TVS Raider 125 vs Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Bike: Features Compared

The Bajaj Freedom 125 is powered by CNG while the TVS Raider 125 operates on Petrol. Here’s how the two bikes compare

The world’s first CNG-powered bike, the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike was launched recently. The TVS Raider 125, on the other hand, is a premium petrol-powered commuter present in the market for quite some time. We compared the top variants of the Bajaj Freedom 125 and TVS Raider 125. Here’s how they stack up against each other:

Electronics and Console

The bumblebee-like TVS Raider SX variant gets an LED headlight and an LED tail light. It has a TFT display and is loaded with a long list of features including smartphone connectivity via the TVS Connect app for on-screen notifications that will display calls & SMS alerts, battery percentage, turn-by-turn navigation and some cool bits like voice assist, live match scores and weather updates. The TVS Connect app also provides a post-ride report.

The bike has a small compartment under the seat with a USB port to charge your phone on the go. It also has features like a silent starter, start-stop system, and side-stand indicator with an engine cut-off function.

The new player in town, the Bajaj Freedom 125 NG04 Disc LED variant has an LED headlight with DRLs. It is equipped with a negatively-lit LCD instrument console with Bluetooth for smartphone connectivity for calls & SMS alerts, and a dedicated switch is also given to receive calls. The console provides basic information like a speedometer, gear position indicator, clock and two trip metres. When switched to CNG mode, instantaneous CNG mileage and an average CNG mileage for each trip metre are also displayed. Another notable feature is the ability to change the angle of the console in 2 positions the rider would be comfortable looking at it in. The bike also has a USB charging port for charging.

CNG vs Petrol 

The Raider 125 is powered by petrol only and has a 10-litre fuel tank. In our real-world test, the bike delivered a mileage of 71.49kmpl in the city and 65.44kmpl on the highway. In the city, you will get a range of almost 710km and on the highway, you will get 650km of range. 

The Freedom 125 is a CNG-powered bike but is also equipped with a small-capacity petrol tank. It has a 2kg CNG tank which is placed under the seat and a 2-litre petrol tank, which can be used when the bike runs out of CNG. It also gets a CNG pressure indicator. It has a combined claimed mileage of 330km, which is low but considering it is a CNG bike it will be fairly cheaper than the TVS Raider. 

While the bike has a 2kg CNG tank, the amount that gets filled depends on the CNG pump’s pressure. When we filled the bike’s CNG tank, the pump’s pressure was less than the capacity, due to which we could only fill 1.63kg. Following this, the bike was ridden in the city and on the highway, in which the bike delivered a range of 140km on CNG before the tank was empty. If we had got the correct pressure from the pump, the claimed mileage in our real-world test could have been achieved.

Price

The Raider SX top variant has a price tag of Rs 1,03 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It is a value-for-money package as it is one of the most powerful 125cc sporty commuters and is feature-packed. It offers a premium ownership experience. It is an excellent option to consider if you want a premium commuter.

The Freedom 125 NG04 Disc LED variant is priced at Rs 1.10 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). In the CNG mode, it is highly efficient and it offers really low running costs. While the engine is not on par with other 125cc bikes in terms of performance, it is pretty smooth and comfortable for commuting.

Overall, the top variant of the TVS Raider is cheaper than the top variant of the Freedom 125 which also comes with more features and is a premium package. However, if you want low running costs but don’t want to shift to an EV the Freedom 125 meets you halfway in that perspective, offering a perfect balance.