Bajaj Pulsar 150 Neon, Pulsar 180F Launched With Single-channel ABS

Both the bikes are available at select Bajaj dealerships for now

• Pulsar 150 Neon is priced at Rs 67,386, while the 180F costs Rs 94,278 (both ex-showroom Pune).
• That’s a premium of around Rs 1400 for the Pulsar 150 Neon ABS and Rs 7500 for the 180F ABS over non-ABS versions.
• The Pulsar 150 Classic, V series and Platina 100ES are yet to be updated with CBS. 
• Bajaj may discontinue the Avenger Street 180, which could soon be replaced by the Avenger 160 ABS.

While there’s no official word from Bajaj, select dealerships across the country have confirmed that the Chakan-based bikemaker has launched the Pulsar 150 Neon and 180F with single-channel ABS as standard. The former is priced at Rs 67,386, while the latter now retails for Rs 94,278 (both prices ex-showroom Pune). That’s a premium of around Rs 1,400 for the Pulsar 150 Neon and a bit over Rs 7,500 for the 180F, compared to their non-ABS variants. This comes just days after Bajaj silently updated the Pulsar 150 Twin Disc and NS160  with single-channel ABS.

The Pulsar 150 Neon is powered by a 149.5cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine that makes 14PS at 8,000rpm and 13.4Nm at 6,000rpm. On the other hand, the Pulsar 180F draws power from a 178.6cc single-cylinder air-cooled motor that makes 17.02PS of power and 14.22Nm of torque at 6,600rpm. Both the bikes come mated to 5-speed transmissions.

Both the bikes use telescopic forks and a twin shock setup at the rear. In terms of braking, the entry-level Pulsar gets a 240mm disc brake up front and a 130mm drum at the rear. As for the Pulsar 180F, it features a 260mm disc brake at the front and a 230mm rear disc brake. And as mentioned before, single-channel ABS now comes as standard for both. It’s a similar case with the tyre setup. While both bikes use 17-inch alloys, they do differ in terms of tyre sizes. For instance, the Pulsar 150 features a 80/100-section tyre up front and 100/90-section tyre at the back. The Pulsar 180F, on the other hand, comes with a 90/90-section tyre at the front and a 120/80-section tyre at the rear. 

In terms of competition, the Pulsar 150 Neon goes up against the Honda X-Blade and TVS Apache RTR 160, whereas the Pulsar 180F competes with the Suzuki Gixxer SF.

The updates will help Bajaj inch closer to its target of equipping its entire lineup with ABS or combined braking system. That said, there still are a couple of bikes that remain to be updated with either of the two crucial safety features. This includes the Pulsar 150 Classic, V series and Platina 100ES. Aside from this, Bajaj may discontinue the Avenger Street 180 which is likely to be replaced by a 160cc model, powered by the same engine as the Pulsar NS160. Besides, it will also come equipped with ABS. The move will enable the company to maintain a reasonable price gap between the smaller Avenger 160 and the bigger Avenger 220.