A value for money package!

The 2015 Bajaj Platina 100 ES gets several attributes to its name while also being very frugal, which makes it a great value for money option in the crowded 100cc segment, says Indian motoring website MotorBeam.com.

Once upon a time Bajaj Auto was a dominant player in the high volume commuter segment but only to have itself pushed down by the competition coming from Hero and Honda. Nonetheless, the automaker has made a comeback to the commuter space this year with the refreshed Platina 100 ES, its second most affordable offering. With successful rivals like the Hero Splendor and Honda Dream Series, the new Platina is here to win back sales, boasting of a host of upgrades over its predecessor.

MotorBeam took Bajaj's newest offering for a spin, which also happens to be one of most fuel efficient motorcycles in the world.

Being the commuter it is, the styling on the Bajaj Platina 100 ES is simple and similar to its predecessor, but with revised panels, silencer, headlight cluster with visor and new body graphics. The turn indicators are new but look dated while the rear cowl and grab rails are completely new on the bike.

Complimenting our red test bike was the grey mint shade painted on the engine while the all-black alloy wheels lend a sporty appeal. The bike retains the rear view mirrors and tail lamp from the outgoing Platina, while the contoured fuel tank gets a hinged fuel-filler cap that adds to the convenience. For the price, the Platina 100 ES is a good looking motorcycle.

Clear to read and understand, the Platina 100 ES gets a simple instrument console with two round pods. One is reserved for the speedometer and odometer while the other is used to incorporate the information such as the fuel gauge, neutral indicator, high beam and turn indicator lights.

The speedometer also shows the economy zone to achieve the high fuel efficiency between the 35-50 km/hr mark. Switchgear quality is decent and the new Platina 100 ES gets updated with an electric start button on the right handle for improved convenience.

The seating position on the new Bajaj Platina is upright and very comfortable, especially for long rides. The elongated seat accommodates the rider and pillion with ease and, in fact, is the longest in its segment by 20 per cent.

The foot pegs are placed well and provide good support to the legs, especially while riding in congested traffic conditions. The scooped fuel tank provides ample thigh support to the rider.

Powering the new Bajaj Platina 100 ES is the 102cc 2-valve, air-cooled, single-cylinder DTS-i engine that produces 8.2 BHP at 7500 RPM and 8.6 Nm of torque at 5000 RPM. This motor is a refined unit and feels smooth when revved. However, despite the decent torque output at high revs, top-end performance feels a bit disappointing.

We also felt the choke button was oddly placed below the 11.5-litre fuel tank. The commuter uses a 4-speed gearbox, which is a bit noisy in the first two gears but does the job effectively. The gear ratios have been optimised for city commutes with the first gear being very short while the other gears are on par with segment offerings and help the bike achieve a top speed of 80 km/hr.

The clutch, in particular, turned out to be impressive with its smooth operation. Talking about fuel efficiency levels, Bajaj says the bike returns an ARAI certified 96.9 km/l, but one can expect an economy of around 75 km/l in realistic conditions.

The 2015 Platina 100 has grown in dimensions and weighs a light 108 kgs on the standard version and 113 kgs on the ES trim. The lightweight comes courtesy of the tubular chassis and compliments the light handle, making lane changing within city limits quick. Keeping the ride quality pliant are the telescopic forks up front and the SNS suspension setup at the rear that keeps the bike stable and makes it glide over potholes and other road undulations.

That said, braking performance on the Platina 100 ES is average but enough for daily commutes and occasional highway rides. We particularly loved the sticky CEAT tyres that make the riding so much easier.

The Bajaj Platina 100 ES is a no nonsense commuter that comes with some major attributes to its credit including a big fuel tank, long seat and a hinge on the fuel lid. Yes, it isn't an extremely exciting bike to ride but does fare strongly in terms of fuel efficiency, maintenance costs and overall comfort, the major factors a 100cc buyer looks for.

At Rs 52,610 (on-road, Mumbai), the attractive pricing, refined engine and good manoeuvrability makes the Platina 100 ES emerge as a value for money package and a worthy competitor to the offerings from Hero MotoCorp and Honda.