Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Hero Super Splendor Xtec: Petrol Or CNG?

It’s been a couple of years since the Bajaj Freedom 125 was launched in India and it has been quite a success in this time period. That said, there are still people who are unsure about it since it’s a CNG bike and would much rather go with a safer purchase. So we thought about putting the Bajaj bike against the Hero Super Splendor Xtec, one of the safest purchases of this segment. 

Here’s how the bikes fare against one another:

Price & Variants

• The first aspect of the Super Splendor Xtec being the safer purchase is its price. With its base variant costing just above Rs 85,000 ex-showroom, the bigger Splendor is good value for the money you pay

• In fact, the Super Splendor is one of the more affordable bikes in the entire segment, let alone between these two

• Being the only CNG bike in the world, the Freedom 125 requires special engineering and that can be seen in its price, which is on the higher side of things. The difference between the bikes’ base variants is almost Rs 19,000 and that gap widens to almost Rs 28,000 when you compare the top variants 

• That much money could sponsor your fuel charges for well above a year in this segment. So if we’re talking about the sheer value for your money, the Super Splendor Xtec definitely wins this battle 

Dimensions & Design

• The Bajaj Freedom 125 might look like a compact bike in pictures but it’s actually longer, taller and heavier than you’d think. The 825mm seat height is definitely tall for the segment and its thick seat design means it’s a little bit harder to plant your feet firmly on the ground when compared to other bikes with a similar seat height 

• It’s also quite long, with there being a 73mm difference in the two bikes’ wheelbases. The upside to that is that it has a massive seat, one that can easily accommodate a rider, a pillion and a backpack between them

• And with the big CNG cylinder it’s carrying, the Freedom is about 25kg heavier than the Super Splendor, which is quite something too. It’ll definitely feel like the heavier be at high or low speeds. While it’s not ungainly, it’s definitely not as friendly and light as the Splendor 

• Design-wise, while the Super Splendor Xtec 2.0 looks simple and like what you’d expect from a bike in this segment, the Freedom 125 looks a bit more special. Its design is a bit more eye-catchy, will feel premium and grabs more attention, which will make the owner feel more special

Features & Safety

• Now that Hero has discontinued the base variant of the Super Splendor, the bike’s only available in the Xtec variants. And that means it comes standard with a digital console as well as Bluetooth connectivity

• With that come a whole host of features like call & SMS alerts, mileage indicator, service reminder and a lot more. For its price, these are a lot of features to have so the Super Splendor hits it out of the park in terms of value for the money once again 

• While the Freedom gets an LCD console as standard, only its top variant gets Bluetooth connectivity. And even after that, the bike doesn’t really get as many features as the Super Splendor. And while features wasn’t the central idea of the Freedom 125, we can’t ignore the fact that more features on the Super Splendor could make it feel a bit more special than the Bajaj bike

Engines

• The Super Splendor Xtec makes more power and torque than the Freedom. And given that the Hero bike is a lot lighter than the Bajaj bike, the Splendor will also immediately feel like the more peppy bike of the 2

• The Super Splendor’s initial grunt is strong and the bike will execute quick overtakes in the city reasonably well

• On the other hand, the Freedom’s engine is a laidback one that’s made for great fuel efficiency only. Be it getting off the line or accelerating till about 50kmph, the bike takes its own sweet time to do everything

• That said, the Freedom’s highlight is its smoothness. The engine feels quite smooth even at 100kmph and it’s a very pleasant, peaceful place to be in even if you’re riding it just in the city

• Mileage figures for the Super Splendor Xtec should be between the 75-80kmpl mark and you could expect something marginally smaller on the Freedom. 

• That said, the Freedom’s bigger disadvantage is the measly range. With a 2kg CNG tank and a 2-litre fuel tank, the Freedom’s range is not even half the Super Splendor’s range

Verdict

The Bajaj Freedom 125 and the Hero Super Splendor Xtec are 2 good bikes that do what’s expected from them, and they do it well. If we’re talking about the objectively better bike of the two, it has to be the Super Splendor Xtec, for it costs much lower, has more features and feels like the more peppy of the two, it’s definitely the more fun of the 2.

But the Super Splendor will also quietly blend in the sea of commuters so if you want something that stands out, something that looks good, gets attention and makes you feel better, the Freedom 125 might do that. It being a CNG makes it a bit of an exclusive product, while its design and overall fit and finish levels definitely make it feel more premium. If you don’t mind paying a bit more for such an experience, you should definitely think about the Bajaj bike. 

Comparisons With Other Rivals: 

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Honda Shine 125: Detailed Comparison - Want the more tried-and-tested formula? Get the Shine 125. But if you want something new yet frugal and good, get the Freedom 125

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Hero Glamour 125: Detailed Comparison - If you want something a bit more feature-loaded, get the Glamour 125. Otherwise, the Bajaj Freedom 125 is good enough for most

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Bajaj Pulsar 125: Detailed Comparison - Want an efficient, smooth commuter? Get the Freedom. Want a bit more sportiness in your ride? Get the Pulsar 125

Bajaj Freedom 125: Same Price Other Options - If you’re not impressed with the Bajaj Freedom 125’s prices, here are 5 other two-wheelers you could think about instead: