Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 First Ride: Being a Sporty Commuter!

Sporty commuters are all the rage these days.

Gone are the days of simple-looking commuters with barebone features. Instead, major brands are now focused on enriching the 125cc segment.

Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 is a good example of that.

HH Bajaj, the authorized distributor of Bajaj bikes in Nepal, has introduced its brand new BS6-compliant 125cc motorcycle.

Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 takes its design cue from the popular NS series.

With a price tag of Rs. 2.79 Lakhs, it is the most affordable NS in the market right now.

It borrows several elements including the style, suspension, and iconic perimeter frame. However, the engine has been downsized for fuel economy and affordability.

We got our hands on the brand-new Bajaj Pulsar NS 125, but we are still busy testing it. We will talk about every little detail in our Full Review.

Until then, this is the First Ride of the Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 in Nepal.

Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 First Ride

Muscular Design

This is the styling we have already seen many times before.

It is a mix of muscular build with a sporty stance, complete with an aggressive fuel tank and 3D-Pulsar branding.

It includes all the hallmarks of the past NS like sleek headlamps, a signature Split-type Pulsar LED tail lamp, and a sporty split seat.

There are minor graphical changes, especially with a 125 stickering. Furthermore, the alloy wheels and the perimeter frame get a silver satin finish.

Additionally, the tyre profile is thinner to meet up with today’s standards.

The overall dimension has changed, creating a slightly smaller profile. Interestingly enough, the ground clearance is slightly taller than its siblings.

It is still the most aggressive and muscular street fighter!

Moreover, Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 comes in four different colors: Fiery Orange, Burnt Red, Beach Blue, and Pewter Gray.

Performance

Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 is powered by a 124.45 Single-Cylinder, 4-Valve, 4-Stroke, Air-Cooled. DTS-i Ei engine. It generates a max power of 12PS at 8500rpm and a max torque of 11Nm at 7000rpm.

Moreover, it is mated to a 5-speed gearbox with a 12-liter fuel tank.

Pulsar NS 125 brings a sweet new trick to the table.

The new 125cc DTS-i engine is a BS6-compliant engine. However, it isn’t a Fuel Injection but rather a Carburetor one.

So, how did they do it?

Electronic Carburetor.

It is a brand-new system developed to act as a bridge between a traditional Carburetor and modern Fuel Injection.

Moreover, it provides few benefits of a Fuel Injection at an affordable price. Yes, it comes with a reserve fuel tank switch!

So, what is E-Carb?

Basically, it is a Carburetor fitted with two sensors: a Throttle Sensor and an Oxygen Sensor. These sensors help create an optimal balance between performance and fuel.

It even includes Side Stand Engine Cut Off and Cold Morning Start.

The engine sound and engine refinement are decent. The vibrations are present across the board, vibrating more at higher revs.

It does feel a bit lacking in overall refinement.

Moreover, the exhaust note also could have been better. Nevertheless, we will test out the engine performance and refinements in detail for the review.

The riding posture and the handle placement all feel familiar.

It does feel like the Pulsar NS 200. Only when you start the engine, do you realize that this is a much more affordable Pulsar NS 125.

Like in the Pulsar N160, there is a minor inconvenience.

When a rider turns on the ignition, the front DRLs or Headlamp does not turn automatically on. The rider needs to start the engine to turn it on. It is slightly annoying during nighttime, especially at traffic stops.

Other than that, there aren’t any noticeable pros or cons here. Especially since it does seem to hold the hallmarks of the NS DNA.

The 125cc engine will obviously hold back the performance a bit. It will be interesting to see how this pans out in day-to-day riding.

Additional Features

Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 comes with a Disc-Drum configuration. It gets a 240mm Disc at the front only and a 130mm Drum at the rear.

Unfortunately, there is no ABS. Instead, Bajaj has included a Combined Braking System (CBS).

The dimensions are 2012mm in length, 810mm in width, and 1078mm in height. Moreover, the wheelbase sits at 1353mm.

Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 gets a 179mm ground clearance. And, the kerb weight is 144kg.

It gets 17-inch tyres with 80/100-section at the front and 100/90-section at the rear.

Features

We will talk about these features in detail in our Full Review. Here is a quick list of features in the Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 in Nepal.

Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 Features Highlight

• Aggressive Masculine Design
• Best-in-Segment Performance!
• E-Carb DTS-I Engine (BS6-Compliant)
• Halogen Headlamp with Twin Pilot Lamps
• LED Tail Lamp
• Perimeter Frame
• Telescopic Front Forks with Nitrox Rear Monoshock
• Disc/Drum Braking
• Combined Braking System
• Tubeless Alloy Wheels
• Under Belly Exhaust
• Engine Cowl
• Clip-On Handlebars
• Analog Digital Instrument Cluster

Conclusion

Talking about the price, the Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 price in Nepal is Rs. 2.79 Lakhs. Moreover, it is available only in a single variant.

Most bikes are getting expensive.

Even the 125cc segment, which was previously considered an affordable option, has sharply increased in price.

Fortunately, few brands have taken the opportunity to redefine the 125cc category.

And, Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 comes across as a Sporty Commuter, packing in the NS DNA alongside the affordable price tag.

Does that affordable price come with compromises? We will tackle it in our Full Review.

Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 rivals TVS Raider 125.

TVS Raider continues to set standards for affordability, features, and performance. However, the iconic NS 125 design is something that simply cannot be matched.

Plus, the Pulsar NS 125 sports a BS6-compliant e-Carb engine against the BS4-compliant Carb engine in the TVS Raider 125.