Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: specification comparison

Bajaj’s sporty-looking N125 faces off against two proven competitors.

Published On Oct 22, 2024 07:00:00 AM

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Bajaj Pulsar, TVS Raider, Hero Xtreme compared

The Bajaj Pulsar N125 goes up against some very popular machines, the Hero Xtreme 125R and the TVS Raider. While a comparison is certainly brewing, here’s how these three motorcycles stack up against each other on paper.

Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: engine & output

Engine & output
	Bajaj Pulsar N125	TVS Raider 125	Hero Xtreme 125R
Engine	Air-cooled, 124.58cc, single-cyl	Air-cooled, 125cc, single-cyl	Air-cooled, 125cc, single-cyl
Power	12hp at 8,500rpm	11.38hp at 7,500rpm	11.4hp at 8,250rpm
Power-to-weight ratio	96hp/tonne	92.5hp/tonne	83.8hp/tonne
Torque	11Nm at 6,000rpm	11.2Nm at 6,00rpm	10.5Nm at 6,500rpm
Gearbox	5-speed	5-speed	5-speed

In terms of engine output, all three are neck and neck with no real discernible leg up over one another. These machines, while they may look sporty, are meant to serve as a frugal and inexpensive mode of transportation, first and foremost, so this is understandable. The new kid on the block – Pulsar N125 – has the highest power-to-weight ratio, thanks to its motor being the most powerful and pretty light.

Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: weight & dimensions

Weight & dimensions
	Bajaj Pulsar N125	TVS Raider 125	Hero Xtreme 125R
Kerb Weight	125kg	123kg	136kg
Seat Height	795mm	780mm	794mm
Fuel Capacity	9.5 litres	10 litres	10 litres
Ground Clearance	198mm	180mm	180mm
Wheelbase	1295mm	1326mm	1319mm

Most key dimensions are also quite evenly matched, but each bike does have its own strong points. While the Pulsar and the Raider are pretty neck and neck in terms of weight, the Hero is over 10kg heavier than both, although no bike here is heavy in absolute terms. The Pulsar N125 has an ADV-esque almost 200mm of ground clearance on offer, and despite that, it boasts a low 795mm perch off the ground. It also has the shortest wheelbase, which should, in theory, make it more flickable and agile. The Raider is the lightest bike here and also has the lowest seat height.

Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: suspension & brakes

Suspension & brakes
	Bajaj Pulsar N125	TVS Raider 125	Hero Xtreme 125R
Suspension (F/R)	Telescopic fork / Monoshock	Telescopic fork / Monoshock	Telescopic fork / Monoshock
Brakes (F/R)	240mm disc / 130mm drum	240mm disc / 130mm drum	276mm disc / 130mm drum
Tyres (F/R)	80/100-17 / 110/80-17	80/100-17 / 100/90-17	90/90-17 / 120/80-17

Budget-friendly commuters aren’t known for having top-flight equipment, and the underpinnings of these three sporty-looking commuters are pretty much par for the course. There’s really no standout feature here other than on the Hero, which is the only bike to have the option of single-channel ABS on the top variant.

Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: features

Features are another area where these bikes are quite evenly matched. All of these get an LED headlight and tail-light, but the Hero is the only one among them to use LED indicators as well. The Raider’s top variant is the only one to come with a TFT dash, with some nifty Bluetooth features seen on premium bikes. Depending on whether or not this is important to you, the Pulsar N125 can be had in a total of seven colour options, while the Hero and TVS are restricted to three and four colour schemes, respectively.

Bajaj Pulsar N125 vs rivals: price

Price
	Bajaj Pulsar N125	TVS Raider 125	Hero Xtreme 125R
Price (ex-showroom, Delhi)	Rs 94,707 - Rs 98,707	Rs 84,839 - Rs 1.04 lakh	Rs 95,000 - Rs 99,500

As has been the overarching theme of this story, all bikes are neck and neck, and picking one is going to boil down to nuanced personal factors rather than an outright specification or feature. In terms of price as well, all three are pretty much on par, although the Raider’s TFT variant is above the Rs 1 lakh mark. It is also worth noting that the Raider’s base variant comes with a drum front brake, which explains the delta to the other two in terms of starting price.

Also See: Hero Xtreme 125R vs TVS Raider 125 comparison