The sub-500cc motorcycle market in India is interesting, with constantly shifting buying trends. If you have been following Bajaj Auto’s portfolio over the years, you’d not be the only one to believe that the Indian bikemaker possibly has a specific department which monitors and predicts motorcycle sales and growing segments. How else do you explain the bikemaker’s penchant for having a finger in every lucrative pie?
Back to trends, currently, the premium 125cc motorcycle segment is hot news with an upward trajectory in sales with motorcycles like the TVS Raider and Hero Xtreme 125R leading the way. Bajaj has not one but two contenders here — the Pulsar 125 and Pulsar NS125. There is now a third one – the Pulsar N125, a motorcycle that not only offers a balance between the Pulsar 125 and the NS 125 but also charts a different course, towards premiumness.
The different path applies to the design as well. Unlike its other two siblings, the Pulsar N125 is a completely new, built-from-the-ground-up motorcycle that looks unlike any other Pulsar before. It gets an all-new headlamp that looks striking, besides large fuel tank shrouds. This is a narrow motorcycle and Bajaj has done a good job of masking the lack of bulk with curvy bodywork. So, you get a motorcycle that’s easy to ride and looks much larger than its dimensions suggest. Win-win!
The design gets clever touches as well, like vents on the front fender that direct airflow to the air-cooled engine for efficient cooling or the fork shrouds that hide the spindly-looking 30mm fork tubes. The dual-tone black and purple paintjob is a neat touch as well and helps make the N125 look premium. Overall, the N125 prefers to look premium rather than sporty.
Interestingly, the N125 is not as well equipped as the Raider or Xtreme 125R. It gets a simple LCD display that misses out on a tachometer and gear position indicator. However, it gets Bluetooth connectivity and impresses with its simple layout and large, legible fonts. Other features include LED headlamp and tail lamps and an Integrated Starter Generator for silent starts, which is a nice touch.
The Pulsar N125 is powered by a new 124.58cc air-cooled motor that delivers 12PS and 11Nm making it the most powerful motorcycle in the segment. The motor offers a linear power delivery with most of the performance concentrated towards the top end of the rev band. It is quick as well, aided by a low kerb weight of 125kg (that’s 19kg less than the Pulsar NS125). Bajaj claims the N125 can accelerate to 60kmph in seconds and hit a top speed of 97kmph. The N125 effortlessly gets up to speeds of 80kmph and feels quick to ride in city traffic. It is quite tractable as well, you can easily ride it in high gears around the city. Bajaj Auto claims an overall fuel efficiency of 60kmpl which with the 9.5-litre fuel tank should offer a theoretical range of 570km.
The motor’s refinement is among the best in the segment with negligible vibes at high revs. It sounds good too, with an understated bassy exhaust note that doesn’t get overwhelming. Another highlight is the light clutch action which makes the N125 quite an effortless motorcycle to ride in traffic. The 5-speed gearbox too offers positive shifts though the first gear is a tad shorter than I’d have liked.
The N125 is a narrow motorcycle with a low 795mm seat so it’s quite accessible for shorter riders. While taller riders might find issue with the seat being set low, they’ll appreciate the freedom to move about thanks to the ample kneeroom. The riding position is upright and fairly commuterish, with ample seat space for the pillion.
The N125 impresses with its nimble handling. It’s quite easy to flick around in traffic and feels surefooted while at it. Bajaj has done a good job of making the motorcycle feel stable and lightfooted at the same time, even more so when you factor in the plush ride quality. The N125 simply absorbs road undulations without bothering the rider or pillion. Interestingly, while the N125 gets a front disc as standard, it misses out on single-channel ABS. That said, the brakes work well, offering a progressive but strong bite.
The Bajaj Pulsar N125 is available in two variants — the base variant being priced at ₹ 94,707 and the top-spec one at ₹ 98,707 (both prices, ex-showroom). The N125 slightly undercuts its main rivals — the Raider and Xtreme 125R and takes a path different than its rival’s sporty ways. It offers a no-nonsense, premium ride experience, just like the Honda Shine did when it was first introduced. Will the Pulsar 125 succeed? The odds surely seem to be in its favour!
