When I first heard about the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG, I was curious and a little skeptical. A CNG-integrated motorcycle sounded like a bold idea — and Bajaj claims it delivers an incredible 332 km combined range and very low running costs. In this post, I’ll walk you through what this bike really offers, who it suits, and why that intermediate price tag of ₹90,976 made headlines before later discounts. I’ll also share a simple example to show how the mileage figures translate to real-life use.
What the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Is — and How It Works
The Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG is a purpose-built 125 cc motorcycle that carries a small CNG cylinder plus a tiny petrol tank as a backup. Bajaj calls it the world’s first production motorcycle with integrated CNG. The bike uses a new 124.6–125 cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine that makes about 9.4–9.5 PS and around 9.7 Nm of torque. You switch between CNG and petrol from a handlebar switch when needed.
Key bits of the fuel system are simple: a 2 kg CNG cylinder tucked into a trellis-style frame and a 2-litre petrol tank. That petrol acts as a range extender when you can’t find a CNG pump. Bajaj also gave the bike a 5-speed gearbox and tuned it for city and commuter use, with a top speed of roughly 90–93 km/h depending on the fuel mode.
Mileage and Real Range — The Numbers That Matter
Bajaj’s claimed economy is one of the biggest selling points. The company reports about 102 km per kg on CNG and roughly 65 km per litre on petrol. Put together, that gives a combined range of around 330–334 km on a full CNG fill plus the 2-litre petrol reserve. That’s where the widely quoted 332 km figure comes from.
Those numbers change in the real world, of course. Riding style, traffic, and temperature all matter. But even if you see 10–15% lower real-world figures, the bike still promises much higher distance per unit of fuel compared with a typical 125 cc petrol commuter.
Features, Build and Practical Notes
From a practical view, Bajaj did more than just bolt a cylinder onto an existing frame. The bike uses a trellis-type structure to pack the CNG cylinder safely and keep a low center of gravity. Suspension is simple and commuter-friendly: telescopic forks up front and a mono-shock at the rear. You also get tubeless tires, LED lighting, and a digital cluster — the top trims add Bluetooth connectivity.
There are trade-offs: the petrol tank is intentionally tiny (2 litres), so if you run out of CNG and there’s no pump nearby, you’ll need to top up petrol often to keep going. Also, the CNG refuelling network is still limited in many areas, so the bike is a better fit where CNG stations are reasonably available.
Price, Variants and Market Moves
The bike launched in July 2024 at an entry price near ₹95,000 (ex-showroom). Bajaj later reduced prices with promotions and cuts. The intermediate price you may see quoted — ₹90,976 — reflects one of the steps Bajaj took before another June 2025 cut. After those cuts, reported ex-showroom prices for the lineup included roughly ₹85,976 for the base NG04 Drum, about ₹95,981 for the mid NG04 Drum LED, and about ₹1.11 lakh for the top NG04 Disc LED (exact on-road prices vary by city).
| Specification / Variant | Key Value |
|---|---|
| Engine | 124.6–125 cc, air-cooled, 5-speed |
| Power & Torque | ~9.4–9.5 PS, ~9.7 Nm |
| Fuel system | 2 kg CNG + 2 L petrol (handlebar switch) |
| Claimed economy | ~102 km/kg (CNG), ~65 km/L (petrol), combined ~332 km |
| Sample price (intermediate) | ₹90,976 (ex-showroom, reported step before later discounts) |
Who Should Consider the Freedom 125 CNG? — A Quick Case Study
I like thinking in examples. Imagine you’re commuting 40 km per day on weekdays. That’s about 2,000 km a month. Using Bajaj’s claimed numbers:
- On CNG: the bike would need about ~19.6 kg of CNG per month (2,000 km ÷ 102 km/kg ≈ 19.6 kg).
- On petrol (if you used petrol instead): it would need about ~30.8 litres per month (2,000 km ÷ 65 km/L ≈ 30.8 L).
What this means is simple: if you have a reliable CNG supply, you’ll visit the pump less often in terms of costs and spend far less on fuel than a comparable petrol bike. Bajaj and independent reports estimate running costs can be up to ~50% lower than similar petrol commuters. That’s where the long-term value shows — even if the purchase price is similar or slightly higher initially.
One real-world note: several riders in early adopter cities reported excellent monthly savings but pointed out the need to plan routes around CNG stations occasionally. Bajaj’s small petrol tank reduces panic but doesn’t replace the convenience of a full petrol tank when CNG is unavailable.
Pros, Cons and the Adoption Challenge
I’ll keep this short and practical:
- Pros: Very low running cost potential, low tailpipe CO2/NOx compared with petrol, innovative packaging, commuter-friendly features.
- Cons: Limited CNG refuelling network in many areas, tiny 2-litre petrol tank for emergencies only, lower top speed and performance than sportier 125 cc bikes.
- Market fit: Best for daily commuters in cities or regions with reasonable CNG coverage. For long rural runs or places with rare CNG pumps, a petrol bike still makes more sense.
Also Read: Forget Petrol Bikes: Komaki MX16 Pro Cruiser Gives 200 KM Range for Just ₹15
Final Thoughts
So where does that leave us? The Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG is an interesting and practical experiment — one that could change how many riders think about fuel cost and emissions. If you live where CNG is available, the bike offers excellent claimed mileage (about 332 km combined range) and real cost savings that can add up fast. The quoted price of ₹90,976 is part of the bike’s pricing story: Bajaj offered that intermediate level during early rounds of discounts, and later promotions brought the entry price down further.
I’d recommend the Freedom 125 CNG if you:
- Do most of your riding inside towns with CNG access,
- Want the lowest possible running cost, and
- Are comfortable planning fuel stops around CNG pumps.
If you want, I can re-check the very latest local prices and dealer offers for your city, or I can run a short comparison showing estimated fuel cost per 100 km for CNG vs petrol using current fuel prices. Which would you prefer?
