Lately, news regarding discontinuation of Bajaj Discover 125ST has been surfacing the cyberspace. The company’s decision maybe due to its poor performance in the market. The Discover 125ST was launched in May 2012 to target the buyers looking for a sporty option within a tight budget.
No doubt the bike earned positive reception from the critics for providing technologically advanced features, but failed to satisfy the customers, pillion riders in particular. bikes in the 125 cc segment are often used as a means for daily commute by middle-aged office goers. And discover has long been known for its comfort and modern styling at a fairly affordable price. Adding the sport quotient to such a bike, proved detrimental to the company. The resulting seating positioning for the pillion has also been one of the reasons for its lacklustre popularity among buyers.
The Bajaj Discover 125ST boasts of a 124.6 cc, 4-valve, twin spark, air cooled engine, capable of producing 12 BHP @ 9000 RPM and hitting the 105 KMPH mark. The mono-shock suspension, 200-mm petal front disc brakes and sporty styling has also contributed to its high pricing at an ex-showroom price of Rs. 53,730 in Pune. The buyers have also started facing the dilemma when it comes to choosing among the 7 different options including both 100 and 125 cc in the Discover line-up. The 125 cc itself has 4 options to choose from, with unfortunately have only slight and unsubstantial differences. This has made the Discover brand cluttered and confusing.
This decision will also make way for the upcoming Bajaj F150 which is said to rival the Yamaha SZ and will be priced around Rs. 65,000. Bajaj, which is the country’s most trusted brand, failed to anticipate the buyers for the 125ST. The group looking for the sport and performance factor turned out to be a very small one; those who do, go for the Pulsar series.
Though the bike will not be on sale in India, Bajaj will continue to export it around the globe.