Bajaj Pulsar N125: First ride review

The visuals

Bajaj has done a commendable job with the design of the Pulsar N125, striking a balance between familiarity and freshness. While some design elements echo existing Pulsar models, more to give it a family resemblance, the N125 looks distinct and quite appealing.

The design theme is all about sharp lines, creases and a sporty appearance. This is evident in the floating panels around the LED headlight, the beefy fuel tank with extensions that stretch past the telescopic fork as well as the upswept tail section with the signature, twin-LED tail lights. I particularly like the floating panels on the sides which is rarely seen in this segment.

The Pulsar N125 truly stands out in a sea of 125cc motorcycles and I guess that is what will make it stick for a generation that is hooked to posting things that are Instagram-worthy.

Even the choice of colours on offer are a huge departure from their norms and I’m not complaining. The purple and neon colours are bold while the rest of the colour options are also appealing. That said, some of you may find the hexagon shaped graphic dots an overkill but they align with current design trends.

As for the quality levels, they are pretty good for the most part. The paint finish, the assembly of the panels and the switchgear is par for the course. However, my gripe lies with the cheap-feeling handlebar grips and the shiny plastic housing for the turn indicators. I understand the need to keep a tight grip on costs but the competition offers better quality in these areas. Also the lack of a gear position is annoying, given its widespread adoption.

On the whole, however, the Pulsar N125 looks good and is built well.

The package

Bajaj offers the Pulsar N125 in two variants, each with distinct features. The base variant gets a slimmer rear tyre, smaller LCD and a conventional self-starter. In contrast, the top-spec bike we have on test has bolder colours, bigger LCD with Bluetooth connectivity, wider rear tyre and an Integrated Starter Generator or ISG – a first for the Pulsar series - for a silent start. It also gets switchable auto start/stop to optimise fuel efficiency.

The N125 also gets a brand new 124.58cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes 12bhp at 8,500rpm and 11Nm at 6,000rpm. Paired with a five-speed gearbox, the frame uses the engine as a stressed member and is suspended by a telescopic fork and preload adjustable monoshock. Braking is taken care of by a 240mm disc at the front and a 130mm drum at the rear supported by CBS or Combined Braking System.

The recipe of the Pulsar N125 sure looks compelling but the proof of this pudding was in the…er…riding. And it turned out to be rather impressive.

The ride

The moment you thumb the starter button, the ISG silently brings the engine to life, immediately revealing its refinement. Bajaj, of late, has been developing incredibly refined engines and while the Pulsar N250 was where it began, it is the same story with the N125’s engine as well.

As you roll off, there’s a linearity in the bike’s power delivery and a quick turn of speed for a 125cc bike. The low and mid-range grunt from the engine is what made light work of dealing with Pune’s chaotic and unpredictable traffic.

This engine fulfils the role of making commutes effortless. Even the tractability of the engine is impressive, which translates to fewer gear changes and subsequent fatigue. Even when one has to change cogs, the clutch action will feel astonishingly light but the gearbox on our test bike was a bit notchy.

Bajaj claims 60kmpl in mixed riding conditions and part of that should be possible because of the engine’s ability to hold high gears at low speeds, and hence low rpms. The auto start/stop function will also help eke out the highest fuel efficiency possible.

That doesn’t mean that this engine is out of breath on the highway and holding 80-90kmph doesn’t feel laborious. That said, there are few yet notable vibrations that one feels at these speeds but they never got to the point of being bothersome. Top speed is a shade under 100kmph and that’s in the same ballpark as the competition. I have to mention that the exhaust note coming off the underbelly exhaust is sporty and sounds nice under the helmet, especially while blipping and downshifting.

Moving on to the N125’s ride and handling, this little Bajaj shines again. The suspension setup is spot on and over the many broken and sometimes non-existent roads that we encountered, it did its job very well. The 198mm ground clearance also allowed me to ride the N125 down some trails without worrying about bottoming out.

While the ride was good, what also stood out to me was the bike’s handling. The N125’s new chassis, 125kg kerb weight and short, 1295mm wheelbase come together to offer easy, flickable yet surefooted handling. The bike, in fact, feels compact and nimble to squeeze past traffic in the city. Also, in the few corners that we found on our test route, the N125 felt planted.

The brakes are also pretty good and I liked the bite and progression from the front disc. That said, Bajaj should have offered ABS, at least as an option, because the competition does.

Should you buy it?

The Bajaj Pulsar N125 ticks a lot of boxes and it does them well. The styling, to me, is good and has a lot of appeal because of its freshness. The engine is potent and its refinement is one of its strong points. Even the ride and handling is engaging for a 125cc motorcycle. At a starting price of Rs 94,707, the Pulsar N125 undercuts the competition and that’s something we’d expected from Bajaj.

As a package, and based on the time we spent with the Pulsar N125, it is quite a compelling motorcycle. One that can hold a candle to the competition. So, for the young folk out there who want a fresh 125cc bike, this is worth taking a look at.

Photography by Kapil Angane