Bajaj

Bajaj Auto is a major Indian vehicle manufacturer started by Jamnalal Bajaj from Rajasthan in the 1930s. It is based in Pune, Maharashtra, with plants in Chakan (Pune), Waluj (near Aurangabad) and Pantnagar in Uttaranchal. The oldest plant at Akurdi (Pune) now houses the R&D centre Ahead. Bajaj Auto makes and exports automobiles, scooters, motorcycles and the auto rickshaw.

The Forbes Global 2000 list for the year 2005 ranked Bajaj Auto at 1,946. It features at 1639 in forbes 2011 list.

Over the last decade, the company has successfully changed its image from a scooter manufacturer to a two wheeler manufacturer. Its product range encompasses scooterettes, scooters and motorcycles. Its real growth in numbers has come in the last four years after successful introduction of a few models in the motorcycle segment.

The company is headed by Rahul Bajaj who is worth more than US$1.5 billion.

Bajaj Auto came into existence on 29 November 1945 as M/s Bachraj Trading Corporation Private Limited. It started off by selling imported two- and three-wheelers in India. In 1959, it obtained license from the Government of India to manufacture two- and three-wheelers and it went public in 1960. In 1970, it rolled out its 100,000th vehicle. In 1977, it managed to produce and sell 100,000 vehicles in a single financial year. In 1985, it started producing at Waluj near Aurangabad. In 1986, it managed to produce and sell 500,000 vehicles in a single financial year. In 1995, it rolled out its ten millionth vehicle and produced and sold one million vehicles in a year.

According to the authors of Globality: Competing with Everyone from Everywhere for Everything, Bajaj has grown operations in 50 countries by creating a line of value-for-money bikes targeted to the different preferences of entry-level buyers.

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Bajaj Priya

The Bajaj Priya was a three geared scooter manufactured by Maharashtra Scooters under a license agreement with Bajaj Auto from 1975. The design was very similar to that of the earlier "Bajaj 150" model which was in turn based upon a Vespa 150 (VBA type) with a slightly modified body.

Differences from other models

Headset

Vespa 150 (basically a VBA) had a fully enclosed, crested headset which could accommodate a clamshell Veglia speedometer. This was later replaced by a holding mount which enabled it to hold the Bajaj type round speedometer (only on Indian models). Later on the holding mount and crest were done away with so the round speedo could be directly fitted to the headset. All these headsets had the removable aluminium switch support of the VBA. Bajaj 150 had this same headset (that of later Vespa 150s). Bajaj Priya shared the same headset as the more common "Bajaj super" and also fitted a round speedometer, which was not fully enclosed for easy access to cables. The switch support was integral to the handle, unlike the VBA where it was joined separately.

Horncast

The vespa 150 (arguably always) sported the original Italian horncast with the older square Piaggio monogram. With the Bajaj 150 this changed to the horncast from later Vespa models (sprint/super) and held a hexagonal bajaj monogram (same shape as the newer Piaggio monogram). This horncast continued for the Priya as well.

Tail lamp

The earliest Italian part vespa 150s assembled in India had aluminium tail lamps of the VBA/GS150 design. These were later produced in plastic to lower costs.The Bajaj 150 always came with a plastic tail lamp as well. The Bajaj Priya came with a chrome or black powdercoat sprint type taillight.

Choke lever

With the Bajaj 150, the choke lever changed position from above the petrol knob to adjacent to it.

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Bajaj Super (1976-2006)

Early models were a licensed reproduction of the Italian-made eight-inch-wheeled Vespa Super. Production continued even after the licence agreement with Vespa expired in 1977. In response, Vespa's parent company Piaggio filed patent infringement suits to block Bajaj scooter sales in the United States, United Kingdom, West Germany, and Hong Kong.

Later model Bajaj Supers appear to have incorporated various features of the Vespas: VNA, VNB, VBB, Super and Sprint. For instance, the 1981 model Bajaj Super has near-identical components: Vespa Super body, VNA/VNB/VBB 8-inch wheels, and Vespa SS180 headlight.

In its early days, there used to be a booking period of at least one year, until it was replaced by Bajaj Chetak.

The Bajaj Super was widely used as a form of dowry in Indian marriages. Rated as status icon, it had a market share of more than 90%. It has a 150cc 12 BHP at 8500RPM of engine, with excellent pick up and a top speed of 100 km/h in standerd testing conditions.

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimension & weight
Overall height	1080 mm
Overall length	1770 mm
Overall Width
Wheelbase	1230 mm
Ground Clearance	145 mm
Kerb weight	103 kgs
Fuel Tank Capacity	6 litres
Engine
Type
Stroke (2/4)	2 - stroke, forced air cooled.
No. of cylinders	1
Bore x stroke
Displacement	145.5 cc
Electrical	12V DC
Transmission
No. of Gears	4 - speed (hand shifter)
Clutch
Performance
Maximum Power	7.5 bhp / 5500 rpm
Max. Torque
Start	Kick
Suspensions
Front
Rear
Brakes
Front
Rear
Tyres
Front
Rear

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The Bajaj Chetak (1972-2009)

The Bajaj Chetak was a popular Indian-made motor scooter produced by the Bajaj Auto company. The Chetak is named after Chetak, the legendary horse of Indian warrior Rana Pratap Singh.

Originally based on the Italian Vespa Sprint, the Chetak was an affordable means of transportation for millions of Indian families for decades and termed as humara bajaj. Around 1980, the Vespa-licensed design was replaced with an all new in-house design that shared the same general appearance and style. During its heyday its chief competitor was LML NV made by LML India as a licensed copy of the Vespa PX 150. In the face of rising competition from bikes and cars, the Chetak lost ground in India, and production was discontinued in 2009.

SPECIFICATION

General information
Model:	Bajaj Chetak
Year:	2006
Category:	Scooter
Rating:	63.8 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes
Engine and transmission
Displacement:	145.45 ccm (8.88 cubic inches)
Engine type:	Single cylinder, two-stroke
Power:	7.50 HP (5.5 kW)) @ 5500 RPM
Torque:	10.80 Nm (1.1 kgf-m or 8.0 ft.lbs) @ 3500 RPM
Fuel system:	Injection
Ignition:	CDI Electronic
Cooling system:	Air
Gearbox:	4-speed
Transmission type, final drive:	Chain
Clutch:	Wet Multidisc
Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels
Frame type:	Monocoque
Front brakes:	Expanding brake (drum brake)
Rear brakes:	Expanding brake (drum brake)
Physical measures and capacities
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc:	103.0 kg (227.1 pounds)
Seat height:	830 mm (32.7 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Overall height:	1,080 mm (42.5 inches)
Overall length:	1,770 mm (69.7 inches)
Overall width:	670 mm (26.4 inches)
Ground clearance:	135 mm (5.3 inches)
Wheelbase:	1,230 mm (48.4 inches)
Fuel capacity:	6.00 litres (1.59 gallons)
Reserve fuel capacity:	2.00 litres (0.53 gallons)

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