New 125cc Bajaj Commuter Bike Incoming

Bajaj Auto has always been a force to reckon with in the Indian two-wheeler market. Right from the OG Chetak, to its more modern line-ups like Pulsar and Dominar. Bajaj also commands a formidable chunk of the sporty/premium 125cc space. However, the Pune-based manufacturer is looking to expand its footprint with two new brands under its portfolio. We have already seen one of these in the form of a dual-sport bike, which we likely think is going to be called the Trekker. However, the other one is going to be a commuter-focused brand that will likely operate in the 125cc space. 

Upcoming 125cc Commuter Bike

In a recent earnings call, the brand made a whole bunch of announcements, out of which a highlight by Rakesh Sharma, Executive Director at Bajaj Auto Ltd, hinting at the upcoming 125cc bike:

“We are looking at a different brand because the propositions will be – we mean the propositions more at this stage, but because the propositions will be different, we don't want to sort of call them Pulsars.

They will have a very specific angle to them, and they will be two different brands. And we hope to not just capture a bigger share of the 125cc plus segment, but with this action, we hope to upgrade the 100cc customer because, as you know, participating in the 125cc allows us more degrees of freedom in terms of product innovation, and hopefully this customer will get attracted by it and travel up from 100cc to 125cc. That is also part of the strategic intent, which will get realised hopefully this year.”

As quoted in the earnings call, the new commuter will not be called the Pulsar, and will be aimed as an upgrade for the 100cc bike users. Currently, Bajaj only has the Platina 100 in its 100cc segment, which could mean that there’s a new 125cc commuter bike on the cards. Also, it might be possible that Bajaj might use the same new 125cc engine that is likely to make its debut on the upcoming Pulsar 125 Classic refresh, albeit in a different state of tune. This is something that we have seen on Honda and Hero bikes where the same 125cc engine can be tuned slightly differently to offer a very different experience.

If a new platform is indeed under development, its launch could very well still be a few years away, given that this is the first time it has been mentioned publicly. Bajaj has been known to thoroughly test its products in the real-world before they are launched, and to that end no Bajaj test bikes have been spotted on public roads. Given that the focus currently remains on the Pulsar for the immediate future, this commuter is likely to arrive in a few year’s time.

Bajaj Trekker 125

But before that, we will see the Bajaj Trekker 250. It's a dual-sport bike, not an adventure bike, and is expected to be launched before the festive season. It is expected to have a 250cc air-oil-cooled engine from the Pulsar N250. Its equipment list could have a 21-17 wheel setup with dual purpose travel, long travel suspension, an upswept exhaust, and more. 

Upcoming Bajaj Bike Names

In early 2024, Bajaj had filed for four trademarks - Glider, Trekker, Freedom, and Marathon. Freedom has already been launched as the CNG bike, the Trekker is more apt for the upcoming dual-sport bike, and Marathon seems befitting a three-wheeler. That leaves the Glider – it also sounds like a comfortable bike, and as such, could be suitable for a commuter.

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