PRIME MOVER

5,300km report Midway through its duration with us, our long term Freedom Prima 125 withstands the rigours of a hectic daily schedule.
Our long-term LML Freedom Prima 125 has frequently been changing hands. This time the exchange was due to our enthusiastic designer Tarak Parekh swapping his personal Pulsar 150cc for a refreshing change. Though we feel that styling on the Prima 125 is a bit garish, Tarak praises the bike's cozy riding seat. And him being a ladies man, we hear his numerous girlfriends heaping praise on the equally plush rear seat. He understands that while ride quality on this motorcycle can be stiff for a solo rider, that's the price one has to pay for crisp handling and enjoyable cornering manners. Another asset of this LML has to be its trouble-free electricals, for though we find that switchgear quality and texture could do with improvement, everything functions without any worry to this day.
We had mentioned that Tarak is a bike enthusiast, and here's why. Unlike most people who would make the devout journey from Mumbai to Shirdi sedately packed into a bus, he chose to whip over for his tryst with the famed shrine on the Prima 125. He returned singing its praises. It did the complete 400km-plus trip without difficulty; feeling planted and stable at speeds upto a reasonable 60-70kph.
Without reliability issues on this sojourn, he points out that the single largest complaint is poor gearing of this 124.8cc bike. While shift quality is good, LML has not provided adequate space between fourth and fifth gear ratios, which feel like just one gear. Another grouse is that this motor has retained its quirky tendency to snatch and stall at will.
We recently gave the bike to an LML service station in keeping with its regular service schedule, but were bitterly disappointed when they didn't do much before returning the bike. Even a rear-view mirror that had to be replaced was not in stock, and is yet to arrive. A high note of the bike is its economy that remains healthy at around 48kpl — and this in spite of him spending most days tediously inching it through traffic snarls in Mumbai.
In conclusion, Tarak is of the opinion that in spite of numerous complaints, the LML Prima 125 makes good sense as a city commuter's motorcycle for its low running costs and sound reliability.l
Rishad Cooper

Captions:
Engine tends to stall at low speed.

Styling is garish.