Bajaj Pulsar 125 Neon: Review In Pictures

Does the Pulsar 125 strike the right balance between affordability and performance?

Bajaj re-entered the entry-level mass-market segment with its latest entrant, the Pulsar 125 Neon. It's positioned as a sporty yet comfortable commuter that takes on the likes of well-established motorcycles like the Hero Glamour Fi, Super Splendor and the Honda CB Shine SP. We put the baby Pulsar through a thorough road test to find out if it really lives up to the hype, and here's what we felt.

In terms of design, the Pulsar 125 Neon and the Pulsar 150 Neon look exactly the same. However, Bajaj has introduced a new black/blue paint option to differentiate the two motorcycles. Apart from the ‘125’ and ‘Pulsar’ badging, there are absolutely no styling highlights thrown on it. It’s simple, it’s sober and we like it! 

The Pulsar 125 Neon gets the same old orange-backlit semi-digital instrument cluster which does its job of displaying speed, fuel level, trip distance, odometer and other info in a crisp manner. However, we feel that this layout is getting a bit dated now and Bajaj might want to bring a new design just to freshen things up.

Although it’s an entry-level Pulsar, the fit and finish on this bike is the same as you’d see on other Pulsars and even the plastic quality is top-notch.

That said, the welds on the fuel tank and frame are quite visible, and the paint on the frame isn’t too well finished either.

Despite having clip-on handlebars (first in its class with the exception of the substantially more expensive KTM RC 125), the riding position is comfortable as they’re slightly high-set and the footpegs are perfectly placed as well.

What isn’t comfortable is the seat. Even though it’s roomy, the cushioning is noticeably on the harder side.

The 124.4cc engine in the Pulsar 125 Neon isn’t an all-new unit and neither is it the same as the one that powers the Discover 125. This is, in fact, the Pulsar 150’s motor with the stroke reduced from 60.7mm to 50.5mm. This effectively gives this motor a short-stroke configuration and that makes it quite revvy. 

A shorter stroke means that the entry-level Pulsar makes less power and torque (12PS and 11Nm) compared to its elder sibling, the Pulsar 150 which produces 14PS and 13.4Nm.

Performance isn’t the bike’s forte as it sprints from 0-60kmph in 7.11 seconds, which is 0.56 seconds slower than the Hero Glamour Fi. Blame this on the 140kg kerb weight (which makes this Pulsar 15kg heavier than the Glamour).

Out on the open road, the Pulsar 125 can cruise at 75-80kmph with minimal vibes, although overtaking at these speeds requires a downshift. Beyond 80kmph though, you do feel vibrations at the footpegs and the handlebar. While the 125 is capable of accelerating beyond this point, you can feel the engine beginning to run out of steam.

The baby Pulsar's engine has been tuned to produce more mid- to high-end grunt. To put it in numbers, the bike can accelerate from 30-70kmph in 3rd gear in 8.1 seconds (which is the quickest amongst its rivals), but when it comes to the 40-80kmph sprint, it is 1.76 seconds slower than the CB Shine SP.

The Pulsar 125 Neon's rev-happy motor does tend to burn more fuel, at least compared to other conventional 125s as it managed to deliver 51.46kmpl in the city and 57kmpl on the highway. To put it into perspective, the Honda CB Shine SP currently leads the class by returning a significantly higher 62kmpl in the city and 65kmpl on the highway.

The frame and the suspension components are identical to that of the bigger Pulsars. As a result, the bike soaks up mild undulations with ease and even on slightly bumpy surfaces at city speeds, the motorcycle remains composed. 

It comes equipped with a 240mm disc at the front and 130mm drum at the rear which is on par with its rivals. However,  you need to squeeze the lever quite hard to get some bite from the brakes, especially under panic braking. Thankfully, the CBS system works well and helps stabilise the bike.

The configuration of the seat, footpegs and the handlebar works in the 125’s favour, making it easy for you to extract the agility that it sports.

The Pulsar 125 has the same ride height (790mm) as other 125s, making it quite accessible for average Indians.

With a longest-in-class wheelbase of 1320mm, the motorcycle feels quite stable while cruising down the highway. While the front tyre size is the same as the other 125s, the rear tyre (100/90x17) is the widest in its class and offers adequate grip even in the wet. 

The Pulsar 125 Neon does what it’s supposed to do: give the rider a taste of the Pulsar’s sporty DNA but in a stress-free, relatively more affordable package. It makes a lot of sense for a novice rider looking for a motorcycle with a bit of oomph without having to forego one’s entire life savings (we’re looking at you, KTM!). However, its biggest competition is not the typical 125 league but its own sibling, the Pulsar 150 Neon. Priced at Rs 71,200 (ex-showroom), the Pulsar 150 Neon is just around Rs 4,500 more expensive than the Pulsar 125. And that small premium gets you not only more performance but also single-channel ABS, which, if you ask us, is a darn good deal!