Pictorial Review Bajaj XCD 135cc
Bajaj which once ruled hearts and sales charts is now passing through one of its worst period. While the Honda’s took away the commuter, Yamaha is fastly gaining traction from youth who traditionally mared by the Pulsar Mania.The ageing platforms and absence of new models also gave way for the competetiors to poach. 2008 was one of the muted year of the Bajaj Auto. But Bajaj Auto want to put a fullstop to all these things. Bajaj has said it will be back and lined up six new models for 2009. To start wiht, Bajaj has launched 135cc variant of XCD, Bajaj calls this as a pulsar -junior. Will XCD 135cc will make the way for Bajaj’s revival?? let’s check out
Bajaj XCD 135cc: Bajaj has built this bike on the lines of XCD 125cc and added new styling elements to make it bigger. The bike looks good at some angles, but if your brain still remembers the XCD sprint shown at 2008 Delhi Auto expo,then you would curse me. Fake scoops fails to conceal the puny 8l fuel tank. While the tail lamp cluster fails to excite, sharp indicators and distinctly styled headlamps are nice styling elements.
Pictures of Bajaj XCD
Bajaj XCD 135cc: is slightly more powerful than the 125cc unit. The 135cc unit 10.2 PS of max power at 7500rpm and 11.58Nm of max torque at 5000rpm.All down type 5-speed gearbox is unique. XCD sports Bajaj’s patent ExhausTEC system for the much needed low-end grunt.
Bajaj XCD 135cc: The engine is peppy and it revs happily all the way to 8000 rpm slightly below the red line. In the fifth gear you can chug along 23kmph without knocking and a low 18kmph at 4th gear. 0-60kmph comes at 7 seconds, the extra taller fifth gear helps the bike to easliy move past 80kmph. But after 90kmph you need patience to test the bike’s top whack of 100kmph. The extra power however has little impact on mileage / fuel economy, credits to Bajaj’s DTS-Si technology. XCD 135cc returns 62kmpl in our combined drive.
Bajaj XCD 135cc: The box section diamond type frame sports telescopic forks and nitrox (gas filled shock absorbers) suspension at the rear. 200mm disc and 130mm brake at the fore and the aft. At the rear, XCD 135cc sports fatter 100/90*17″ tyres. Dimensions are identical to 125cc XCD.
Bajaj XCD 135cc: Flat handlebars,nicely positioned foot pegs, all five down gear pattern and flat wider seats makes your daily ride free of aches. For the first time, all are not well regarding the ride quality even though XCD 135cc comes with Nitrox suspension. Blame those low pressure rubber. Handling is quiet good, true to its DNA, XCD 135cc is very nimble and its boon to zig-zag in tight traffic. But thing turns violent once you push her above 84kmph, the ride becomes bumpy,vibrations starts creeping in but remember this bike is meant for city riders and it serves the purpose.
Bajaj XCD 135cc: host of features includes autochoke, twin pilot lamps, LED tail lamp, wider rear tyre, and digital speedometer. While the tacho and speedo are legible and readable, on bright sunlight a fellow rider has to tell you to switch of the turn indicators,if you forget to do it. The bike is available in five colours –
Bajaj XCD 135cc: Though it has displaces 10cc more, XCD 135cc comes at a price cheaper than the premium 125cc bike like Honda CBF Stunner and TVS Flame. XCD 135cc comes in three avatars – manual start-drum brake model, electric start-drum brake variant and the higher end sports model with disc brake and electric start. Our test drive bike XCD 135cc drum brake costs Rs51,063 (On-road Chennai).
P.S: While topping up air to XCD 135cc, do remember, unlike other motorcycles there is no different air pressure settings for a solo rider and rider with a pillion. Also the ratings are different (28 at the rear)
Verdict: It may not have the looks of CBF Stunner. But surely with the peppy but frugal engine and attractive price tag XCD 135cc is sure to make Bajaj showroom’s fill with crowd. But a young urban riders who knows Bajaj through Pulsar and Discover will wait for next phenomenon. Remember, Bajaj will unveil five more models this year.
Bajaj Auto provided XCD 135cc to vicky.in for the purpose of evaluation