XCD 125 DTS-SI one of the most expected bike from Bajaj Auto. Bajaj Auto claimed this bike is revolutionary and hopes the XCD will help to win the battle against Hero Honda for the top spot. The advertisement for this bike created lot of expectations among the consumers. Adding to expectation is the Bajaj – TVS feud over the twin spark plug. Let’s see whether the XCD will exceeds the expectations?
Design and Engineering:
XCD follows the Bajaj chracteristic forward design, the headlamp design and the sleek graphics makes the bike more dynamic. The seats are wider and comfy. Shrouds on both sides bounds the tank. The lines are continuous and is facilited by the dummy cowls and sharp mudflap. The wider flanks at the rear makes the LED tail lamp cluster to look smaller. XCD comes with the electric start option and features first in class digital console. The orange back lit console shows the fuel level and the speed(cable free).The prismatic pilot lamp and flexible number plate mechanism is another new. Though the glove box on the sari guard is innovative, it is impractical and in the long term you have find place to keep the documents. Panel gaps are minimal and the fit and finish are nice. Espescially the painting and graphics are top class.
Engine and gearbox:
125cc XCD’s DTS-SI engine is mated with a 4-speed gearbox and produces 9.53PS @7000rpm and 10.85Nm@5000rpm. To improve the efficiency in a single cylinder engine manufacturers has to adopt Fuel Injection(FI) technology and by finding a mean to burn the lean mixture. Since low cost Baja has followed the 2nd way, DTS-SI engine produces adequate swirl to burn even the lean mitures. In our test drive(city) the XCD 125cc DTS-Si returns around 65kmpl, really good on any scale for a 125cc bike. Another plus in the XCD is without the bike moves without any thudding in top gear. We managed to chug our test bike at 14kmph in fourth gear without any knocking. This makes XCD one of the best bikes for the city commuting. The vibrations are minimal and it is dampened by the rubberised brake pedal and gear-shifters.
Ride and Handling:
XCD is build on a rectangular frame to give more stability which is supplemented by rectangular swingarm section. The wider seats and high handlebar position tells XCD meant for commuting. The upright seating position is the result. Since the bike weighs only 112kg, the XCD lacks the solid factor. But XCD excels in manoeuverablity similar to the TVS star city. But unlike the star city, the tall riders will love this XCD as it is 1200mm tall. Bajaj doesn’t offer disc brake for this city bike. Ride quality is decent, XCD features 125mm telescopic forks at the front and 5-step adjustable SNS at the rear.
Value for money?
A strong buy call for this bike though the XCD does not has the performance of an 150cc bike(as Bajaj claimed). Then what makes XCD special is its price and its value for money(VFM). The 125cc XCD not only comes cheap Rs41000 but also excels in mileage section. Few first-in-class features makes this bike more attractive offer. Yes, XCD exceeds the expectations! but with the TVS Flame round the corner, XCD’s has to meet fierce battle to be a champ.
Between September 10th and the October 1st Bajaj Auto’s XCD sold 18,131 units. Buoyed by the response Bajaj reworked its capacity plan and now it is expanding XCD capacity to 75,000 units per month.
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