Bajaj to discontinue Discover 100T, 125T

Bajaj Auto has almost certainly stopped production of the Discover 100T and Discover 125T, with the launch of the Discover 150S and Discover 150F.

Dealers we spoke to have confirmed the news that these bikes are available as of now in showrooms, but it’s only a matter of time till stocks are cleared out.  What will remain though, are the Discover 100M and Discover 125M – the cheapest Discovers on offer after the T variants are cleared out.

So, how many Discovers are there? With the launch of the latest Discover 150cc twins, Bajaj have added two more Discover-branded motorcycles. So, that makes it 6 Discovers in all – 100M, 100T, 125M, 125T, and now – 150S and 150F. And if you’re in the market for a bike and are considering any of the Discovers, there are also the drum brake and disc brake versions of each model to be considered. So, you have the option of looking at 11 Discover variants in all – from 100cc, 125cc and now 150cc. Spoilt for choice, did you say? Or confused?

In terms of looks, the latest Discovers – the 150S and 150F don’t quite look all-new. That’s because they are not only based on the same platform as the Discover 100T and the now discontinued Discover 125ST – but most of the body parts have also been borrowed from the 125ST.

This could be partly the reason why Bajaj is axing the Discover 100T and 125T models from production. But that’s not the only reason Bajaj is discontinuing the 100T and 125T. The main reason is pure economics.

The new Discover 150s are priced at a space just below all the other 150s in the market and just above the 125s of the competition.  So, Bajaj hopes the premium 150cc buyers will be attracted to the half-faired Discover 150F and for the 125cc buyers looking to upgrade may very well look at the Discover 150S. That’s a well thought out strategy, to pull in buyers from both the 125cc and the 150cc segments. But it’s a strategy fraught with risks – and one major risk is cannibalising sales of Bajaj’s own range of premium 100cc and 125cc offerings – the Discover 100T and 125T.

The Discover 100T (disc brake version) is priced at Rs 50,303 (ex-showroom Delhi) – that’s nearly Rs 2,000 more expensive than the entry level Discover 100M (disc brake version) but priced just Rs 200 below the Discover 125M (disc brake version). So, for the price of a so-called premium 100cc Discover, you get a larger displacement 125cc Discover with disc brakes, paying only Rs 200 more. Get the picture?

Again, for the Discover 125T (disc brake version), you need to shell out Rs 54,691 (ex-showroom Delhi). It’s still available in showrooms, but if you look at the Discover 150S with disc brake, it costs only Rs 309 more. So, for Rs 300 more, you get a brand new 150cc bike which promises to give fuel efficiency almost as good as the 125. But hey, if that 125T really attracts you, and you’re one looking for bargains, then now is the time, before stocks run out. Start visiting Bajaj dealers and negotiate, you may just walk out with a very good bargain buy.