Bajaj Auto’s upcoming CNG motorcycle is shaping up to be one of the most interesting launches of this year. The new two-wheeler, set to hit the roads on June 18, could reduce the running costs of a bike by about 50 percent or more, revealed Rajiv Bajaj, the company’s managing director, at the launch of the new Pulsar NS400Z on Friday.
That’s undoubtedly music to the ears of people looking for an affordable commuter. But there are still many questions about how this CNG motorcycle will be packaged, as the spy shots captured so far haven’t provided much of an answer. Leaked chassis blueprints now give us a better idea.
- Bajaj CNG bike uses sloper engine
- Engine displacement expected to be 125cc
- Uses heavy-duty tubular steel cradle frame chassis
It is clear from the drawings that the motorcycle is using a sloper engine, just like the ubiquitous Hero Splendor. The motor is expected to displace about 125cc, but that number has not yet been confirmed.
Bajaj has used this sloper engine layout to liberate space for the CNG cylinder, which is positioned under the rider’s seat and shielded by the vehicle’s tough-looking subframe. The CNG tank will be secured into place with metal braces that are incorporated into the bike’s chassis.
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Bajaj aims to outsell Honda in 125cc-plus bikes category
This placement adds some confidence to the safety aspect, as the cylinder looks well protected from impacts in case of an accident. Moreover, CNG is inherently considered a safer gas than LPG because it is lighter than air and quickly disperses if there’s a leak.
The new Bajaj CNG motorcycle will use what appears to be a heavy-duty tubular steel cradle frame chassis with a conventional telescopic fork and dual rear shock absorbers. The standard petrol tank remains in the conventional place, although it might be smaller than normal to accommodate the cylinder that extends a bit ahead of the seat into the ‘tank’ area.
While the petrol tank cap is positioned where you would expect to find it, the CNG tank’s filling port will probably have to be accessed by removing the seat. We might see Bajaj engineer a scooter-style hinged seat opening to make the process more practical.
Other unknowns are the gas tank’s capacity, the distance this bike can travel between fill-ups, how the weight balance will be spread out, and how much heavier this bike will be as compared to a conventional 125cc commuter.
Nevertheless, this is turning out to be a fascinating motorcycle and we’ll have to see how much Bajaj manages to keep under wraps before the big launch.
