Bajaj CT 125: In the race for premium two-wheelers in an overcrowded Indian motorcycle market, the Bajaj CT 125X has managed to create a niche, combining affordability and tough functionality.
That said, it’s a decent, down to earth commuter for the budget rider who values reliability, strength and value in his everyday commute from Bajaj’s stable of motorcycles. Now let’s turn our attention to what makes the CT 125X significant in the class.
Bajaj CT 125: Positioning and Stance in the Market Prices
The Bajaj CT 125X comes with the distinction of being the country’s most affordable 125cc motorcycle and offers a strong proposition for those looking to upgrade from lower displacement motorcycles.
Pricing for the CT 125X: The CT 125X has been priced very competitively at around ₹74,000 for the drum variant and ₹77,000 for the disc brakes variant (ex-showroom) while still being high on value and meeting certain Bajaj-level standards of quality.
With this strategic pricing, the CT 125X directly rivals the likes of the Honda Shine, TVS Radeon, Hero Glamour and the Honda SP 125 while being available at a slightly lower price point.
Especially when it comes to price-sensitive customers and potential first-time buyers who will see this price difference and find the scales of their decision leaning toward the Bajaj offering.
Design Thinking: Built Like a Truck
The CT 125X isn’t going to win any beauty contests – instead, it champions a philosophy of designing for life, rather than looks. The motorcycle has a neo-retro look with stance that appears rugged.
Its round headlamp with a small cowl, V-shaped LED daytime running light, headlight grille, and an upfront fork gaiters enhance its ruggedness.
The CT 125X comes with a few functional design elements that make it more practical for day-to-day use by Bajaj.
These comprise an engine crash guard, an expansive seat for two-up riding, a belly pan to safeguard the essentials, and a luggage rack at the rear.
The all-black theme with pop color decals (available in red, green or blue decals) paint scheme lends the bike a rather muted but unmistakable look.
The overall shape is still snazzy and compact, which is great for inner city motoring, but now has a chunky character befitting of the CT range.
Styling Though it may not be revolutionary in looks, the CT 125X’s design effectively blends a dose of urban commuter practicality with a dash of light off-road goodness.
Heart of the Matter: Motive and Performance
Beneath its form over function shell is a 124.4cc single-cylinder air-cooled motor which makes around 10.9 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 11 Nm of twist at 5,500 rpm.
This engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox which transmits the generated power to the rear wheel through a classic chain-final-drive system.
This engine is capable of, with Bajaj’s DTS-i (Digital Twin Spark ignition) system that employs two spark plugs per cylinder for better combustion efficiency that in return provides less fuel-consumption and emissions while riding. This method complies with BS6 Phase 2 emission norms and is also ensures consistent performance.
It’s not meant to be a high-speed thrill machine, but the CT 125X does what it was designed for well—zipping around the city.
The engine provides sufficient torque at the bottom-end and enables to get a good jerk from halt and is linear in the city traffic. The wide-ratio gears also contribute to the bike’s utility in stop-and-go traffic, even with a passenger onboard.
Efficiency as a Priority
For the CT 125X’s target customer, fuel economy plays a big role in their choice of vehicle and this motorcycle does really well in this department.
ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency is 59.6 km/l while in the real world users have reported figures between 55-60 km/l, and can run on a tight fuel budget for extended distances.
With an 11-liter capacity fuel tank, it would be able to achieve a theoretical range of around 550-650 kilometers on a full tank, decreasing the number of stops needed to fill up for daily commuters.
This mix of efficiency and distance makes the CT 125X particularly appealing to riders who rely on the bike as their main way of getting to work or college.
Chassis/Handling/Suspension Body – (FRONT): Stiffer enlarged ball cups to resist pull through, more precise steering and a more durable package.
It’s held together by a semi-double cradle frame that offers sufficient rigidity without going too heavy on the scales. It weighs around 130 kg, and even the leanest of the riders can ride it due to its light weight.
The front gets regular telescopic forks and the rear gets twin shock absorbers to take care of suspension duties.
This setup is designed for comfort more than it is for sporting agility, with plenty of travel to soak up the imperfections our Indian roads have to throw at it.
It rides on 17-inch alloy wheels which come wrapped with tubeless tires, measuring 80/100 section at the front and 100/90 section at the rear that provides you a good mix of grip and life.
For braking, the base model gets 130mm drum brakes at either end respectively, while the higher-spec variant additionally receives a 240mm disc brake mechanism at the front for better braking capability. Both the versions are fitted with CBS to ensure better safety during the panic braking condition.
Ground clearance of 169mm makes the CT 125X capable of handling uneven surfaces with some confidence, which should make it an ideal for semi-urban and rural areas where the road may not be in the best condition.
Before we get into that parting gift, let’s first make it very clear that the 810mm seat isn’t going to work well for everyone, although the bike’s narrowness does help keep feet flat at a stop.
Feature Set: Basic, not Over the Top
Consistent with this value-oriented philosophy, the CT 125X highlights practicality and convenience without unnecessary excess.
The instrument cluster is a plain Jane ANALOG unit wich provides information on the speed, odometer and fuel level. It comes with a USB charging port for added convenience, making it easy to stay charged while you’re on the road.
Some of the lights are halogen head lamp, bulb category indicators and the regular tail lamp. The V shaped pattern in the LED DRL adds more contemporary look to the front of the motorcycle and is a big aid to day time visibility.
The bike has both a kick and an electric start feature so you can always get back on the road as if any thing happens with the battery you won’t be stranded.
Other features include a generously padded comfortable seat, rubber tank pads, for better grip while riding, and a center stand, in addition to the standard side stand to assist in parking and servicing.
Ownership Experience
The CT 125X ownership package adds up after the price tag. Easy maintenance due to the availability of basic mechanicals and Bajaj’s pan India network of service stations means maintenance costs still sit on the happier side.
Also, the availability and affordability of spare parts for this baby makes it an even more attractive value for the budget-squeezed enthusiast.
Its no-nonsense and robust build quality will probably last a lifetime, and due to its simplicity you won’t faced with many major direct mechanical failures, although a few owners have reported minor niggles that one might expect of a budget line bike.
“perceived as durable” which is fairly the norm when it comes to bajar and commutters at least, so the CT125X will apearently be a good commuttery friend that you wont have to be afraid of for daily use.
Bajaj CT 125: A Practical Mobility Solution
The Bajaj CT 125X makes no pretensions of being anything it’s not. It is an honest, no frills commuter bike that’s aimed at those looking for a reliable mode of transportation at an affordable price.
Prioritizing fuel efficiency, durability, and affordability over head-turning amenities or avant-garde design, it is true to the fundamental values that take precedence for its intended customers.
And customers who are looking for an entry into the 125cc segment without wanting to strain their wallet, or they are in the market looking for a reliable workhorse for daily commuting on all sorts of roads can even consider the CT 125X.
This will likely not be a favorite with gear heads, but that is not what we need – practical approaches to transport for the majority.
At a time when the market is heavily leaning towards the premium side of things, the Bajaj CT 125X is a reminder that there is still merit to sound engineering and a value-led approach to product development when it comes to solving the transportation requirements of millions of Indians.