After months of anticipation and teasing, Bajaj has finally introduced an all-new Pulsar 150 today, with almost all the parts of the motorcycle receiving substantial upgrades while retaining the classic Pulsar silhouette. There are three variants now: SD Single Seat, TD Single Seat and TD Split Seat. The last two variants get a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster and an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG). All three models also get a crawl mode to make navigating traffic easier.
- Gets three variants; top variant features Google Maps mirroring
- New gearbox with easier lower-end tractability
- ISG and crawl modes to make low-speed riding even easier
Gets meaningful updates everywhere
With a bunch of new features
The 149.5cc single-cylinder air/oil-cooled engine looks similar to the earlier one, developing the same 14hp as before. However, the engine has two major changes. The peak power is now delivered at 8,000rpm, 500rpm earlier than the previous unit. And peak torque has gone up to 14.1Nm – 0.9Nm more than before, though it is delivered at the same 6,500rpm. Bajaj has also given the motorcycle a new gearbox with a specific focus on low-speed tractability. The frame, too, sees an upgrade, with a new single-cradle frame replacing the dual-cradle frame. The engine now acts as a stressed member, which Bajaj says improves overall ride and stability.
The next big change is that the rear suspension is now a monoshock, and not the conventional twin-shock setup. The front continues with a right-side-up (RSU) telescopic fork with a 33mm diameter and 125mm of travel, and the rear suspension travel is 110mm. Stopping duties are handled by a 260mm front disc and a 230mm rear disc (130mm rear drum on the base variant). All three variants get single-channel ABS as standard. Rounding off the ride package are the tubeless tyres: 80/100-17 at the front and 100/90-17 at the rear.
What community is saying on the Pulsar 150?
On the features front, the classic Pulsar now gets a brand-new 5-inch LCD cluster, with the top two variants stepping that up to a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster. The cluster also gets other features such as call and SMS alerts and an option to store your vehicle documents for quick access. The top variant also gets WiFi support, which enables Google Maps mirroring, a feature first seen on the Pulsar N160 SS. There are three ride modes and a crawl mode, both first seen on the Pulsar N160 S and SS. The new Pulsar 150 swaps out its predecessor’s USB Type-A charging port with a modern Type-C port on all three variants.
Bajaj has also equipped the top two variants with ISG, which enables a stop-start system that can automatically turn the motorcycle off during traffic stops to conserve fuel and enables silent starts. There are minor upgrades to the lighting department as well, though the Class-B LED headlight is shared with the outgoing Pulsar 150 that received an update last year. The fairing has been redesigned for a more aggressive look, with the top two variants getting all-LED lighting as standard. Bajaj has priced the base SD Single Seat variant at Rs 1.15 lakh, whereas the fully loaded TD Split Seat variant costs Rs 1.23 lakh.
All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
