Bajaj Discover 110 Review: First Ride

Bajaj has gone back to basics with the latest Discover. This is a textbook commuter, nothing more!  

Bajaj recently introduced the 2018 Discover 110. But this new launch didn’t quite take us by surprise, and that’s because, between FY13 and FY16, there had been as many as nine launches of the Discover. While some of these were new variants, others were positively radical. But despite that, they couldn’t hit the targets they aspired to achieve. Offering more options and new technologies didn’t exactly work in their favour, as buyers in this segment have a penchant for a conventional bare-bones motorcycle. Bajaj admits that they misconstrued the segment and claims to have made adequate amends to the new Discover 110. We rode it to find out if they got the equation right this time around.

Familiar face

In terms of design, the Discover 110 looks identical to its predecessor. While I was initially uncertain about the minimal changes to its form, I later realised that it works in Bajaj’s favour. Despite the ups and downs, the Discover is a well-recognised brand among Indian commuters – and this design only furthers its popularity. 

That being said, the Discover 110 has some elements that make it unique – such as horn-shaped LED DRLs, an edgier windscreen visor, contrast side panels and a redesigned rear cowl. The 110 also comes fitted with a new semi-digital instrument cluster that is large and easy to read. The reprofiled seat is long and quite comfortable for the rider as well as the pillion.

New heart

Underneath the familiar skin is the new 115.5cc single-cylinder motor. While, at 50mm, the bore is as wide as most motorcycles in the class, a longer stroke allows more torque from the engine. At 9.81Nm, the Discover 110 is the torquiest motorcycle in its category, and it’s this aspect that makes it commuter friendly. While riding the motorcycle on the busy streets of Pune city, the bike comfortably held top cog at speeds as low as 25km/h. And from there on, it just needed a twist of the wrist to smoothly gain speed. The engine remains refined for the most part – it only starts to feel strained after the digital speedo crosses the 65km/h mark. The wide powerband has also helped the Discover 110 earn an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 76.3 kilometres per litre.

The versatility of the engine and its refinement aren’t the only thing that impressed us. The Discover 110 comes fitted with a 140mm telescopic forks up front and 120mm Nitrox twin-shocks at the back – the longest suspension travel in class. Thanks to this setup, the bike simply doesn’t feel uncomfortable on uneven road surfaces and potholes. In fact, we even intentionally rode on some of the larger potholes in a bid to unsettle the bike’s composure. But our efforts were futile – the Discover 110 takes all the ruts and dips in its stride without any sign of discomfort.

Stopping power comes from a 130mm and a 110mm drum setups at the front and rear respectively. Although the front brake is progressive, it feels spongy – something that a disc option could easily fix. The rear, however, is par for the course.

Textbook Formula 

Bajaj has clearly learned from the past, and in this new Discover 110 they haven’t tried anything out of the box. They’ve stuck to the textbook formula, and it seems to be perfectly in sync with what you’d expect from a commuter. Add to this the fact that it is the most affordable motorcycle in its class, and what you have is a Discover that was long overdue.