Some motorcycles are bought for practicality, and some are bought because of affordability. And then there are motorcycles that become a part of popular culture. The Bajaj Pulsar is one such motorcycle. When Bajaj introduced the Pulsar in India 25 years ago, it changed the game. Suddenly, the motorcycle wasn’t just about commuting from point A to B. It was about looking good, feeling sporty, and having a bit of performance under your waist. For an entire generation of Indian riders, the Pulsar became an emotion.
Twenty-five years later, motorcycles have transformed massively. Fuel injection, LED digital instrumentation, improved chassis, and cleaner engines have transformed the two-wheeler industry. Yet looking at the Pulsars, one thing becomes immediately clear – Bajaj hasn’t forgotten its roots. The tech is new, but the silhouette is unmistakably Pulsar. So after 25 years, does the Pulsar still have the magic? We rode both motorcycles to find out.
Design: The Old Soul Gets A Sharp New Suit
The Pulsar has always had a muscular personality, and the latest generation doesn’t mess with that formula. Instead, Bajaj has sharpened it. The first-generation Pulsar was famous for its round headlight and relatively simple lines. The latest motorcycle carries a sharper front end and a distinctive wolf-eye headlamp design, which is carried over from the 2nd-gen Pulsar. The integrated LED lighting gives the motorcycle a more modern face, while the sharp bodywork makes it look more aggressive than the Pulsar we grew up with.
The lines running across the motorcycle are still reminiscent of the older Pulsar, but the muscular fuel tank remains the highlight, giving both motorcycles a planted and sporty stance. What I particularly like is that Bajaj hasn’t gone overboard with the styling. There are enough sharp edges and details to make the bike look sporty, but it doesn’t feel unnecessarily complicated. Park the new Pulsar next to an older one, and you can immediately see the family resemblance. The design has evolved, but the DNA remains intact.
Performance: 125 Fun or 150 cc Punch?
This is where the two motorcycles start developing their own personalities. The Pulsar 125 gets a 124.8 cc engine producing around 12 PS, while the Pulsar 150 gets a 149.5 cc engine producing 14 PS. On the road, the Pulsar 125 feels surprisingly eager due to its quick-revving engine. Twist the throttle, and it climbs through the rev range nicely, making it a peppy motorcycle in city traffic. It doesn’t have a lazy character, mostly associated with commuters. However, there is a flip side.
Push the 125 towards the upper end of its rev range, and some vibrations start making their presence felt. We also noticed that the motorcycle can feel slightly unsettled when a large truck passes close by at speed.
The Pulsar 150, meanwhile, feels more mature. The extra displacement gives it a smoother and stronger character. What really surprised me was how refined the engine feels. It builds revs smoothly and doesn’t feel stressed when you ask for more. And then there is the sound. The 125 actually has a slightly more exciting, peppy note, which suits its character perfectly. The 150 sounds deeper and more mature, but both motorcycles manage to retain some of the unmistakable Pulsar character.
Ride Quality
Indian roads are rarely kind to motorcycles, but the Pulsar seems prepared for the abuse. The suspension setup is on the plush side, soaking up broken roads, speed breakers, and uneven surfaces with confidence. Both motorcycles have a plush ride quality. Your suspension deals with everything smoothly, just as you would expect from a commuter. It can be used for bad roads and broken tarmac but not for serious off-road, as the hardware doesn’t allow that; like the tyres, the chassis, and suspension are not meant for serious off-roading.
Ergonomics: sporty without punishing your back.
A sporty motorcycle doesn’t always mean sporty ergonomics – and thankfully Bajaj understood that. Both motorcycles have very well-sorted riding positions. The handlebar, seat, and footpeg relationship creates a comfortable rider triangle, making the Pulsar easy to live with every day. You aren’t sitting too aggressively forward, nor are you sitting completely upright like on a conventional commuter.
The middle ground works beautifully. For daily commuting, the riding position feels natural. Even during longer rides, the motorcycle doesn’t put excessive stress on your wrists or back. That makes the Pulsar a proper all-rounder. You can ride it to work during the week and still enjoy a longer ride on the weekend.
Verdict: The Pulsar still knows how to have fun.
The biggest achievement of the new Pulsar 125 and 150 isn’t that they are completely new motorcycles. It is that they still feel like pulsars. After 25 years, Bajaj could have easily gone in a completely different direction. Instead, it has evolved the formula while retaining the characteristics that made the nameplate popular in the first place. For a young rider looking for a sporty everyday motorcycle, the Pulsar 125 makes a lot of sense. It is quick, energetic, and comfortable and carries enough attitude to stand out from the crowd.
The Pulsar 150 takes things one step further with more performance and an impressively smooth engine. If you regularly ride longer distances or simply want more punch from your motorcycle, the 150 is the one I’d pick. The 125 is a youthful, playful option. The 150 is the more mature and powerful choice. In the past, we have seen a lot of quality issues with the Bajaj bikes, though our test bikes were completely ok. With the sales of the new bikes, we will get to know whether these bikes are all sorted, or if they also have some or other quality issue here and there.
Editor’s Note
Editor’s Note
The Bajaj Pulsar is one of those motorcycles that has shaped India’s performance commuter segment for an entire generation of riders. Even after 25 years, it still carries the same sporty character that made the original Pulsar such a phenomenon, while packing in modern technology and better refinement. After riding both the Pulsar 125 and Pulsar 150, it is evident that Bajaj has evolved the formula instead of reinventing it. The Pulsar may have grown up over the years, but it still manages to deliver that familiar fun-to-ride feeling which made it an icon in the first place. – Yatharth Chauhan, Managing Editor
Also Read: New Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z Can Now Save You Rs 24,500
