Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Bike: Booking Details

The Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG, the first production motorcycle in not only India, but also the world to run on compressed natural gas. If you’re looking to buy one, here’s a quick breakdown of all the important details including prices, variants, booking, mileage and more: 

Variants And Price

Bajaj offers the Freedom 125 CNG in three distinct variants, priced from Rs 91,566 to Rs 1,11,604 (both ex-showroom, Delhi). The differences across the range come down to just the braking hardware, console, and lighting technology.

The step-up from the base NG04 Drum adds an LED headlamp and a more advanced LCD instrument console. The top-spec NG04 Disc LED adds a front disc brake, Bluetooth connectivity on the digital display, and cosmetic upgrades. Honestly, irrespective of your use case, the Rs 20,38 jump to the Disc LED is the one I’d recommend. This is because the disc brake and LED headlamp together are worth the extra premium. 

Booking Details

There are two straightforward ways to book the Freedom 125 CNG. Online, you select the preferred variant, colour, and dealership on Bajaj Auto’s official website, enter your personal details, and pay the fully refundable Rs 1,999 booking amount. The chosen dealership then sends a confirmation, and final documentation gets completed before delivery.

For an in-person booking, any authorised Bajaj dealership will walk you through choosing the variant and colour, paying the booking amount, and handling KYC and finance formalities. Deliveries depend on the dealership’s stock levels and the availability of the variant and/or colour you’ve picked. If you’re set on a specific colour or variant, confirm availability at your dealership before you commit online. The colour/variant -stock situation can vary between locations.

Reasons To Buy Or Skip

The Freedom 125’s main appeal is its dual-fuel capability and the potential for significant savings on running costs. The CNG packaging does introduce real compromises, so here’s a direct analysis:

The 2-litre petrol tank is the compromise that’ll sting most on longer trips. If you’re commuting in a city with dense CNG infrastructure, the savings case is strong. But if you’re not, the Freedom 125 is a harder sell against other conventional petrol bikes like say, a Honda Shine 125 as you won’t have to worry about petrol pumps. 

Colours

The Freedom 125 CNG is available in five colour options. Specific availability depends on the variant and the dealership’s inventory.

• Caribbean Blue: A bright dual-tone finish.

• Cyber White: A clean white with contrasting graphics.

• Ebony Black: An understated, classic black option.

• Pewter Grey: A premium-looking metallic grey.

• Racing Red: A sporty and vibrant red finish.

Do note that the base variant comes only in black or grey options, whereas the mid and top variants get all the five colour options. 

Convenience Features

The Freedom 125’s core convenience is the bi-fuel system: a handlebar-mounted switch lets the rider move between petrol and CNG, so you’re not stranded if a CNG station isn’t nearby. Do note that the petrol tank is a small one, so is only meant to be an option if you’re running low on CNG. 

Higher variants get an LED headlamp for better night-time visibility, whereas the base variant gets a halogen headlight. The base variant’s console has a speedometer, CNG fuel gauge and odometer along with the tell-tale lights and a USB charging port. The mid and top variants get a slightly larger LCD console, featuring a gear position indicator, clock, tripmeter readings additionally. The top variant adds Bluetooth connectivity, but it is just a basic one for calls and SMS alerts. While there’s no petrol fuel gauge, it isn’t really a deal-breaker as the petrol tank is anyway small, and is meant only for emergency purposes. 

Safety Features

The top variant runs a front disc brake for better stopping power compared to a front drum. All variants get a Combined Braking System (CBS) that distributes braking force across both wheels. Sadly, there’s no ABS even on the top variant. 

The trellis frame is built specifically to hold the CNG cylinder securely, with an integrated protective structure around the cylinder itself. Tubeless tyres are standard across the range, which means slow puncture deflation rather than sudden blowout. This is a small detail, but meaningful on a daily commuter.

Engine And Performance

All three variants share the same 124.58cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, bi-fuel engine. It runs on both petrol and CNG, makes 9.5PS at 8,000rpm and 9.7Nm at 5,000rpm, and sends it through a 5-speed gearbox. The power delivery is linear, and the performance is just about enough in case you need to overtake in traffic. It is also refined. Don’t expect it to be highway-friendly as it takes time to get to 80kmph, and feels out of breath at those speeds. 60-70kmph is the sweet-spot. 

The 2-litre petrol tank pairs with a 2kg CNG tank for a claimed combined range of over 300km. For perspective, Bajaj claims the CNG mode can give a mileage of 102km per kg (of CNG), whereas in petrol mode, the claimed mileage is 65kmpl.

Rivals

The Freedom 125 has no direct CNG rival as that category doesn’t exist yet. But it competes in the crowded 125cc commuter segment against petrol-only machines. If you love the hassle-free nature of a smooth petrol engine with Japanese reliability, then the Honda Shine 125 is a great option. In fact, it is India’s best-selling 125cc bike. 

If you want a bit of sportiness in a 125cc commuter, then you may consider the Bajaj Pulsar 125. The iconic Pulsar styling is paired with a more powerful and torquier 125cc engine. 

Those looking to have a bit more features, and a bit of premium styling may consider the Hero Glamour 125. It’s not only slightly more powerful than the Freedom, but also offers the same claimed mileage: 65kmpl, while also offering an info-packed console complete with a real-time mileage indicator.