Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Honda Shine 125: Spec Comparison

Bajaj has finally launched its ultimate contender to disrupt the 125 cc segment with the new Freedom 125 NG04. But before it disrupts anything, it will need to contend with a few heavyweights who have been dominating this segment with its reliable character and ease of ownership reputation. One of which is the segment leader itself, the Honda Shine 125. So, can the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike outshine Honda’s ultimate 125 cc offering? Let’s do a quick comparison of their respective spec sheets. 

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Honda Shine 125: Engine Specs And Performances

Being commuter motorcycles, both the Bajaj Freedom 125 and Honda Shine 125 have conservative power and torque figures. And yet the Honda Shine 125 is the more powerful of the two. However, the Freedom 125 will marginally be able to hold on to its speeds better since it produces its peak power at 8000 rpm, which is 500 rpm more than the Honda’s. Off-the-line acceleration of the Honda would be better as it produces more power and is much lighter than the Bajaj CNG bike. 

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Honda Shine 125: Dimension

Being the first-of-its-kind CNG motorcycle that gets two tanks onboard for two types of fuel, the Freedom 125 ends up being one of the heaviest bikes in the 125 cc segment. To integrate that 2 kg/ 12-litre CNG tank, Bajaj also had to tweak the length of the motorcycle, as a result, it ended up with a longer wheelbase and a longer seat too. 

But kudos to Bajaj’s engineering, for even after fitting a CNG tank underneath the seat, they have managed to keep the seat height at an easily accessible 785 mm, while the conventional Honda Shine 125 still stands taller, although marginally. As mentioned before the Bajaj Freedom is the heaviest 125 cc bike on sale at a hefty 149 kg. 

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Honda Shine 125: Suspension And Braking 

The Bajaj Freedom 125 is built around a trellis frame architecture and the Chakan-based manufacturer has done so due to safety reasons and to fit the CNG tank more effectively. The Honda Shine 125 on the other hand is built around a simpler diamond frame chassis, and while both the bikes equip conventional telescopic fork, the Bajaj Freedom 125 edges past the Honda with a modern and more effective monolink type suspension for the rear wheel. Moreover, by going for a 17-/16-inch wheel combo, the Bajaj CNG bike will feel sportier to ride, unlike the Honda Shine 125 which rolls on a bigger 18-/18-inch wheel combo. 

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Honda Shine 125: Features

Both bikes are not engineered to enthuse you with many features. Yet, the Bajaj’s Freedom 125 has features that are any day superior and more modern than the Honda Shine 125. Starting with an all-digital reverse LCD instrument cluster on the top variant which also supports Bluetooth connectivity, and thereby will give you call/SMS alerts. Additionally, the headlight unit is also an LED unit available with both the mid and top variants. 

The Honda Shine 125 keeps matters very basic with an analogue instrument console and halogen bulb for both headlight and tail light. If we had to pick a feature with the Japanese bike, we could at best mention its eSP technology feature that helps keep fuel consumption at an optimum level across various riding conditions.  

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Honda Shine 125: Variants & Pricing

Giving more options to consumers, and in turn also allowing for more effective pricing – the Bajaj Freedom 125 is available in three variants – LED/ Disc brake, LED/ Drum brake, and Drum brake variant priced at ₹1.10 lakh, ₹1.05 lakh, and ₹95,000 (all ex-showroom price),  respectively. The Honda Shine 125 on the other hand gets two variants only, which are segregated by equipping either drum brakes or a front disc/ drum brake combo. The former is the base variant and it is priced at ₹80,250, and the top variant of the Shine 125 will set you back by ₹84,250. In terms of upfront value, the Honda holds the edge when compared to the Bajaj CNG motorcycle. 

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Honda Shine 125: Verdict

For a debut product, Bajaj launched the Freedom 125 with all the necessary bells and whistles to cause disruption. Its claim to fame is half the running cost compared to conventional 125 cc bikes and is backed by a very neat package as well. In comparison, the Honda Shine sticks to the ethos of a 125 cc commuter which has propelled it to become the leader of the 125 cc class. The other advantage that Honda has is that the Shine 125 is available pan India and is a proven product with its reliability. . On the other hand, Bajaj will have to navigate the initial fair share of doubts with this new technology, and as Rajiv Bajaj assured us at the time of launch the company will ensure its consumers with all the assistance that will be required during the ownership period, then the brand has a winner here.