Bajaj Pulsar 150 vs Yamaha Saluto

The old workhorse has had a new breath of life, courtesy a BS-lV update. We find out what it is like

The Pulsar 150 is the highest-selling 150cc motorcycle in the country. So when the time came for Bajaj to update the range to meet BS IV norms, the company decided to go a step further and give the Pulsar 150 something more than a facelift. Now, apart from adhering to the new emission norms, the Pulsar 150 also gets a change in character.

The Yamaha Saluto is a very perplexing motorcycle. Having established its roots in the more enthusiast-oriented 150cc segment with the FZ-S and the YZF-R15, Yamaha launched the Saluto as a replacement for the ageing SS125 with an eye on the lucrative 125cc commuter segment. On paper, it almost seems like Yamaha has taken a step backwards. The Saluto is more than 2 horsepower down on the motorcycle it replaces and loses out on a lot of features and flair thereby adopting a very civilised and sober design. So what was Yamaha actually thinking when they brought in the Saluto?