its prices begin at Rs 95,000, ex-showroom.
