UPDATE: Bajaj has officially launched the Pulsar 125 Neon in two variants - the drum brake variant is priced at Rs. 64,000 while the variant with the front disc brake costs Rs. 66,618 (both prices are ex-showroom, Delhi).
Last month, we’d brought you news on Bajaj’s intentions to launch a Pulsar 125 and now the bike has begun reaching dealerships. We can now confirm our earlier report that the Pulsar 125 is largely based on the Pulsar 150 Neon, in terms of hardware and styling. While we await official confirmation on the pricing, dealers have revealed that the Pulsar 125 will set you back Rs 81,990 (on-road, Pune), which is around Rs 5,000 less than the on-road price of the Pulsar 150 Neon.
Internationally, Bajaj sells an NS 125 and it was earlier assumed that it was the bike that would be making its way to India. However, the Pulsar brand has a much stronger foothold in our country and it's the reason why we are getting a Pulsar 125 and not an NS 125. The new Pulsar 125 is powered by a 124.38cc, single-cylinder, two-valve air-cooled engine that makes a peak power of 12hp at 8,500rpm and 11Nm at 6,500rpm. Interestingly, the NS 125 sold abroad comes with a four-valve engine that displaces 124.45cc, but makes identical power.
Other hardware on the Pulsar 125, like the telescopic fork, twin shock absorbers and 17-inch wheels, has been carried over from the Bajaj Pulsar 150 Neon. However, the Pulsar 125 features a Combi-Braking System (CBS) instead of ABS like on the Pulsar 150. The 125 is also a tad lighter with a kerb weight of 139.5kg, in comparison to the 144kg Pulsar 150 Neon.
In terms of styling, the Pulsar 125 is available in three colour schemes – Neon Blue, Solar Red and Platinum Silver. It sports a single-seat design and, just like the 150 Neon, misses out on fuel tank extensions and a belly pan.
The new 125 becomes the most affordable motorcycle under the Pulsar umbrella, albeit by a small margin. The sub-125cc engine allows for it to comply with the compulsory safety mandate with the use of CBS, thus avoiding the costs of a more expensive ABS unit.
Ved Janve
Azaman Chothia
