Bajaj Pulsar 125

The Pulsar 125 is the cheapest way to get into the Pulsar family. It gets the signature Pulsar design along with a decent set of features. However, if you want a motorcycle with more modern looks, better equipment and features, you can go for the NS125, which comes at a fairly higher premium over the Pulsar 125 top-variant.

• The bike is easily identifiable with its signature Pulsar design.

• Gets sleek bodylines, sharp headlamp design, sporty body panels and raised clip-on handlebars.

• The Carbon Fibre variant in particular looks the sportiest, thanks to its carbonfibre-themed highlights.

Engine and Performance:

• The Pulsar 125 has a linear power delivery which makes it very easy to ride.

• The engine is tractable enough to pull even if you are in a higher gear.

City performance:

• The low end grunt of the engine makes the bike easy to ride in the city. The bike’s lightweight nature does help in maneuvering in traffic.

• A bit more torque would have been appreciated.

Highway performance:

• The Pulsar 125 is primarily designed for the city, but can do occasional highway trips.

• The bike can sit at 80-90kmph on the highway, above which the vibrations start to creep in through the footpegs and handlebars.

• The bike can still reach speeds up to 100kmph but it cannot sustain it for long.

Mileage:

• The Pulsar 125 returns an impressive mileage of 51.46kmpl in the city and 57kmpl on the highways.

• With these fuel economy figures and a 11.5-litre fuel tank, the bike has a range of about 600km.

Suspension and Ride quality:

• The bike’s telescopic fork and twin-gas charged shock absorbers, in my opinion, provide a fantastic ride quality on city roads, absorbing bumps and potholes with ease.

• The suspension will struggle a bit with heavy loads on rough roads, but it did not bottom out.

• Overall, the ride quality is satisfactory.

Handling and Braking

• The Pulsar 125 is nimble and light, providing a very pleasant, fuss-free handling.

• The 240mm front disc has good stopping power but the 130mm rear drum brake could have been more responsive.

• The braking setup is good but can do with more bite at the rear. 

Rider Comfort

• The seat is comfortable enough for short rides 

• The riding posture is fairly upright, with slightly rear set footpegs and raised clip-on handle bars 

Pillion Comfort

• The pillion seat is a bit small in my opinion.

It is reasonably comfortable for short rides but longer rides could be a problem.

• The bike comes with features like a digital LCD console that displays all the necessary information like speed, fuel level, gear position, among others.

• The top variant of the bike gets smartphone connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation, call & SMS alerts for added convenience.

• The Bajaj Pulsar 125 is offered in three variants: Neon Single Seat, Carbon Fibre Split Seat or Single Seat. The primary differences lie in the colour schemes, seat layout and the pillion grab rail design.

• Bajaj Auto provides a warranty for 5 years or 75,000km (whichever comes first) on the Pulsar 125.

If you are looking for a stylish, fuel efficient, commuter that performs well in the city and can handle occasional highway trips, the Pulsar 125 is a great choice. It strikes a good balance between performance, comfort, and modern features, all while keeping the Pulsar legacy of sporty appeal intact. While it might not be the fastest bike in its class, it offers a great value for the price and serves as a solid daily commuter. All in all, the Bajaj Pulsar 125 is a well rounded bike that combines sporty looks, decent performance, and great fuel efficiency, making it a solid choice for anyone looking for a commuter with a little more edge. It is not perfect, but it certainly offers good value for money.

Other Bikes to Consider Instead of the Pulsar 125

• Reasons to consider: Smooth engine, solid build quality

• Reasons to ignore: Higher price, less sporty

• Reasons to consider: Modern design, better features

• Reasons to ignore: After sales service is a gamble, parts availability is an issue