Bajaj Pulsar 125 Vs Honda Shine SP vs Hero Glamour FI: Real-World Numbers Compared

We compare the newest Pulsar with its rivals on the basis of their real-world numbers

Bajaj has launched its smallest Pulsar yet, the Pulsar 125 Neon. Priced at Rs 66,618, the new motorcycle makes the Pulsar brand more accessible but offers the same sportiness and features of the larger Pulsars. The Pulsar 125 Neon goes up against formidable and established rivals like the Hero Glamour FI and Honda CB Shine SP. Here’s how the new Pulsar 125 Neon stacks up against them. 

Also read: Bajaj Pulsar 125 Neon: Road Test Review

Acceleration:

On paper, the Pulsar 125 is the most powerful air-cooled 125cc bike you can buy. However, it is also the heaviest. At 140kg (kerb), the Pulsar 125 weighs 17kg more than the Shine SP and 15 kg more than the Glamour FI. The extra weight robs the Pulsar of its performance advantage. Here, the Glamour is the only bike to feature fuel injection. Further, it only has four gears. That helps it get to 60kmph quicker. That said, the Pulsar’s motor feels sportier and revs quicker than the other bikes here. 

Also read: Bajaj Pulsar 125 With Split Seats Spotted At Dealership

Roll-ons:

The Pulsar 125 is quicker in the 30-70kmph run owing to a comparatively shorter third gear. However, it loses steam in fourth gear as the motor makes most of its power in higher gears. In fourth, it runs at lower revs than third. Add to that its comparatively heavy weight, and the Pulsar becomes 1.76 seconds slower than the Shine SP in the fourth gear roll-on test. 

Braking:

Here, Bajaj has deliberately kept the action of the disk brake lever soft for commuters used to drum brakes to be able to modulate the lever safely while braking. Also, the Pulsar gets TVS Eurogrip tyres which do not feel as grippy as the stickier MRF tyres found on the other two bikes. These two factors take a toll on the braking performance. That said, the Pulsar 125’s braking performance is almost on par with the CB Shine SP and Glamour FI. 

Fuel Efficiency:

The Pulsar 125 has been tuned for sportiness. Also, the fact that it weighs substantially more than the Shine SP and Glamour FI means the Pulsar is not as fuel-efficient. However, thanks to the larger bodywork it shares with the larger Pulsars, the Pulsar 125 gets a larger 11.5-litre fuel tank that should offer it better range.