Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Bike vs TVS Raider 125: Image Comparison

Bajaj recently launched the world’s first CNG bike, the Freedom 125 goes up against commuter motorcycles in the 125cc segment. One of its main rivals is the TVS Raider 125, which is a premium commuter offering from the Hosur-based manufacturer. Here’s how both the bikes compare.

Design

Both the motorcycles are quite different when talking about the design and there’s very little similarity in the approaches that Bajaj and TVS have taken.

The Freedom 125 has an unconventional design language and comes off as a bit more rugged with the oval shaped headlight, fork covers and the braced handlebar. The Raider 125 on the other hand, offers a more premium look with the twin-pod headlight and metallic TVS badging. 

Overall, the design of both motorcycles are quite unique in their own way and looks are always subjective. If you want something that looks rugged then the CNG bike makes sense, whereas if you prefer something that offers a premium look, then the Raider makes more sense.

Engine, Mileage & Performance

The Bajaj Freedom 125 gets a 125cc, air-cooled engine that can seamlessly switch between CNG and petrol, and makes 9.5PS & 9.7Nm. The bike gets two tanks: a primary 2kg CNG tank & a 2-litre petrol tank. The TVS Raider 125 on the other hand comes with a 124.8cc single-cylinder engine that makes 11.38PS and 11.2Nm. 

In terms of outright engine outputs, the TVS Raider wins but when considering mileage, the Freedom 125 takes the cake. According to Bajaj, the bike is able to offer 200km+ range from its 2kg of CNG and the 2 litre petrol tank offers an additional 130km range. 

TVS Raider in our tests offered an average mileage of 68.69kmpl, which in turn translates into a range of 686.9km. Which is much greater than what the Freedom 125 offers. 

Choosing between the two bikes in this regard isn’t as easy as choosing between better performance and better fuel efficiency. Although the Freedom 125 in theory should reduce the fuel expense, the CNG infrastructure in India isn’t as widespread, so riders in many parts of the country won’t be able to benefit. The Raider in this case offers a simple, tried and tested solution to your commuting needs.

Underpinnings

The TVS Raider features a telescopic fork and monoshock, it rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels with 80-section front and 100-section rear tubeless tyres. Braking duties are handled by a 240mm disc and a 130mm drum, at the front and rear respectively.

The Bajaj Freedom 125 gets a similar suspension setup, but rolls on a 17-inch front and 16-inch rear alloy wheel, with a 90-section front and 120-section rear tyre. Braking duties on the top-end variant are handled by a 240mm front disc and a 130mm rear drum.

Features

Freedom 125 gets a negatively lit LCD instrument console which displays readouts such as speed, fuel level, time, real-time mileage, distance to empty, along with trip and odometer readouts. The console also offers smartphone connectivity and related features.

The TVS Raider SX variant offers a 5-inch TFT display, with smartphone connectivity and related features such as turn-by-turn navigation and call/SMS alerts. So in terms of features, the TVS Raider has the edge here.

Which bike to go for?

Both the Freedom 125 and TVS Raider 125 are good motorcycles on paper, but choosing one motorcycle out of the two is easier said than done. 

The Freedom 125 comes with an unconventional design along with fatter tyres which would in theory offer better handling. In terms of features, the bike is a bit plain for a bike that comes at an ex-showroom price of Rs  1,10,000. The CNG infrastructure in India is also not that developed, so it is not clear how well riders would be able to take advantage of the bike’s claimed fuel efficiency.

The TVS Raider on the other hand is the most sold 125cc bike, which offers both a premium feel, a good set of features and most importantly reliable performance. With its price of Rs 1,03,570 (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Raider 125 is quite a good offering.  

Overall, if you want to go for something new and something which stands out then the Freedom 125 makes sense. Whereas if you just want a simple commuter which is reliable and also offers a bit of features, then the TVS Raider is a better choice.