Test Ride of the 125 cc Bajaj XCD..!!
I personally have never been a fan of 100 cc 4 stoke motorcycles. The only positive aspects that I can come up for a 100 cc bike is that they are extremely fuel-efficient and are comparatively cheaper to own and run. But that’s the best I can come up in defense of 100 cc bikes.
If you have the budget for a Passion/Splendor NXG, then take the 125 cc Bajaj XCD for a test ride.
Compare the XCD with current 100 cc bikes and You might probably be pleasantly surprised.
The list of dislikes for the 100 cc bikes runs a bit longer. For one, I have never been a fan of the nervous and relatively unstable handling of 100 cc bikes. The other culprit being the ride quality of those bikes, which can be best described as bouncy and choppy. And of course the lack of power and torque makes life on the fast road quite frustrating for a 100 cc rider.
So when Bajaj claims that they have plans to replace the 100 cc segment with its 125 cc XCD, I get curious and end up walking into a Bajaj Showroom and take the newly launched XCD for a test ride. So how does the XCD stack up against the 100 cc bikes..?? Read on to find out..
Looks, Build Quality:
The first impression I got on seeing the XCD in the flesh was, “It’s a Baby Pulsar.” The second though was, “Boy, the bike does look small..!!”
The XCD has familiar lines of the present line up of Bajaj Bikes. The Headlamp, Side-Panels, Tail Lamps gives you a sense of Deja-Vu and reminds you of the bigger Pulsars and the Discover (by the way, the production of the 112 cc and 125 cc Discover has been stopped leaving just the 135 cc DTS-I Discover now). A few people might complain about this saying that the XCD doesn’t look different from the other Bajaj models. But according to me this is actually a good thing. Famous auto brands world-over have a family look which extends to all its models. For example only a Ferrari looks like a Ferrari or for that matter a Lamborghini, Ducati or a Kawasaki. Anyway inspite of its small packaging, the XCD manages to looks sharp and Handsome.
The build quality is very good and looks and feels like a well put together motorcycle. The switches are among the best in its segment and are pretty comprehensive. Push to cancel turn indicator switch is present along with the high beam flasher and the “Ride Control” switch. The XCD also boasts of a “Self Starter” which according to be is a delightful feature to have. The XCD also features a “Digital Speedometer” which I thought looks plain and could have been better turned out. The XCD also features LED for its smallish tail lamp.
Rating:
Looks: Decent
Build Quality: Good
Engine/Performance/Gearbox:
The rather diminutive size of the XCD will give you an impression that you shouldn’t expect much from this petite bike. But this is exactly when you will be surprised. While evaluating the XCD just compare it with other 100 cc bikes rather than the current crop of 125 cc’s and I guarantee that you will be pleasantly surprised.
The XCD just didn’t complain about the inclines, the weight , or being on the top gear at slow speeds.. Awesome..!!
The sitting position on the Bajaj XCD is upright with the foot pegs set forward to give a comfortable riding position. I start the XCD with the Self/Thumb starter (love that feature on a small bike) and the engine instantly came to life and settled into a smooth idle. The exhaust note is familiar like the Bajaj Discover.
On slotting the XCD into the first gear (all down pattern), the gearbox felt a bit notchy. But nevertheless it felt way better than the Pulsar Gearboxes. With the showroom salesman at the pillion seat, I twisted the accelerator with my right hand. The bike pulled cleanly through the gears and soon I was comfortably pottering around in the top (4’th) gear. The engine was relatively smooth and devoid of vibrations but it in terms of smoothness, the 125 cc Bajaj engine can still improve.
To my pleasant surprise the XCD pulled with little complain from ridiculously low speeds even in the top gear..!! It is worth mentioning that the combined weight of the riders (me and the salesman) was around 130-140 Kgs (mine being 64 Kgs) and that the test ride route was full of steep inclines. But the XCD just didn’t complain about the inclines, the weight , or being on the top gear at slow speeds.. Awesome..!!
Although, I can’t comment on the top speed, the XCD looks promising enough the company claimed top speeds of around 90 Km/hr. The XCD definitely is peppier than any 100 cc models (including the Hero Honda ones). The best thing I liked about the engine of the XCD was that Torque is available on demand at virtually any speeds and in every gear.
So there one of my dislikes (lack of poke) for 100 cc bikes has been ably met by the XCD.
Rating:
Engine: Good
Performance: Good
Gearbox: Decent
Ride Quality/Handling:
As I had mentioned earlier, the XCD looks small. In fact it’s size is similar to the 100 cc Platina. Even the dry weight of the XCD is 112 Kgs which is 1 Kg less than the 113 Kg Platina..!! I therefore did not expect the Ride and Handling to improve much from the Platina. But then again the small looks of the XCD surprise you once again..!!
The Ride Quality of the XCD is very good and leagues ahead than any current 100 cc bike in the Indian market.
The Ride Quality of the XCD is very good and leagues ahead than any current 100 cc bike in the Indian market. The XCD feels like a bigger bike on the move. The XCD rewards you with a very good ride quality. It has almost become the norm about Bajaj having the best ride quality among Indian bikes. The Pulsars already have the best ride quality in the country today followed by the Discover 135 and now the XCD.
Even with two adults on it, the XCD displayed good combination of stability and agility. Compared to the front end of 100 cc bikes which becomes light with a pillion, the XCD displayed no nervousness in its handling.
So there, the rest of my complaints about the Poor Ride and Handling of 100 cc bikes have also been taken care by the XCD. Bravo..!!
Rating:
Ride Quality: Excellent
Handling: Good
Fuel Economy:
Now this is one very important aspect that I am not able to check out during this short test ride. But according to the September 2007 issue of Overdrive Magazine the initial Fuel Efficiency of the XCD has been found to be around 70 plus Km/l in real city conditions. Which according to Overdrive, puts the XCD among the most fuel efficient motorcycles in India along with the Fuel Injected “Glamour Fi”.
Braking:
The drum brakes lacked bite and didn’t inspire confidence at all
So far I had been quite impressed with the XCD. But it was the braking of the bike that shocked me. The braking of the XCD can be best described as POOR. The drum brakes lacked bite and didn’t inspire confidence at all. Bajaj has refrained to provide the XCD with front disc brakes even as an option. But that doesn’t mean that the drum brakes should be so ineffective. On pointing this out to the sales guys, they said that it was a test vehicle that has been abused for over a week. But that according to me is a poor excuse. Brakes (even drum) aren’t meant to fade away at least in a week. Hope Bajaj improves the brakes of the final production ones which will be delivered to the customers.
Rating:
Price:
The 125 cc XCD is priced at around Rs.47K On – Road in Bangalore City. Which put the XCD very competitively to the Hero Honda “Passion Plus” (with Alloys) and the Splendor NXG.
Conclusion:
The 125 cc XCD is a very important model for Bajaj Auto. It is this particular model with which Bajaj Auto hopes to stem its present slide in its sales figures. Bajaj officials have gone on record by stating that the XCD will be a better and attractive alternative to the current 100 cc motorcycles.
The XCD has almost everything covered from the Ride Quality, Handling to Power/Pick Up.
It is definitely better than any 100 cc bike in India today.
But to take away the crown as the best selling bike of India, the XCD would probably have to prove that it is as reliable as the Hero Honda 100 cc bikes
There is a very good chance that Bajaj Auto might have read the market trend correctly because even if the 100 cc segment still accounts for about 2/3’rd of total motorcycle sales in India, this year has seen a decrease in the growth of 100 cc motorcycles and on the other hand the 125 cc and above segment has registered a positive growth.
Since the late nineties, Hero Honda has dominated the Indian two-wheeler segment for about a decade now with its 100 cc Splendor/CD100/Passion variants. Competitors, including Bajaj has never been able to find a fitting answer to the 100 cc Hero Honda motorcycles. The reason for the virtual dominance of Hero Honda with its 100 cc models was the fact that these 100 cc bikes had an excellent reliability record. Many of my friends have narrated stories of their CD100’s and Splendors delivering the same performance even after 5-10 years of use.
The XCD has everything covered from the Ride Quality, Handling, Power/Pick Up which definitely is was better than any 100 cc bike in India today. Probably the fuel efficiency of the XCD is also going to be very good. But to take away the crown as the best selling bike of India, the XCD would probably have to prove that it is as reliable as the Hero Honda 100 cc bikes.
Bajaj XCD 125 CC DTS-Si
Positives: Looks like the younger brother of the Pulsar, Digital Speedo, LED Tail Lamps, Self Starter, Excellent Ride Quality, Good/Stable Handling, Good Pick up at slow speeds.
Negatives: Small Looks, Poor Brakes, cannot comment on long term Reliability, probably not designed for the highways
Should you buy the XCD..??
If you have the budget for a Passion/Splendor NXG, then take the 125 cc Bajaj XCD for a test ride. Compare the XCD with current 100 cc bikes and You might probably be pleasantly surprised.
But buy the XCD only if you are satisfied with its brakes..!!
Technical Specification of the 125 cc Bajaj XCD Dts-si:
Engine
- Engine: Four-stroke, natural air-cooled
- No of cylinders: One
- Bore: 54 mm
- Stroke: 54.4 mm
- Displacement: 124.58 cc
- Compression: 9.5:1
- Idling speed: 1400 rpm
- Maximum power: 9.5 bhp @ 7000 rpm
- Maximum torque: 1.1 kgm@5000 rpm
- Ignition system: Microprocessor controlled, digital CDI
- Transmission: 4-speed (all-down) constant mesh
- Primary reduction (3.47:1 66/19)
Chassis
- Type: Single down tube with engine as stressed member. Square section tubes
Suspension
- Front: Telescopic (125mm travel)
- Rear: 5-step adjustable shock with dual SNS spring (105 mm travel)
- Brakes: 130 mm drum type
- Tyres: 2.75-17 (front), 3.00-17 (rear)
Dimensions
- Length: 1980 mm
- Width: 760 mm
- Height: 1200 mm
- Wheelbase: 1275 mm
- Ground clearance: 170 mm
- Kerb Weight: 112 kg
Color Options:
- Black
- Red
- Blue
- Silver
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Disclaimer:
This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.
August 2007 Issue of Bike India Magazine carried a short article along with photos of a Royal Enfield bike with Unit construction which also sports "Fuel Injection"..!! The article stated that the "Fuel Injected - Unit Construction Bullet" will be launched for the international market by the end of this year.
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