The Bajaj Freedom 125 is India’s only CNG-powered bike, and it can also run on petrol (in emergencies as it is meant to be a reserve tank). The NG04 Drum variant, in particular, is the cheapest variant priced at ?91,566 ex-showroom in Delhi. Here’s a quick lowdown on everything you need to know about this variant:
Price & Positioning
Bajaj’s Freedom 125 NG04 Drum undercuts the NG04 Drum LED and NG04 Disc LED variants by Rs 12,551 and Rs 20,038, respectively. That gap comes from missing out on some features and a front disc brake, but the core mechanicals are unchanged.
|
Variant |
Price |
|
NG04 Drum |
Rs 91,566 |
|
NG04 Drum LED |
Rs 1,04,117 |
|
NG04 Disc LED |
Rs 1,11,604 |
Design & Styling
The NG04 Drum keeps the neo-retro roadster-like silhouette, muscular tank shrouds, and exposed trellis frame shared across the Freedom lineup. Tucked under the seat, the CNG cylinder sits flush with the bodywork. At 785 mm, the seat is long and should offer ample room to move around – for both rider and pillion. This base variant gets a halogen headlamp, simpler body graphics, and a sheet-metal bash plate under the engine. Two colours: Pewter Grey and Ebony Black are available in this variant, with more options on pricier variants.
Features
The instrument console has a small digital screen that houses the speedometer, fuel gauge and odometer. The right side of the console has all the tell-tale lights. While Bluetooth and connected features are absent, they’re not really deal-breakers as the connectivity in the higher-end variants is still basic. Central to the package is a dual-fuel system: a handlebar switch lets the rider toggle between CNG and petrol mode. Under the frame sits a 2 kg CNG cylinder alongside a 2-litre auxiliary petrol tank. There’s no LED headlamp, no advanced digital display as those stay with the higher-end variants.
Safety & Hardware
Bajaj built the trellis frame specifically to fit the CNG cylinder. The chassis and tank protection system have, according to Bajaj, gone through extensive crash and durability testing. It gets a telescopic fork and a linked monoshock. There’s a 130 mm drum up front and a 110 mm drum at the rear, with a Combined Braking System (CBS). The alloy wheels (thankfully) come with tubeless tyres: 90/80-17 up front, a narrower 80/100-16 at the rear, compared with higher trims.
Engine & Performance
Under the tank sits a 124.6cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that runs on both CNG and petrol. It puts out 9.5PS at 8,000 rpm and 9.7Nm at 5,000 rpm, with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Mileage is the priority here, not acceleration. Bajaj claims 102 km/kg on CNG and 65kmpl on petrol; so the combined range works out to approximately 330 km. Those figures suit daily commutes and delivery work, where running costs matter most.
BikeDekho Says
At its asking price, the Bajaj Freedom 125 NG04 Drum does what it sets out to do: budget-conscious buyers get the CNG-petrol setup, the trellis frame, and the monoshock without paying for extras. The long seat adds genuine carrying comfort. Riders who mainly want to cut fuel costs and have CNG stations nearby will find this the practical pick. The Drum LED suits those who want better lighting, but we’d recommend the Disc LED as it offers much better braking performance in addition to other useful features.
