Bajaj Discover 110
Bajaj Auto shake up the 110-cc commuter segment with a new Discover for 2018. Here’s what we think after a day in the saddle
Bajaj aim to shake up the 110-cc commuter segment with the new Discover
The Discover name has been part of bajaj’s line-up for well over a decade, and over the years we have seen several variants come and go in capacities ranging from 100 cc to 150 cc. There was the entrylevel 100-cc Discover, a few variants of an executive-commuter 125-cc version, and sportier 135- and 150-cc versions. With all of these models running their course with varied levels of success, bajaj have now decided to wipe the slate clean and refresh the brand with two new motorcycles for 2018: the Discover 110 and the Discover 125. We bring you this first ride report after spending a day with the smaller sibling in the environment it is designed for — Pune’s unforgiving traffic.
although this is an all-new motorcycle, it is easily recognisable as a bajaj Discover at first glance. This is intentional and the design takes much inspiration from earlier Discover models to reinforce the connect that the target audience had with the older bikes. it is only on closer inspection that the newer bits shine through. The familiar oval headlight is now flanked by attractive LeD daytime running lights, and beyond the short fly-screen is an all-new dash with an easy-to-read analogue tachometer featuring a racy red needle, beside a large LcD display with a bold speed readout. The display is spacious enough to have dedicated rows for o do and trip meters without the need for a button to switch between the two; the odometer is displayed along the top, while the trip meter finds room under the speedo and there’s even room for a vertical bar-type fuel-gauge to the left. all the components are easily legible at a glance unless the sun is directly overhead, in which case there is quite a lot of glare reflected off the unit. The familiarly shaped tank leads to a wide, well-padded seat, below which the grey plastic panel adds a welcome bit of contrast to the side profile, and helps to distinguish the 2018 Discover from earlier models. The attractive, black, web-inspired alloy wheels that were first seen on the Discover 150 a few years ago make an appearance here and add to the visual appeal of the motorcycle.
The riding position is upright, comfortable, and ergonomically sound, although extremely short riders may find the 805-mm seat height somewhat daunting. This is due to the highest-in-class suspension travel that bajaj have endowed this bike with, 120 mm up front and 140 mm at the rear, to better tackle our unpredictable road conditions while ensuring a comfortable ride, but more about that later.
once on the move, i was immediately struck by the tractability of bajaj’s all-new 115.4-cc long-stroke engine. The company is extremely proud of this unit, which is mated to a smooth-shifting four-speed gearbox, and i was amazed at the usable torque available right off idle. Peak figures are 8.6 Ps at 7,000 rpm and 9.81 nm of twist at 5,000 rpm, but the engine really impresses at lower revs; i saw an indicated 18 km/h in top gear without any sign of knocking, and the bike easily picked up speed when i rolled the throttle open. This kind of character is exactly what is expected of a commuter, making it easy to filter through traffic in a high gear, keeping the revs low and burning less fuel. as speed picks up, the Discover 110 feels
smooth and responsive between 40 and 60 km/h, with vibrations starting to creep in from the tank and foot-pegs as speeds approach 70 km/h. i did see an indicated top speed of over 90 km/h, although we can only bring you precise facts and figures when we put the bike through a comprehensive road test.
coming back to the suspension and ride quality, the Discover 110 features a traditional telescopic fork up front, with twin, preload-adjustable shock-absorbers at the rear. as mentioned earlier, these units boast of plenty of travel and the bike devoured potholes with ease. The ride stays extremely comfortable over bad roads, and even sudden bumps fail to unsettle the motorcycle. although pliant, the rear shocks showed no signs of bottoming out even when we attacked a couple of speed-breakers two-up, and there was not a single complaint from my pillion. The superb ride, combined with the broad seat and upright riding position, make the Discover all-day comfortable for riders who spend long hours in the saddle.
being an entry-level commuter, the Discover 110 is built to a price, and this is made most apparent by the absence of a disc brake and the fact that one isn’t even offered as an option. consequently, braking performance suffers, and i was not impressed by the lacklustre bite of the 130-mm front drum and the spongy feel at the lever. braking duties at the rear are taken care of by a smaller 110-mm drum.
slotting in perfectly between the 100-cc Platina and the Discover 125 in bajaj’s commuter line-up, the Discover 110 makes a compelling case for itself in a highly competitive segment. The flexible engine and great ride quality are sure to win hearts, and time will tell if bajaj can dent competitors’ sales with the refreshed Discover twins.