Bajaj Pulsar RS125

Overview

Finally I managed to get into the hands of Bajaj Pulsar RS125 and let me tell you, its one of those bikes that pulls you daringly out of your skin, in the most pleasant way possible. You know when you see a smaller cc bike and think “Alright got this for the basics” but then you jump on and that grin is just stuck on your face? The RS125 was exactly what happened to that bike. I went in with an expectation of a 125cc and it gave me so much more in the way of personality and fun.

Design & Looks

Honestly though, it’s hard to ignore, so let’s start there and speak about its looks first. No compromises: The RS125, with a classic Pulsar sportiness written all over it. The Bajaj went all out, those sharp, aggressive lines given courtesy of those triple trunk type headlight units. By the way, I really am a fan of these headlights. Not only do they make the bike look mean, like “don’t mess with me,” but they’re actually useful. At night, I find I much prefer riding with the extra visibility these projectors give compared to a lot of other bikes in this price range. That full fairing bodywork? It’s bold. A 125cc bike shouldn’t have as much presence, but here we have it, looking proper in a higher class. You know Bajaj's packed at least some of that RS200 attitude and, shrunk it right down, it really works.

Engine & Performance

You're probably thinking, “Well it's a 125cc, how exciting can it actually be?” I get it, I was there too. This little engine is way more spirited than I expected though. It cranks out 11.8 horsepower into the world and, on paper, that’s not a lot of power but actually just the right amount to city ride. There is nothing rough to this engine that is BS6 compliant as well as fuel injected and smooth. It was super responsive—twist the throttle, it does a lot that gets moving with a light, eager feel, especially in city rides where it’s easy to make it do a lot of things. And here’s the kicker: And it doesn’t seem too stressed, even on a bit of open road. Granted, it doesn’t haunt high speed highways, but it is good for some spirited cruising in the right hands. It’s got more than enough character for a 125cc.

Features & Tech

Time for the features! It’s where I had one of those “wait, this is a 125?!” moments. Fuel, trip meters are the basic information that’s covered by its semi digital instrument cluster which is present on the RS125. It’s not over the top fancy but it’s clear and functional and gives you what you need without distraction. I mentioned those projector headlights? It’s a huge win because they’re not just there for looks, it’s a practical, bright light for night rides that they are. And yes, it has ABS on the front wheel. It’s still just a single channel of course, not dual, but it is a solid time to have it, and will give you that extra confidence for braking, especially when braking on wet roads. The RS125 is a bike I’m a fan of, bikes that balance simplicity with functionality, and this is exactly what the RS125 does.

Ride & Handling

The handling is something that I'm truly impressed with when I think about it, it doesn’t feel as heavy as you might expect, and at the same time it’s not as difficult to ride. Seriously, wheels this thing through cars like a breeze. The seating position gets this right, without being too sporty to make you feel like something cool, or too aggressive to hunch over uncomfortably. It is just right for everyday rides, and when you go longer you’re not left aching. Suspension is on the firm side, just what we need for stable, but you’ll feel it over rough patches. Of course it never felt out of control. Like: this bike says, “I can take a bump or two …” On a 125cc, it is impossibly planted and stable.

Comparison with Rivals

If you have your eye on a 125cc bike then you would have looked at the Yamaha MT125 and the Honda CBR125R already. No doubt those are great bikes, smooth engines and nicely finished. That’s where the RS125 comes in for me. As it’s not trying to be something it’s not, it delivers the brand’s Pulsar character, infused with a bold, sporty feel in a smaller package that’s so much fun to ride. So, while it doesn’t have the extra power of the bigger bikes, it can more than make up for it with style and personality. It also helps that if you’re after that full fared look with just a bit of presence, the RS125 delivers it without fault.

WELL, sold a pearly white Bajaj Pulsar RS125, that’s my take on a Bajaj Pulsar RS125. I went in thinking this’ll be a ‘good little bike’ and what Bajaj has done with the Pulsar was so much more in terms of respect at this price point. Sporty, reliable, actually fun city rides that are not over heavy and not overpriced — this is the one you should check out if you’re looking for something.