BAJAJ MADE HISTORY ON 5 JULY 2024 WHEN they launched the world’s first series production motorcycle that could use CNG as fuel. As Indians, it is undoubtedly a proud moment for us but in this road test, we kept that patriotic sentiment aside and evaluated the Bajaj Freedom 125 NG04 on the same parameters as any other commuter motorcycle.
We believe that the popularity of a new technology and its subsequent adoption depend largely on the way it looks, works, and costs. The designers at Bajaj have outdone themselves because the Freedom stands out as a stylish motorcycle. Its tasteful bodywork elegantly hides the CNG tank (capacity of two kilograms) and the two-litre petroltank. While the latter is easy to spot, the former sits snugly under the seat within a cage formed by the trellis frame. At the front of that frame is a telescopic fork, but at the rear Bajaj have thoughtfully bolted a linked monoshock on to the box-section swing-arm. Then there are the wheels, a 16-inch unit at the rear and a 17-inch one at the front. The smaller rear wheel creates a significant gap between the tyre and the subframe.
Dimension-wise, the Freedom is a compact motorcycle but it may look slightly large because of its seat which could easily be the longest in the 125-cc segment. There is enough space to make it appealing for those who use a motorcycle to transport more than two persons. Of course, Bajaj claim they are not trying to encourage such parties but we feel they should not have left room for the option in the first place. That apart, the riding position is comfortable for both the rider and the pillion, just what we would expect from a commuter. Following a non-stop stint for 30 kilometres from one end of Pune’s urban madness to the other, I found nothing to grumble about.
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Bike India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Bike India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BMW F 450 GS Concept
EICMA 2024 IS GENERALLY NIRVANA FOR MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS as they're treated to plenty of new machines from a number of manufacturers. BMW Motorrad are one of them.
Toprak is the 2024 World Champion
Toprak Razgatlioglu took home his second World Superbike Championship (WSBK) title after a good battle with the Italian rookie, Nicolo Bulega of Ducati.
A Toprak Sandwich
The battle for the title heated up as Toprak Razgatlioglu won Race One and Race Two while Nicolo Bulega won the Superpole Race in Estoril, the penultimate round of the 2024 World Superbike Championship (WSBK) season.
Navaneeth Wins Double
Navaneeth Kumar S, Rohan R, and Yogesh P were the winners in the second round of the J K Tyre Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup INDIAN RACING
Ross Branch and Team Hero MotoSports are the new FIM World Rally-raid Champions
TEAM HERO MOTOSPORTS was founded in 2016 and Ross Branch joined in 2022. Since then, he has been a Hero MotoSports rider and their years of toil have borne a particularly sweet fruit: Ross Branch and Hero MotoSports are now the FIM World Rally-raid Champions.
The Rise of a New 'Rad'
Reise Moto invited us to the COASTT High Performance Centre in Coimbatore to experience their all-new radial road tyres, the traceRads.
Feels Like Graduation
The third and final round of the TVS Young Media Racer Programme (YMRP) saw us take P2 in the race and P3 in the overall championship. Here is how it went off
In the Shadow of the Colossus
TVS have given the base Jupiter a complete overhaul, including a new engine. We had checked it out on a closed course back in August. This time we let it loose on the urban jungle and observed if it could survive there
Pay Win
THE ATHER RIZTA WAS LAUNCHED TO much fanfare in April this year and then we got to sample it for a short burst in May.
Agile and Aggressive
The Kawasaki KLX 230 is a superbly built dual-sport that has the ability to take on some big hitters in our market. We hopped on it for a while and kicked up some dirt at the Prodirt Adventure Park.