Bajaj Pulsar 125 India Launch Soon?

When launched, it will be Bajaj’s most affordable Pulsar in India

• We expect the bike to be priced around Rs 60,000 -65,000 (ex-showroom).
• It will feature a BS6-ready engine, likely from the Colombia-spec Pulsar NS125.
• The upcoming motorcycle will replace the now-discontinued Pulsar LS135.

Bajaj could launch the Pulsar 125 sooner than we had anticipated. In an interview with CNBC TV18, Rakesh Sharma, the Executive Director of Bajaj hinted at the launch of a new product in the mid-segment (125cc) soon. 

Interestingly, Bajaj recently launched the Pulsar NS125 in the Colombian market. It features a carburetted 125cc air-cooled, 4-valve engine which Bajaj is likely to plonk in the India-spec bike as well. It makes sound business sense too, as the bike is in fact exported to Colombia from India and Bajaj wouldn’t have to spend too much on production logistics. In addition, the 4-valve configuration makes it technologically easier to upgrade the engine to upcoming emission norms too. So it’s pretty much a given that the bike will be BS6-ready when launched.

In the Colombian model, the engine produces 11.9PS at 8500rpm and 10.8Nm at 7000rpm. It works alongside a 5-speed transmission. Underpinnings include telescopic front fork and twin gas-charged shock absorbers at the rear. The bike comes to a halt using a disc brake up front and a drum unit at the rear. Bajaj will equip the motorcycle with CBS as standard and the setup will most likely be similar to the one in the Platina 110 H-Gear. In the new Platina, the CBS is a mechanical unit which links the rear brake with the front brake lever. Design-wise, the bike will look similar to the Colombia-spec Pulsar NS125. Expect the colour scheme to be different, though.

The upcoming bike is likely to cost around Rs 63,000 -65,000 ex-showroom, making it the most affordable Pulsar in India after the Pulsar 150 Neon (Rs 68,250, ex-showroom Delhi). Once launched, it will compete against the Hero Glamour FI and Honda CB Shine SP in its segment.

On a side note, we already know that the Pune-based brand made use of the decommissioned aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant, to make its commuter range, the V12 and the V15 - both of which are discontinued now. But now that there are reports of another aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat being scrapped, there could be another solid business opportunity here. We’ll let you connect the dots!

Source: CNBC TV18