Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Bajaj Platina 100: More Money For Flex Fuel Worth It?

The Hero HF Deluxe flex fuel was recently launched in India. Another prime contender by an Indian manufacturer in the 100cc commuter segment is the Bajaj Platina 100. So here we’ve put the two bikes against one another and see if you should go in for the more future-proof bike or is the more affordable Platina 100 the better choice: 

Price & Variants

• Starting off with the price, the Bajaj Platina 100 has a bit of an edge with its near Rs 4,000 saving over the Hero bike. That’s not a small amount especially in this segment, for that much money could cover your fuel costs for at least a couple of months. 

• While the HF Deluxe flex fuel isn’t a very expensive bike in itself, the Platina 100 just sounds like the more value for money of the two. 

• An argument could be made for the HF Deluxe, saying that it deserves the extra money given that it’s E85-compatible already. If that’s fine by you, sure. But if you want just the more affordable bike, it’s the Platina 100 and the Bajaj bike wins this round. 

Dimensions & Design 

• If we talk about dimensions, the Platina 100 will come across as the slightly taller and longer bike. On the whole, it’s the bike which seems just a little bit larger than of the two. The margins aren’t large but they’re noticeable, for sure. 

• The HF Deluxe flex fuel, on the other hand, looks smaller and doesn’t have the slight tall-boy vibe that the Platina 100 has.  

• The biggest difference on paper has to be the 4.5kg delta in their kerb weights and we’d advise you not to read into it too much. They’re both still extremely light bikes and whether you’re a newer rider or even an absolute newbie, you’ll still find them extremely easy to ride even with a pillion. 

• In terms of designs, they’re both simple, skinny and uncluttered, like most other bikes in this segment. People buy 100cc bikes because they’re safe, reliable and inoffensive purchases and that’s exactly what both the bikes look like as well. 

Features & Safety

• This has to be the shortest features’ list we’ve seen in quite a while and honestly it’s kind of refreshing. The HF Deluxe has a small list and the Platina 100 has an even smaller list. 

• Most importantly, both have tubeless tyres as standard, something that makes repairing punctures a whole lot easier. The analogue consoles mean everyone in the family can read them with ease. 

• It’s just that the HF Deluxe has a bit of an edge here with nifty little bits like a side-stand engine cutoff system as well as Hero’s i3S technology. 

• And we don’t mind it at all, for having the fanciest of TFT consoles with Bluetooth connectivity isn’t the main priority for any bike in this segment. Yet if you insist on your 100cc bike having more features, there are the likes of the Hero Splendor Plus Xtec in this segment. 

Engines

• There’s not much difference when it comes to the two bikes’ engines. They’re both almost 100cc engines making the same amount of torque and almost the same amount of power. 

• Low speeds is when you will feel most of the power, for these engines are made more for torque, to facilitate easy overtakes. Apart from that, these are mileage-driven engines, so they have to be understressed. 

• Talking about mileage, the HF Deluxe’s engine is already known to be a very fuel-efficient one and if you ride very consciously, you could even see upwards of 100kmpl. The Platina 100 will also be extremely fuel-efficient. Even if it’s not as efficient as the HF Deluxe, you could still see figures of above 85kmpl. 

• Highways are obviously where both bikes will struggle the most and you will experience vibrations at anything above 55-60kmph. That said, they’ll still handle occasional highway trips without you having to worry a lot. 

Verdict 

This is a close one, given how closely-stacked both bikes are in most departments. And that’s why it boils down to the price. The Bajaj Platina 100 offers a lot of what the Hero HF Deluxe flex fuel offers but at a slightly lower cost and that’s what makes it the more value for money offering. And in this segment, value for their money is exactly what customers are chasing. 

That said, it’s not automatically game over for the HF Deluxe. The biggest trick it has up its sleeve is the flex fuel badge, which makes it future-proof, making it ready when the E85 fuel is rolled out to all the petrol pumps pan India. If you think that peace of mind is worth some extra money, spending more for the HF Deluxe flex fuel would make sense. 

Rivals: 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Hero Splendor Plus Flex Fuel: The HF Deluxe costs less, making it the easier recommendation of the two. But if you want a bike with the Splendor badge, you’ll have to pay a bit more for it too. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs TVS Sport: The TVS Sport looks more substantial while carrying a lower price tag. So it’s the obvious choice for us, between these two. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs TVS Radeon: The Radeon costs a lot less than the HF Deluxe flex fuel, so if you’re on a tight budget, it’s the automatic winner for us. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Honda Shine 100: While the Shine 100 is a good city bike, it feels out of place on the highways. The low weight also makes it a bit nervous on the highways, which makes the HF Deluxe flex fuel the better all-rounder of the 2. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Hero HF Deluxe:  The HF Deluxe flex fuel is a more future-proof bike which will ensure that you’re ready when the E85 fuel arrives all across India. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel SPOO: If you think the HF Deluxe flex fuel is too expensive for your tastes, here are a list of bikes and scooters that you can spend your money on instead.