Down sizing
The NS line enters the smalldisplacement bracket with its popular styling and a new engine. We find out how it fares on the streets of Pune
At triple-digit figures per litre, fuel prices are now an important factor in the purchase of a motorcycle more than ever. New riders who want a motorcycle as a primary means of transport are more likely to look for one that packs the styling of a larger motorcycle while delivering reasonable performance and more kilometres per litre. that probably explains why Bajaj have introduced the Ns range to the 125-cc segment with the pulsar Ns125.
the Ns125 is now the smallest and most accessible offering in the Ns range and we got a chance to live with it for a few days. first visual impressions were identical to those i had of the Ns160, because, save for the sticker work and some minute details, not much sets it apart from its larger sibling. Of course, that is hardly a disadvantage because the Ns line has eyecatching styling and it is nice to see that in the 125-cc space. the same goes for the instrument console: regular Ns fare.
Nestled within the perimeter frame borrowed from the Ns160 is an engine that is based on the Ns160 unit. With a smaller bore and shorter stroke, it displaces 124.45 cc. the two-valve, sOHC, air-cooled mill is Bs6-compliant and, more interestingly, carburetted; churning out 12 hp and a peak torque of 11 Nm while being mated to a five-speed transmission. Bajaj claim that the carburettor is aided by electronic componentry as well.
Having ridden the other motorcycles from the Ns range, i must admit that i approached this ride with similar expectations. the motorcycle fired up without any drama and settled into a quiet idle. the clutch action was light and the act of slotting it into gear and pulling away was equally stress-free. even with its clip-on handlebar and sporty riding position, the Ns125 was quite comfortable as it worked its way through city traffic. there is enough torque on tap from early in the rev-range and it is spread well to provide a competent mid-range as well, which works gloriously with the well-spaced gear ratios. this combination made for impressive low-speed handling (an essential trait in today’s traffic-infested roadways). At times, i found myself chugging along comfortably in top gear from as low as 2,500 rpm, clocking a decent 30 km/h without me having to deal with any form of irritating vibrations.
Once the roads opened up, the pulsar got a chance to stretch its legs and soon enough, it was evident that they were not particularly long. Although the motorcycle revs freely, banking on a healthy wave of torque, it simply does not have enough grunt to comfortably reach and hold triple-digit speeds. However, riding at 80-90 km/h is within its sweet spot and it could do it all day without breaking a sweat. it is beyond 7,500 rpm that the first hint of vibrations creeps in and they become hard to ignore as the motorcycle edges closer to its red-line 3,000 rpm away. fair enough.
Having picked my way through traffic and switched lanes thus far, it was evident that the Ns125 was a nimble customer and had more to offer in the handling department. When we shot the photographs spread across these pages on a quiet stretch of road, i was able to further appreciate this motorcycle’s handling capability. for example, when shooting cornering pictures, we are required to do multiple runs and i cannot remember that last time i did them back-to-back without putting a foot on the ground. Of course, the deserted road helped, but equal credit should go to the Ns125’s handling virtues and the brilliant eurogrip rubber it was shod with. flicking it into a turn was intuitive and holding the line was effortless. the only shortcoming was that, at times, i found myself wishing for more
torque at the exit of a long curve. perhaps, a bit more power or a bit less weight will solve this issue. regardless, it is not something that will manifest often in the environment that the Ns125 is built for: the urban jungle. Although the Ns125 does not come with disc brakes at either end, the slightly smaller front disc (compared to the Ns160) works well with the drum unit at the rear; ably supported by CBs. regrettably, Bajaj were unable to provide us with a claimed fuel-efficiency figure.
After living with the motorcycle for a couple of days, i am largely impressed by its torque spread, usability, and refinement because they contribute in spades towards improving the everyday ride experience. that makes or breaks the deal for a buyer who is looking at options in that space. Meanwhile, there were a couple of quality issues that need to be inspected over long-term use. the Ns125’s biggest shortcoming is most likely to be its price. A price range of rs 25,00030,000 separates the regular 125s such as the Honda sp125 and the Bajaj pulsar 125 from the 160s, including the Bajaj pulsar Ns160, the Hero Xtreme 160r, and the tVs Apache rtr 160 4V. You guessed it, the Ns125 sits bang in the middle of this spectrum at rs 98,234 (ex-showroom). then, of course, there are 150s around that price as well. so, enjoyable as it may be, it does not make a strong case for itself so far as the asking price is concerned. especially when it is flanked on both sides of the scale by multiple options.
After living with the motorcycle for a couple of days, I am largely impressed by its torque spread, usability, and refinement