Bajaj Pulsar N150

Designed on the lines of the new-generation Pulsar N250 and Pulsar N160, the new Bajaj Pulsar N150 is a premium 150cc sporty commuter, which came in as a replacement for the short-lived Pulsar P150. Positioned between the old-school Pulsar 150 and the Pulsar N160, the new Pulsar N150 looks the same as the Pulsar N160 but gets mild changes and a smaller 150cc engine. 

Aimed at those who wish to have an easy-to-ride motorcycle with decent performance and looks, the Bajaj Pulsar N150 is available in one variant, priced at Rs 1,24,890 (ex-showroom Delhi). The bike is available in two colours: Pearl Metallic White and Ebony Black.

The overall design of the Bajaj Pulsar N150 is similar to that of the Pulsar N160, which, in turn, is similar to that of the Pulsar N250 – and the end result of all this is it is becoming harder and harder with every new Pulsar to differentiate them individually. The new Pulsar N150 has a triangular-shaped headlight design with a centrally placed LED projector.

The sharp fuel tank and wide tank extensions of the Bajaj Pulsar N150 have also been shared with the Pulsar N160, and so have the sleek-looking tail panels. The Pulsar N150 also gets a body-coloured engine cowl, compact underbelly exhaust, a long single-piece seat and a rear tyre hugger.

Besides LED illumination for the projector headlamp and tail lamp, the N150 comes with a fully digital LCD instrument cluster that shows the odometer reading, dual tripmeter readings, gear indicator, real-time mileage indicator, distance to empty readouts and fuel level indicator, apart from other tell-tale lights. More importantly, it also gets smartphone connectivity with call and SMS alerts, phone battery and signal levels. That said, there is no turn-by-turn navigation.

The Bajaj Pulsar N150 has an easy-to-reach single-piece handlebar. This along with the mid-set footpegs ensures a comfortable, upright riding posture. The 31mm telescopic fork and monoshock are tuned for comfortable city commutes. The 790mm tall seat has a slim profile, making it accessible for riders of most heights. The 145kg kerb weight is also fairly manageable.

While the new Bajaj Pulsar N150 gets the bodywork of the Pulsar N160, it retains the single-cylinder, air-cooled, 149.68cc engine of the now-discontinued Pulsar P150. This engine is paired with a 5-speed gearbox and claims 14.5PS at 8500 rpm and 13.5Nm at 6000 rpm. With these figures, it has slightly more power and torque than the Bajaj Pulsar 150.

The Bajaj Pulsar N150 retains the 90-section front tyre of the now discontinued Pulsar P150, but gets a wider 120-section rear tyre, both wrapped on 17-inch alloy wheels. The fatter rear tyre should ensure better grip. This Pulsar bike comes with a 260mm front disc brake and a disc brake at the rear. The Bajaj Pulsar N150 also has single-channel ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), which means the ABS only works on the front wheel.

The Bajaj Pulsar N150 is a good offering in the sporty 150cc commuter that comes with a refined engine and a reasonable set of features. That said, it looks too similar to the Bajaj Pulsar N160. We wish there were more differentiating factors in terms of design, to ensure the N150 has its own identity. Moreover, its bigger sibling, the N160, is just around Rs 8,300 more expensive and offers better performance and the added safety of dual-channel ABS.