Bajaj Pulsar NS125 vs Hero Xtreme 125R: Image Comparison

Which sporty 125cc bike should you go for?

The Bajaj Pulsar NS125 stands out as one of the sportiest offerings in the highly competitive 125cc segment. But now with the launch of the Hero Xtreme 125, the Pulsar NS125 has a new competitor in town. Here’s how both bikes compare.

Design

The Xtreme 125R comes with a very aggressive design with its sharp headlight and the sculpted tank, both of which give it good road presence. The bike also has ‘Xtreme’ badging on the tank which gives it a premium appeal.

The Pulsar NS125, on the other hand, looks a bit dated. It features the same design since it was launched, but only with a few changes such as the addition of a new LED headlight setup. Bajaj not bringing any changes to the design was a bit let down to many, but for hardcore Pulsar enthusiasts not much changing doesn’t seem like an issue.

Engine And Performance 

The Pulsar NS125 is powered by a 124.45cc air cooled single cylinder engine which produces 11.9PS and 11Nm.

The Hero Xtreme 125R on the other hand features a 124.7cc air-cooled engine which makes 11.4PS and 11Nm. So in terms of performance, it seems like both bikes are quite similar, at least on paper.

Underpinnings

In terms of underpinnings, both bikes have a telescopic fork and a monoshock. But the Xtreme offers a 37mm telescopic fork and a 7-step adjustable monoshock from Showa. The telescopic fork stands out as the thickest in the air-cooled 125cc segment.

But when it comes to braking, the Xtreme 125R has the upper hand. The bike has a 276mm front disc and 130mm rear drum, with single-channel ABS. The NS125, on the other hand, only offers a 240mm front disc and a 130mm rear drum. 

Both bikes roll on 17-inch alloys but the Xtreme gets fatter tyres: 90-section front and 120-section rear. The Pulsar NS125 rolls on slimmer 80-section front and 100-section rear tyres. 

Overall, with the larger telescopic fork, adjustable monoshock, bigger brakes and thicker tyres, the Xtreme does have an edge. The brakes with single-channel ABS add an extra layer of safety and the wider tyres should ideally inspire more confidence when cornering, something you want on a sporty motorcycle. 

Features

Until recently, the Bajaj Pulsar NS125 didn’t have much to offer in terms of features. The bike was recently updated by Bajaj and it now comes with a fully-digital instrument console which features smartphone connectivity and other bits such as call/SMS alerts alongside regular data like speed, fuel level, time and tripmeter and odometer readouts.

Bajaj Pulsar N160 console used for representation 

The Hero Xtreme 125R gets a fully digital instrument console which offers regular information like speed, time, tachometer readouts, along with tripmeter and odometer readouts.

It also offers smartphone connectivity and related features such as call/SMS alerts. So in terms of features, both bikes seem to be on par. 

Which Bike Should You Get?

The Hero Xtreme 125R ABS variant comes at an ex-showroom Delhi price of Rs 99,500, whereas the Pulsar NS125 costs Rs 1,00,422 (ex-showroom Delhi). 

The Xtreme 125R has a lot to offer, it looks good and offers more in terms of underpinnings. If you are looking for your first bike, then the Xtreme 125R might make a bit more sense. 

The Pulsar NS125 on the other hand, although a good bike now feels a bit dated and won’t be something newer riders might find to their fancy. But if you are a die-hard Pulsar fan who is looking for an authentic Pulsar experience, then the Pulsar NS125 makes sense.