Bajaj Chetak

Launched in India in 1972. Chetak is not in production now.

For Indians, scooter means nothing but their own Bajaj Chetak only. This renowned scooter served as a car for many families. The father, mother and the two children traveling on a Chetak was an every day scene in all Indian villages as well as cities.

This particular scooter was probably one of the longest running model for Bajaj from 1972 to 2009. It was then discontinued due to the rising competition from bikes of other brands and also from Bajaj as well. “Chetak” is named after the legendary war-horse of Indian warrior 'Rana Prathap Singh'. This particular horse stood for bravery and hard work. The famous tag line of Bajaj, “Hamara Bajaj” is also associated with Chetak.

This 145 cc scooter was originally based on the Vespa Sprint from the Italian company Piaggio. In 1980 this design was replaced with an all new in-house design. In meantime the licensed copy of Vespa PX 150 was also introduced in the market by their chief competitor LML, in the form of LML NV.

Chetak used a 145.45 cc petrol engine capable of delivering 7.5 bhp of raw power @ 5500 rpm and a maximum torque of 10.8 Nm @ 3500 rpm. Engine is mated with a 4-speed gearbox. The gear is shifted using, twist-shift mechanism within the handlebar. The front and rear brakes uses 150 mm drum brakes and the suspension system consists of variable rate coil in front and rear part. With a wheelbase of 1230 mm and a weight of 103 kg, this big scooter can hit a top speed of 85 kmph.

Chetak was the most affordable as well as the most desired mode of transportation in the late 19th century. It has been more than 15 years since it was discontinued. Like all other oldies, this one too is a good mover in second hand markets.

Check the newer variant: Chetak Premium