TVS Raider vs Bajaj Pulsar N125: Heart vs Mind!

You had your heart set on the TVS Raider 125 from day one and now when you finally have the money to buy it. But the segment has got another funky looking bike, the Bajaj Pulsar N125. And since you’ve grown up reading the battles of the Pulsars and Apaches over the years, you’re now confused between these two. While the Raider isn’t an Apache, it’s still a battle between a TVS bike and a Bajaj bike. 

That said, the decision is easier than you think, and to help you with exactly that, here’s a detailed comparison between the two 125cc bikes:

Price & Variants

• There’s one clear winner here, right? At least that’s what the spec sheets tell you, and it’s not exactly wrong. The Raider’s base variant has a solid Rs 10,000 advantage over the Pulsar N125’s base variant. So if you’re on a tight budget, the TVS Raider might become an automatic choice

• That said, we recommend getting the Raider’s ABS trim, which costs Rs 95,225. The N125 costs a bit less but doesn’t get ABS even as an option. 

• So on the whole, the TVS Raider does come across as the more value for money bike across different variants.

• If you want understand how the Raider's variants differ from each other, here's our in-depth variants explainer.

Dimensions & Design 

• Both bikes are fairly easy to ride so this isn’t something you should fret about. Their weight and seat height are on the lower side so even if you’ve not had a lot of experience with bikes before, both bikes will feel equally accessible. 

• The Pulsar N125’s wheelbase though, is a fair bit less than the Raider’s so the N125 will feel like the more compact of the two. On the flip side, the Raider’s longer wheelbase should theoretically help in straightline stability.

• To know more about all the colours on the TVS Raider, check out our colours explained story.

Features & Safety

• It’s an easy win for the TVS Raider here. It has every feature you could think of in this segment, and a bit more. Things like a TFT console with voice assistance is something that even much bigger bikes do not have. That said, do keep in mind that only the top 5 variants have the connectivity features, meaning the Drum and Single Seat trims do not have Bluetooth connectivity. 

• What we’re happy about is that the TVS Raider gets ABS at the front on its top two variants. 

• The Bajaj Pulsar N125 keeps things simple. So there’s no ABS and a clean-looking fully digital LCD console with Bluetooth connectivity. You get basic features like call and SMS alerts and an optional silent starter.

• We have explained all the features on the TVS Raider, to help you understand better. 

Engines

• The TVS Raider makes more torque than the Bajaj Pulsar N125 and that’s exactly how the riding experience is like. In the city, the Raider will feel like the peppier of the two and that’s because it has a lot of grunt at low speeds. Get on the throttle and you’ll feel the bike pull ahead firmly. The Raider is also a very smooth bike. 

• The Pulsar N125 feels like the more commuter of the two, but that’s not exactly a bad thing. If you really start wringing it out, it has enough grunt to get around swiftly, but it prefers being ridden at a gentler pace. 

• What really stands out for the N125 is its ride quality. The suspension feels quite plush and it isolates the bumps and road imperfections better than the Raider. In fact, the N125 has one of the best suspension setups in the entire segment.

Verdict 

If the bike will be ridden by multiple people in the family, especially your dad or even your grandparents, you might gravitate towards the Bajaj Pulsar N125’s plush suspension more. If the higher price tag doesn’t bother you, the N125 will make for a good bike for everyone in the family to ride.

But if it’s your first bike and you want anything to do with excitement, the TVS Raider is the bike to get. Forget the geeky features, it’s the brilliantly smooth and peppy engine that’ll keep you excited for quite a while. This little ‘Bumblebee’ will put a big smile on your face each time you ride it, and we can’t think of many better bikes for first timers. 

If you are interested in buying the Raider, and want to know everything about it, check out our ULTIMATE BUYING GUIDE.

Other Rivals 

• Between the TVS Raider 125 and the Hero Xtreme 125R, the Xtreme has better handling dynamics for a budding enthusiastic rider.

• The Honda Shine 125 costs a lot less than the TVS Raider 125, though it doesn’t have as many features.

• In terms of fuel efficiency, the Bajaj Pulsar 125 and TVS Raider 125 will deliver nearly the same mileage but the Pulsar has a larger fuel tank.

• The Bajaj Pulsar NS125 cost a bit more than the TVS Raider 125 while not offering ABS in any form.

• When comparing prices of the Raider 125 and the SP125, the TVS commuter is slightly pricier than the Honda.

• When comparing the safety tech of the TVS Raider 125 and the Hero Super Splendor 125, the TVS bike ups the game with single-channel ABS.
• As far as features are concerned, Hero's premium commuter, the Glamour X 125 also comes fairly close to the Raider.
• Pulsar fans will love the Pulsar 125's classic design over the Raider's modern looks. That said, the Pulsar does not have a long list of features.

You can also look at other choices in the same price bracket as the Raider.