Bajaj Freedom was 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 first two variants will cost you Rs 1.10 lakh and Rs 1.05 lakh respectively. All prices are ex-showroom.
The Bajaj Freedom motorcycle has a 2 kg CNG tank that has been cleverly placed in the central area of the motorcycle, which helps in improving weight distribution. The 2-liter gasoline tank is located above and in front of the CNG tank, as is usually the case with fuel tanks on conventional motorcycles. The declared range, if the capacity of the CNG and gasoline tank is taken into account, is about 330 km. The driver can switch between the two fuel types with the click of a button. And for those wondering, there is a common filler cap for both CNG and gasoline.
The bike is powered by a 125cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that produces 9.5 PS at 8,000 rpm and 9.7 Nm at 6,000 rpm. The engine is linked to a five-speed gearbox.
With more emphasis on function over form, the design of the Bajaj Freedom remains noticeably different from other commuter motorcycles. You get an LED headlamp on both the main variants, a dirt bike-style fuel tank, a seat that Bajaj claims is the longest in its segment and a sleek rear section. The bike has a unique look and some may find this look very attractive. Another notable feature is the digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity.
Under the bodywork there is a tubular trellis frame suspended by a telescopic fork and a linked monoshock. It rides on a 17-inch front wheel and a 16-inch rear wheel, while braking duties are handled by disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. However, the base model also has drum brakes in the front.
Bajaj's Freedom is expected to revolutionize economic mobility and it will be interesting to see how the market approaches it. Bookings for the bike have opened on the Bajaj website and dealerships. The bike will be available in Maharashtra and Gujarat within a month.
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