Bajaj CT100 Review w.r.t its Closest Competitors
Published on: Apr 17, 2017
Bajaj CT100 Comparison with Similarly Priced Alternatives:
The Bajaj CT100 is available in 3 variants. The Bajaj CT100B with the round headlamp. The CT100 with spoke wheels, and the CT100 with Alloy Wheels. However, none of the variants get an electric starter.
Bajaj CT100 Comparative Review Video:
Variant 1: CT100 B - 34,000 Rs. on-road Delhi - NOT RECOMMENDED
The CT100B variant, retails for 34,000 Rs. on road Delhi, but we do not recommend buying it. Instead we recommend the following two alternatives:
Better Alternative 1: TVS Sport - 43,000 Rs.
First alternative is the TVS Sport, which costs 43,000 Rs. on road Delhi, which is 9000 Rs more than the CT100B. It is noticeably more refined, has better quality cycle-parts, is more comfortable and a lot more tractable, than the CT100 B. But most importantly it is a more reliable bike than the CT. You may save some money, while 'buying' a CT, but it will most certainly, make you spend more on maintenance, especially after the first 2 years, compared to the TVS Sport. Also do not believe in the 99.1 kmpl claimed efficiency of the CT, actual efficiency that we got in our tests, was much lower, around 70 kmpl, while that of the TVS Sport was around 66 kmpl. So the difference, is hardly 4 kmpl. Also TVS bikes maintain their efficiency for a longer period than Bajaj bikes, as we have seen over the last 20 years in the market.
We understand the fact, that you are considering the CT100 B, means that you are on a very very tight budget. So let us calculate how much extra you might have to pay, for the TVS Sport compared to the CT100B. You need to make a down payment of 10,500 Rs. for the TVS Sport, which is 2000 Rs. more than CT100 B's down payment of 8500 Rs.
TVS Sport's EMI is 1070 Rs. which is 220 Rs. per month more, than CT100's EMI of 850 Rs. If it is possible for you to save up just 2000 Rs. more, and afford an additional EMI of juust 220 Rs. per month, we sincerely urge you to stay away from the CT. When you finally sell your bike in the second hand market, you will get better resale value for the Sport, than the CT100 and get back most of extra money spent on buying the Sport.
Better Alternative 2: Hero HF Dawn (Kick, Spoke) - 45,000 Rs.
Second alternative is the Hero HF Dawn, which costs 45,000 Rs. on road Delhi, which is 11,000 Rs more than the CT100B. The HF Dawn is even better than the TVS Sport in terms of smoothness, low-end torque and most importantly reliability. You can still see loads of 25 year old CD100s on the road, in running condition. How many 20 year old Bajaj bikes have you seen on the road? In terms of mileage, the Dawn returned 64 kpl in our test. However, lets not forget that the famous Hero-Honda 'sloper' engine maintains its efficiency for many many years, while Bajaj bikes are known for a rapid drop in mileage after a few years.
The HF Dawn, requires down payment of 11,000 Rs. which is 2500 Rs. more than the CT100 B and an EMI of 1100 Rs. which is 250 Rs. per month more than CT100B. But, the HF Dawn holds such fantastic resale value that when you finally sell it in the used bike market, you will definitely earn back all the extra money spent while buying the HF.
Variant 2: CT100 (Kick, Spoke) - 40,000 Rs. on road Delhi - NOT RECOMMENDED
The regular CT100's spoke wheeled variant, retails for 40,000 Rs. on road Delhi, but we do not recommend buying it. Instead we recommend the following two alternatives:
Bajaj CT100 Comparison with Similarly Priced Alternatives:
The Bajaj CT100 is available in 3 variants. The Bajaj CT100B with the round headlamp. The CT100 with spoke wheels, and the CT100 with Alloy Wheels. However, none of the variants get an electric starter.
Bajaj CT100 Comparative Review Video:
Variant 1: CT100 B - 34,000 Rs. on-road Delhi - NOT RECOMMENDED
The CT100B variant, retails for 34,000 Rs. on road Delhi, but we do not recommend buying it. Instead we recommend the following two alternatives:
Better Alternative 1: TVS Sport - 43,000 Rs.
First alternative is the TVS Sport, which costs 43,000 Rs. on road Delhi, which is 9000 Rs more than the CT100B. It is noticeably more refined, has better quality cycle-parts, is more comfortable and a lot more tractable, than the CT100 B. But most importantly it is a more reliable bike than the CT. You may save some money, while 'buying' a CT, but it will most certainly, make you spend more on maintenance, especially after the first 2 years, compared to the TVS Sport. Also do not believe in the 99.1 kmpl claimed efficiency of the CT, actual efficiency that we got in our tests, was much lower, around 70 kmpl, while that of the TVS Sport was around 66 kmpl. So the difference, is hardly 4 kmpl. Also TVS bikes maintain their efficiency for a longer period than Bajaj bikes, as we have seen over the last 20 years in the market.
We understand the fact, that you are considering the CT100 B, means that you are on a very very tight budget. So let us calculate how much extra you might have to pay, for the TVS Sport compared to the CT100B. You need to make a down payment of 10,500 Rs. for the TVS Sport, which is 2000 Rs. more than CT100 B's down payment of 8500 Rs.
TVS Sport's EMI is 1070 Rs. which is 220 Rs. per month more, than CT100's EMI of 850 Rs. If it is possible for you to save up just 2000 Rs. more, and afford an additional EMI of juust 220 Rs. per month, we sincerely urge you to stay away from the CT. When you finally sell your bike in the second hand market, you will get better resale value for the Sport, than the CT100 and get back most of extra money spent on buying the Sport.
Better Alternative 2: Hero HF Dawn (Kick, Spoke) - 45,000 Rs.
Second alternative is the Hero HF Dawn, which costs 45,000 Rs. on road Delhi, which is 11,000 Rs more than the CT100B. The HF Dawn is even better than the TVS Sport in terms of smoothness, low-end torque and most importantly reliability. You can still see loads of 25 year old CD100s on the road, in running condition. How many 20 year old Bajaj bikes have you seen on the road? In terms of mileage, the Dawn returned 64 kpl in our test. However, lets not forget that the famous Hero-Honda 'sloper' engine maintains its efficiency for many many years, while Bajaj bikes are known for a rapid drop in mileage after a few years.
The HF Dawn, requires down payment of 11,000 Rs. which is 2500 Rs. more than the CT100 B and an EMI of 1100 Rs. which is 250 Rs. per month more than CT100B. But, the HF Dawn holds such fantastic resale value that when you finally sell it in the used bike market, you will definitely earn back all the extra money spent while buying the HF.
Variant 2: CT100 (Kick, Spoke) - 40,000 Rs. on road Delhi - NOT RECOMMENDED
The regular CT100's spoke wheeled variant, retails for 40,000 Rs. on road Delhi, but we do not recommend buying it. Instead we recommend the following two alternatives:
Better Alternative 1: Hero HF Dawn - 45,000 Rs.
First alternative is the Hero HF Dawn, having a sticker price 45,000 Rs. which is 5000 Rs more than the CT100 spoke. Hero HF Dawn is a far better bike than the CT 100. Especially its Honda designed engine is much smoother than the CT 100's. It has better pick-up at lower rpm, which makes it easier to drive in city traffic. But what is most important is that, it is a lot more long-lasting and maintenance-free compared to Bajaj. The overall quality of parts and plastics is also better on the HF Dawn, compared to the CT 100. Hero's after sales service is also better than Bajaj, but that is mainly because their bikes require much lesser repairs than Bajaj bikes in the first place.
First alternative is the Hero HF Dawn, having a sticker price 45,000 Rs. which is 5000 Rs more than the CT100 spoke. Hero HF Dawn is a far better bike than the CT 100. Especially its Honda designed engine is much smoother than the CT 100's. It has better pick-up at lower rpm, which makes it easier to drive in city traffic. But what is most important is that, it is a lot more long-lasting and maintenance-free compared to Bajaj. The overall quality of parts and plastics is also better on the HF Dawn, compared to the CT 100. Hero's after sales service is also better than Bajaj, but that is mainly because their bikes require much lesser repairs than Bajaj bikes in the first place.
The CT100 requires a down payment of 10,000 Rs. which is just 1000 Rs. less, than the HF Dawn's down payment of 11,000 Rs. CT100's EMI is 1000 Rs, which again is just 100 Rs. less, than HF Dawn's EMI of 1100 Rs. But once you pay that small premium, you save money on maintenance, repairs and get a far better resale value as well. Also, the regular CT100 may claim an ARAI certified mileage of 89.5 kmpl, but in our real-world tests it was just 68 kmpl, while the HF Dawn returned 64 kmpl. However in the long term, HF Dawn is bound to maintain its efficiency, while CT100 is known to face a rapid fall in its mileage over the years.
Better Alternative 2: Hero HF Deluxe (Electric Start, Alloy) - 51,000 Rs.
Second alternative is the Hero HF Deluxe ES, having a sticker price 51,000 Rs. which is 11,000 Rs more than the CT100 spoke. For a down payment of 12,500 Rs. which is just 2500 Rs. more than the CT100 and an EMI of 1275 Rs. which is just 175 Rs. more than the CT100, you get a far more refined, more torquey, well-built and far more reliable motorcycle than the CT. But that's not all. You also get an Electric Starter and Alloy Wheels, which are absent in the CT100 Spoke. Not only does it save you from the inconvenience of repeated Kick Starts, especially during winter, but Electric Starter equipped bikes also fetch a far better resale value in the second hand market.
Variant 3: CT100 (Kick Start, Alloy Wheels) - 44,000 Rs. - NOT RECOMMENDED
The CT100's Alloy Wheel variant, retails for 44,000 Rs. on road Delhi, but we do not recommend buying it either. Instead we present you the following two alternatives:
Better Alternative 1: Hero HF Dawn - 45,000 Rs.
First is the Hero HF Dawn, which costs 45,000 Rs. that is just 1000 Rs. more than the CT100's Alloy variant. The CT100 has a small fairing around the headlamp and mag-wheels, but the HF Dawn has a better engine. Any sensible person will always chose a better engine over some useless styling elements, won't he? The HF Dawn is much smoother, long-lasting and an overall higher quality motorcycle than the CT. It may have slightly lower fuel efficiency than the CT100, when both bikes are new, but over the years you will face a huge drop in the CT100's mileage, while the HF will maintain it efficiency. The HF Dawn will fetch you a far higher resale value and save you a lot of money on maintenance and repairs, compared to the CT, which is why we recommend the HF Dawn over the CT100 any day.
First is the Hero HF Dawn, which costs 45,000 Rs. that is just 1000 Rs. more than the CT100's Alloy variant. The CT100 has a small fairing around the headlamp and mag-wheels, but the HF Dawn has a better engine. Any sensible person will always chose a better engine over some useless styling elements, won't he? The HF Dawn is much smoother, long-lasting and an overall higher quality motorcycle than the CT. It may have slightly lower fuel efficiency than the CT100, when both bikes are new, but over the years you will face a huge drop in the CT100's mileage, while the HF will maintain it efficiency. The HF Dawn will fetch you a far higher resale value and save you a lot of money on maintenance and repairs, compared to the CT, which is why we recommend the HF Dawn over the CT100 any day.
Better Alternative 2: Honda CD110 Dream (Electric Start, Alloy) - 53,000 Rs.
Second alternative is the Honda CD110 'Dream'. It costs 53,000 Rs, which is 9000 Rs more than the CT100 Aloy. It requires a down payment of 13,000, which is just 2000 Rs. more than the CT100's Alloy Wheel version. Its EMI of 1325 Rs. is also just 240 Rs. per month more than CT100's EMI of 1085 Rs. The CD110 also gets a small fairing around the headlamp and mag-wheels, just like the CT. However, it also gets an Electric Starter, which is absent in the CT100.
Overall, the CD110 is not only a more refined bike, having better fit and finish and far better durability than the CT100, but also than the HF Deluxe, HF Dawn and TVS Sport. It will definitely hold better resale value than the CT, but the presence of Self-Start will increase the difference in resale price even further. In our real world tests, the CD110 returned a fantastic fuel economy of 68 kmpl, and it will maintain its mileage for years to come. The CD110 is by far the best motorcycle in the the market today, up to a price of 55,000 Rs.
If you ask us, we would recommend you to save up a little bit more and go for the Honda CD110 Dream, instead of wasting your money on buying a substandard motorcycle like the Bajaj CT100. Believe us, if you buy the CT, you will regret your decision later and end up spending a lot more on maintenance and repairs, than what you will save while buying it.
Second alternative is the Honda CD110 'Dream'. It costs 53,000 Rs, which is 9000 Rs more than the CT100 Aloy. It requires a down payment of 13,000, which is just 2000 Rs. more than the CT100's Alloy Wheel version. Its EMI of 1325 Rs. is also just 240 Rs. per month more than CT100's EMI of 1085 Rs. The CD110 also gets a small fairing around the headlamp and mag-wheels, just like the CT. However, it also gets an Electric Starter, which is absent in the CT100.
Overall, the CD110 is not only a more refined bike, having better fit and finish and far better durability than the CT100, but also than the HF Deluxe, HF Dawn and TVS Sport. It will definitely hold better resale value than the CT, but the presence of Self-Start will increase the difference in resale price even further. In our real world tests, the CD110 returned a fantastic fuel economy of 68 kmpl, and it will maintain its mileage for years to come. The CD110 is by far the best motorcycle in the the market today, up to a price of 55,000 Rs.
If you ask us, we would recommend you to save up a little bit more and go for the Honda CD110 Dream, instead of wasting your money on buying a substandard motorcycle like the Bajaj CT100. Believe us, if you buy the CT, you will regret your decision later and end up spending a lot more on maintenance and repairs, than what you will save while buying it.