Bajaj Freedom 125: While India’s market still prefers fuel-efficient two-wheelers, a CNG-powered bike with a guarantee of delivering up to 102 km/kg is surprisingly being shunned by consumers. Bajaj introduced the Freedom 125 with great expectations but even after a price revision recently, sales are disappointing.

Stunning Mileage, Low Sales

Bajaj Freedom 125 provides a fuel efficiency of 65 km/l on petrol and a whopping 102 km/kg on CNG. On paper, it’s the ideal mix of performance and economy. But even with these numbers, the bike manages to sell just about 1,000 units per month. Compare this with the Bajaj Pulsar 125, which shifts about 80,000 units per month.

This comparison brings out one of the biggest issues for the brand, particularly given the Freedom 125 was supposed to change budget commuting. Due to sluggish demand, Bajaj has cut ₹5,000 from its price. Currently, the starting ex-showroom price is ₹90,272.

Lack of Power on CNG Mode

The major cause for the lackluster sales is the perceivable decline in performance in CNG mode. Though the bike feels decently powerful on petrol, by using CNG, the bike responds more like a standard 100cc motorcycle. The decline in performance is particularly noticeable while going up a slope with a pillion, i.e., over flyovers.

Today’s consumers want snappy performance even from commuter bikes. Such a compromise in power delivery diminishes the appeal of the Freedom 125, particularly among those accustomed to the quicker feel of petrol-only models such as the Platina or Pulsar.

Long Lines at CNG Stations

Another huge drawback is the refuelling time. CNG pumps usually see long queues of autos and cars. For a two-wheeler commuter, waiting in these queues destroys the idea of fast and efficient travel. If the consumer is running short on time and has to skip the queue, the bike has to run on petrol only, which also interferes with its cost-saving guarantee.

Moreover, the CNG network is still thin in most smaller cities, further restricting the appeal of the bike to rural or semi-urban customers.

Price and Taxation Woes

Though CNG bikes offer fuel savings, they still face the same level of taxation as regular petrol bikes. Unlike EVs, there are no government incentives to make these models more affordable. This puts Bajaj Freedom 125 in a tough spot—neither as dynamic as petrol bikes nor as economical overall as electric ones.

The pairing of CNG’s infrastructure constraints, performance handicaps, and cost issues discourages consumers from opting for the Freedom 125 over better known versions.