New Bajaj Pulsar NS125 Incoming?

Bajaj Auto has launched the Pulsar NS125 in Colombia. This is the same bike which was introduced in Poland last year. Why should you, the Indian buyer, take notice of this puny Pulsar? If rumours are to be believed, Bajaj wants to introduce the NS125 in India in the coming months as an entry-point into the Pulsar family.

If you remember correctly, the Pulsar 135 LS was the smallest Pulsar you could get your hands on until it was quietly pulled off the shelves. One of the many reasons for its demise was that the 135 LS would have required ABS to be sold after 1 April 2019. Bajaj has gone down the displacement ladder with the NS125, which means that the bike would only need CBS to comply with the latest safety norms. Additionally, it costs less to equip a bike with combined braking system rather than an anti-lock braking system, thereby keeping costs in check. Currently, the most affordable Pulsar is the 150 Neon which costs Rs 68,250 (ex-showroom Delhi). It is unlikely that Bajaj will persist with this bike for long as its other 150 counterparts cost nearly Rs 20,000 more. Hence, this 125 should fill in that same price bracket as the 150 Neon or it’s highly likely that the Pulsar 150 Neon might receive a price hike.

There is a small difference between the Colombian-spec bike and the Polish one - the former misses out on fuel-injection. Although NS125’s engine is the same unit that powers the Discover 125 in India, it has been given a 4-valve head for better volumetric combustion. This should be handy for Bajaj as it could help the updated motor pass BS6 emission laws. Currently, the carburettor version of the engine makes 11.8PS and 10.8Nm.

The styling remains fairly unchanged from the 135 LS despite this bike adorning the NS badge. There are subtle updates to the panels though, all of which you can read about here. When launched, Bajaj will look to position this Pulsar NS125 as a premium option to run-of-the-mill 125cc commuters present in India.