Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTS-i: Is India’s Best Selling 150cc Motorcycle Dying a Slow Death?

Bajaj Pulsar - the name that completely revolutionized the Indian motorcycle industry has commanded over everything on two-wheels for more than a decade now. The bike was introduced back in the country in the year 2001 and has gone through a number of development stages since then. The Pulsar was initially seen as more of a style quotient than just a motorcycle. The youth too loved to flaunt them on the bike that was being initially marketed as the ‘Definitely Male’. However, with the passage of time, the sales of the machine have gradually come down and with the entry of other rivals in this segment, the 150cc Pulsar is slowly becoming a forgotten hero. Or is it not? Let’s find out. 

Going by the Pulsar 150 sales report of the last three months, the bike has shown an overall sales decline of 15 percent. While the November 2015 sales stood at 36,669 units, the 2014 sales for the respective months witnessed 34,481 units, reporting a growth of 6 percent. Talking about the statistics of December, the unit sales number for the year 2015 was 25,794 while the same month in 2014 accounted for 28,030 units. Here, the recorded decline was 8 percent. Now, coming to the most recent data available, i.e. the sales of January 2016. The numbers for the starting month of this year stood at 33,183 units against 37,955 units for the same month last year, registering a sales decline of 13 percent. 

With this, the Bajaj Pulsar is indeed, going through a sales decline each year. But at the same time, it has been continuously showing the best sales numbers in the 150cc segment. This can be illustrated in a better way by the fact that the closest rival of Pulsar in the 150cc segment - TVS Apache’s sales is almost half in comparison to the former. With the arrival of more new players in this segment over the years like the Hornet 160R, Unicorn 160 and Suzuki Gixxer, the sales of Pulsar have definitely affected but not to the extent that Bajaj should worry for, at this point of time. However, we personally believe that if Bajaj brings no update to the bike even for the next few years, the Pulsar will still go strong in sales, for the admiration and acceptance it has received from bikers across the country. 

With the decreasing sales over the years, the Bajaj Pulsar still rules the 150cc category and has set a true benchmark. But the real question is - For how long can it manage to save its throne? What’s your take on this? Do let us know your opinions in the comments section below!