Bajaj XCD 125 DTS-Si by Dilip Bam

Bajaj Auto Ltd. has just launched their latest bike named XCD 125 DTS-Si.

XCD is short for eXCeeD, while Si stands for Swirl induction. Bajaj is claiming that this 125 cc bike will exceed the mileage of all other bikes including the 100 cc bikes, yet will produce 9.53 PS of power at 7000 rpm, [=9.40 bhp == 7.01 kw] and 10.85 Nm of torque at 5000 rpm, which is almost the domain of the 125 cc class. If the bike actually delivers the claimed (by salesmen) 75 kmpL minimum mileage and 90 kmpH top end performance almost commensurate with the 125 class as well as the kind of Low-End-Torque (LET) that it actually has, then this bike will be a hit.

I had a short double seat ride on this bike. I like the seat. Seat is most important because that is where it all rests. Thankfully there is not deep cusp for the front (driver) part of the seat and less than a hint of rise in the pillion part. This is very sensible and looks beautiful too. The 124.58 cc mill having bore x stroke of 54 x 54.4 mm has "swirl" induction, which is supposed to be the magic behind this bike. This "swirl" is actually turbulence created in the fuel+air charge and has been achieved by altering the shape / size / dimensions of the port, and it is a fact that turbulence leads to better combustion. Though I could not check its top speed because of the traffic and the short ride, I am highly impressed by the LET, which I feel is the best among all Indian bikes today, and it is due to this powerful torque delivery at such a low [5000] rpm which is the key to the high mileage that this bike is expected to give. Bajaj seem to have realized that as and when Tata and the Bengal communists launch their Rs.0ne lakh car (along with similarly priced cars being threatened to be launched by the Hero group, Renault, Toyota and Bajaj themselves!), the traffic situation on our road starved cities is going to go to the dogs, and in that scenario the bike with the strongest LET at the lowest RPM will be TOP DOG! With average stoppage at traffic lights in Bengaluru and Hyderabad being TWO minutes, people switch off the engine (to save expensive petrol) while waiting for the lights to change, so self start is almost compulsory and Bajaj is killing two birds (LET + self-start) with one stone (XCD) just like TVS did some time ago with its self-start StaR City.

Like Pulsar & Discover, this bike also has twin spark plugs as its name DTS suggests, which are fired by microprocessor controlled digital CDi having variable timing with multiple maps along with Bajaj's TRiCS incorporated into the side-draft Ucal-Mikuni VM 16 with auto-choke (or Keihin FiE PTE 16 autochoke) carburetor. A great thing is that the turn indicating blinkers of this bike are mounted on such kind of rubber that you can bend their stem into a U-shape and they still don't break. This is a great feature and will save users a lot of money because blinkers are the most commonly breakable part. Another feature is that the blinker glass is plain transparent while the bulb is orange color. The bike has four gears and the shift pattern is all-down. Exhaustec is fitted on the silencer bend pipe. There is a transparent open-able (by removing cir-clip) window on crank-case at LH for tappet setting. The handlebar has end-pieces to eliminate vibrations. In fact, in my ride I did not feel any vibrations at all.

Petrol recommended is unleaded 87 Octane and the EiGHT litre fuel tank has a hinged tank-cap. The 112 kg bike is the lightest 125 cc bike (less weight==better mileage) and rides on 2.75 x 17 Eurogrip tire front and 3.00 x 17 Dunlop Zebra-Y tire at rear. Stopping is by 130 mm drum brake front and 110 mm drum brake rear. Rear swing-arm is of rectangular cross section for better road-holding and flex-free chassis.

The best part of this bike is its fantastic pricing ! Rs.46,370/- on road in Pune, with self start & 5-spoke black alloy wheels. In fact this bike is the BLACKEST of the "Fear-the-Black" brigade, so successfully launched by Bajaj some time ago that now everybody and his brother have joined the black brigade, be it Honda or Hero Honda or anybody else. The fully enclosed chain cover, the front forks, leg-guard, and the heel-toe gear shifter are all black. Even the miniscule plastic side carrier that it sports at LH rear echoes the black theme. Other goodies are a digital speedo / odo and LED tail light.