-First CNG bike in the market
-Powered by a 125cc engine
-Has a 2kg CNG tank
The Bajaj Freedom has been launched in India at a starting price of Rs 95,000. This is the World’s first CNG motorcycle and is available in three variants- Freedom 125 Disc LED, Freedom 125 Drum LED and Freedom 125 Drum. The top two variants will set you back by Rs 1.10 lakh and Rs 1.05 lakh, respectively. All prices are ex-showroom.
The Bajaj Freedom has an 2kg CNG tank that’s been cleverly positioned in the central area of the bike and this helps optimise weight distribution. The 2-litre petrol tank is placed above and forward of the CNG tank, usually where you find fuel tanks in conventional motorcycles. The claimed range, when you consider the capacity of the CNG and the petrol tank, is approximately 330km. The rider can switch between the two fuels at the flick of a switch. And for those wondering, there is a common filler cap for both CNG and petrol.
Powering the bike is a 125cc, air-cooled, single cylinder engine that produces 9.5bhp at 8,000rpm and 9.7Nm at 5,000rpm. The engine is linked to a five-speed gearbox.
With more emphasis on function over form, the design of the Bajaj Freedom is still markedly different than other commuter motorcycles. You’ve got an LED headlight in the top two variants, a dirt bike style fuel tank, a seat that Bajaj claims is the longest in the segment, and a sleek tail section. The bike looks unique and some may find this aspect quite appealing. The other noteworthy feature is the digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity.
Under the bodywork, there’s a tubular trellis frame that’s suspended by a telescopic fork and a linked monoshock. It rides on a 17-inch front wheel and 16-inch rear wheel, while braking duties are taken care of by a disc brake at the front and a drum brake at the rear. The base variant, however, has a drum brake at the front as well.
The Bajaj Freedom is expected to revolutinise economical commuting and it’ll be interesting to see how the market takes to it. Bookings for the bike have been thrown open on both the Bajaj website and dealerships. The bike will be available in Maharashtra and Gujarat in a month
