I disagree; it is a fine entry level sport bike. It has legit sporty handling with the full fairing and clipons. It's not a track weapon by any means, but it can help teach new riders good cornering skills.

Question

The Pulsar RS125 has become the talk of the motorcycle modding community, as motorcycle enthusiasts tend to enjoy personalizing their rides. Some doubt the performance upgrades aftermarket parts provide for the bike. There are some riders who have been successful in modifying their RS125s with custom exhausts, ECU tuning and aesthetic changes, and some argue that the design of the bike prevents the significant improvements. Discussions about modding potential of the bike include the availability of aftermarket parts, bike's electronic systems, and base performance. Warranty implications are also considered as well as whether some modifications are worth the investment on a 125cc platform. With the RS125 being the question of whether or not it is a good canvas for customization, or if riders are better off starting with a different model, the biking community has very varied opinions.

@sachin-sha · Accepted Answer

Proper maintenance makes a huge difference about what I’ve found. Keep the chain lubed, tire pressure correct and do regular services, it will get pretty close to the advertised numbers.

@nirati-sri · Answer

There is no way it reaches those numbers in real life. I have never been able to get more than 45 km/l even riding conservatively. Bajaj's claims are definitely optimistic.

@priyanka-r · Answer

There is no way I would tour on this bike. Riding in an aggressive position is uncomfortable after an hour or so. It’s a short ride and commuting bike.

@varun-khan · Answer

The issue is that numerous performance parts are made for larger bikes. Quality upgrades for the RS125 can be hard to find and expensive.

@abhinav-gu · Answer

I believe light mods are the way to go. The bike can be improved without being overboard either by slipping on the exhaust or adding a few frame sliders, or even a power commander.

@divya-sinh · Answer

I like it for light touring. You can add a tank bag and perhaps a small tail bag and you are good to go for the weekend trips. Don't expect Gold Wing comfort, however.

@pranshu-mi · Answer

The Pulsar has its advantages, it has better ground clearance and is more upright riding position. Some of the more aggressive international models are more practical for daily use.

@abhay-sing · Answer

The fun of having a bike like this is half modding it. Of course, the gains from these tweaks won’t be massive, but customizing your bike and getting familiar with bike mechanics along the way is gratifying.

@monika-sin · Answer

I am sometimes riding more than the claimed mileage, but I am a very conservative rider. It’s definitely doable if you are willing to get out and ride for efficiency.

@varun-khan · Answer

I feel fuel efficiency is one of the RS125’s strong points. With spirited riding, this is noticeably more efficient than my previous 150cc bike.

@bhawesh-ku · Answer

For real though, no bike ever reaches its claimed efficiency in the real world. Despite this, the RS125 is still very fuel efficient compared to most bikes in the market.

@mansi-upad · Answer

For me, the vibrations are the deal breaker on long rides. After a few hours my hands begin to go numb. Commuting is fine, touring is not great.

@charan-sin · Answer

I wouldn’t bother modding it much. It's a 125cc bike, so you are better off saving your money and upgrading to the bigger bike that you want more performance from.

@harsh-math · Answer

Seriously, most 125cc riders aren’t really riding these bikes to the limit. While it may not be up to the standard of the top international brands, the RS125 is more than capable for its intended use.

@nakul-pahw · Answer

There is less comfort for a sport handling bike, but more than a dedicated touring bike. It’s a great alternative for occasional ride longer than 15 kilometers for most riders.

@anika-agra · Answer

The problem is traffic. The mileage hits hard in stop and go city riding. On open roads, it is much closer to what Bajaj is claiming.

@lokesh-goy · Answer

I have seen some cool custom RS125s. With the appropriate exhaust, a few tweaks of the suspension, and some cosmetic changes, however, there’s nothing stopping you from making it stand out from the crowd.

@reena-yada · Answer

The RS125 is in actuality a fantastic platform for mods. The aftermarket scene is decent, and you can really modify the bike appearance and capabilities with some simple upgrades.

@sourabh-ja · Answer

I am fine with aesthetic mods, but I would not change the engine that much. That’s a reliability issue and the gains on a small engine like this are negligible.

@rajat-manc · Answer

A K&N air filter and a good tune are all the RS125 needs to respond well. You would be surprised to know that small changes like these can make big difference.

@monika-sin · Answer

The answer is really weather dependent on how you ride. Of course you won’t hit the claimed figures if you’re constantly redlining it and riding aggressively. It's not far off but with smooth riding.

@varun-khan · Answer

The small fuel tank is the biggest issue for touring. On longer rides you'll find yourself stopping quite a bit for gas, which can get a little pesky.

@kapil-devs · Answer

It can be made much more touring friendly with a few mods, such as a gel seat cover and adjustable levers. This is a decent basis to work upon.

@vivek-kuma · Answer

From my experience, the RS125 does get pretty close to the claimed efficiency if you ride sensibly. In mixed city and highway riding, I routinely get around 55-60 km/l.

@vijay-kuma · Answer

It's all about expectations. It's reasonably comfortable for a 125cc sport bike. If you are accustomed to the larger touring bikes, you will certainly feel being constrained.

@monalisa-p · Answer

I’ve toured on mine and it was fine. Plus it’s not ideal by any stretch but if that is your only bike you can definitely make it work for longer rides with some planning.

@rahul-kuma · Answer

That depends on the market. The RS125 is a good choice in India. In Europe or Japan I'd probably go for one of the more established brands though.

@kuldeep-te · Answer

The Pulsar has shoddy build quality. Switchgear, fit and finish, on the European and Japanese bikes are decidedly better things.

@kalika-dub · Answer

I have ridden both and I would say that the RS125 is 80% as good as the international options but for 60% of the price. Most riders will find that fair trade off.

@kuldeep-te · Answer

I feel the Pulsar does a decent job for itself. There may not be the brand cachet, but it performs the same but for a fraction of the price. Great value for money.

@saurabh-ka · Answer

You get the RS125 which is decent, but not up to the refinement of something like a Yamaha R125. They just feel more polished and well engineered. The Japanese bikes.

@preeti-yad · Answer

This is more Race Styled than Race Sport. That’s not a bad thing. The thing about it is that it offers a taste of sport bike aesthetics and handling to newer riders without being too extreme.

@pranshu-mi · Answer

I have an RS125 and I can say it feels sufficiently sporty to me. It handles responsively and feels like a proper little sport bike thanks to the tucked riding position. It's all about expectations.

@pramod-kum · Answer

I believe it finds a nice middle ground. The vehicle is sporty enough to be enjoyed on twisty roads but relaxed enough for daily use. Not all sport bikes should be track monsters.

I disagree; it is a fine entry level sport bike. It has legit sporty handling with the full fairing and clipons. It's not a track weapon by any means, but it can help teach new riders good cornering skills.

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