Bajaj XCD 135 DTS-Si Review

With the launch of the Bajaj XCD 135 DTS-Si Bajaj Auto stood first among the new launches for the year 2009 and so it rightly had to be. When a company with a lion's share in the market (owns up to 50% market share), it was the most obvious step rather a logical strategy from the manufacturer to firm its position with new products and the "me first" initiation was pretty natural. One might think that an upgrade from 125 cc to 135 cc, which is a mere 10 cc difference make up for a new bike. Well, do not harbor any doubts regarding this factor, as the company is not here to play the fool around, it surely means business and serious business. And the following review will change your opinion in a jiffy for here is a sporty commuter bike that you might fall in love with and put all apprehensions to rest.

Looks
The introduction to the XCD 135 DTS-Si was mainly to cater to the commuting requirements of young riders, and the bike maker has hit the bull's eye in this regard. And at the same time kept the basic design of the Pulsar family intact, though maybe a bit of shrinkage in the size it still can be acceptable.



When you compare the XCD 135 with XCD 125, it definitely looks fabulous than its predecessor, of course there are a few similar genes, nevertheless the improvisation adds charm to the bike and the well proportionate build gives a handsome look. The bikini faring on low set visor and the shapely front mudguard gives the bike candid sporty looks that would appeal to the target group. The fuel tank is certainly bigger than the older version and the extensions with meshed vents certainly define masculinity as with any Bajaj machine.



To further add to the masculine look is the razor-sharp tail panel, headlamp, tail lamps and turn lights that feature unique design and exudes a sporty appeal. In all, the biggest attraction in the XCD 135 are overall styling of the lights be it twin LED strips, headlamp, delectable indicators and of course the tail lights. The newly furnished console certainly stands above all the Bajaj products; the digital speedometer and the analogue tachometer are quite larger than its siblings. The single large seat, which implicitly sets off rider from pillion easily and comfortably accommodates two. And the gear shifters and brake pedal are rightly positioned and enable simple and hassle-free operation.

Engine, performance and mileage
Now comes the actual stuff; XCD is loaded with the 135cc engine that produces 10.2 PS power and maximum torque of 11.8 Nm, which is the best among its rivals. The bike manages to the hit the 60 kmph from the stagnant mode in just about 6.81 seconds, which again is the best in this class of bikes. The numeral specifications is not the criteria here, the fact that how these figures translate into the performance of the bike is what matters the most and I must say the XCD 135 DTS-Si has an excellent pull and it also carries around a good amount of load pretty easily.

The 5-speed gearbox enables smooth cruising of the bike and with a top speed of 102.03 km/h is simply a superb combination. The refined engine offers a blissful ride in the city traffic. With a mind-blowing mileage of 62.4 kmpl in the city you can hardly have any complains.

Colors and versions
Get ready to choose from the trendy color scheme offered for the new XCD 135 DTS-Si that is as follows: blue, red, black combined with green, black plus red and black plus blue. The prices (ex-showroom Delhi) differ for variants
XCD 135 KS costs Rs. 43000,
XCD 135 ES costs Rs. 45000
XCD 135 DBES (electric start and disc brakes in the front) costs Rs. 47000

So why should anyone buy the XCD 135 DTSSi?
The little wonder from Bajaj is a stylish-looking bike combined with excellent speed, mileage and on road behavior that will surely win your heart. And the XCD 135 cc DTS-Si sets a benchmark for stylish-looking commuter bikes, which also explains why riders looking for scooters can switch over to this trendy bike that will give you much more in return. Although I would like to mention that tall riders might not prefer the bike because of smaller wheelbase and fuel tank.