The Bajaj Pulsar AS150 brings in the novelty of adventure touring appeal to the burgeoning segment of 150 cc sport motorcycles.
brings in the novelty of adventure touring appeal to the burgeoning segment of 150 cc sport motorcycles. While its primary rivals Suzuki Gixxer SFand Yamaha Fazer FI V2.0are mere variant extensions with additional bodywork, the newest 150 cc Pulsar is a brand new model in its own right. Bajaj has been ruling compact sports segment for over a decade now and the latest addition to the family aims to push the envelope further, trouncing the relatively recent Japanese players in the game. We spent a good part of a day with the AS150 to know what it’s composed of.
Bajaj Pulsar AS150 Review – A 17 PS Cat among pigeons?
Design
The Pulsar AS150 looks identical to the AS200, save for few minor details. The ‘Alpha Male’ design philosophy with a tall stance, prominent semi fairing with projector headlight and a sizeable windscreen, make for a bold road presence to say the least. Rest of the design is borrowed from its donor model – the Pulsar 200 NS.
The Alpha Male styling is shared with the AS200. Dimensions are also identical.
Majority of components are shared with the AS200, and the beholder really need to be extremely observant to spot the differences. For starters, the 150 variant has skinnier 110/80-17 MRF rear tyre compared to the bigger model’s 130/70-17 Eurogrip rubber. Also, the former makes do without a rear disc brake. The stickers on the tailpiece are the only straight forward give away of the identity.
The overall build quality is at par with its primary rivals, which is to say, very good. The handle bar grip is nice to hold and the switch gear operation has a good feel to it. The riding position is upright and comfortable but a high seat height could get a bit tricky for short riders.
Rear wheel makes do without a disc brake.
The Bajaj Pulsar AS150 has a visual appeal of a bigger motorcycle (same dimensions as AS200), matching the aspirational value of the fully faired Suzuki Gixxer SF.
Engine and Gearbox
What makes the Pulsar AS150 a truly new product is its 149.5 cc air-cooled 4-valve DTS-i motor. The engineers have done a commendable job of extracting 17 PS @ 9,500 rpm, making it the most powerful unit in the segment. The torque output of 13 Nm however is comparable to other 150 cc motorcycles.
The new 149.5 cc 4-valve DTS-i air-cooled engine pushes out an impressive 17 PS at 9,500 rpm.
The motor settles into a refined idling, with mild positive pulsation felt through the handlebar. The surplus of power is pretty apparent right from the word go, as the motor feels super responsive and eager to rev. It moves off the line quickly and has a sprightly mid-range. The motor revs up to the red line eagerly and vibration does creep in through foot pegs as the tacho needle moves past 8,000 rpm. But nothing very intrusive. The underbelly exhaust voices out a sporty note, starting from the mid-range.
The motor is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
The energetic new motor has a good partner in the 5-speed gearbox which offers excellent drivability. The gear shifts are smooth and light for relaxed operation, a feature one would appreciate during those long journeys. During our brief test ride, we didn’t get an opportunity to test the real world fuel economy of the new motor.
Ride, Handling and Braking
The Bajaj Pulsar AS150 is the only motorcycle in its segment to employ a perimeter frame, which is borrowed from the 200 NS. The conventional suspension system comprises of front telescopic fork and rear monoshock with Nitrox canister. The suspension setup is softer than that of the 200 NS, making it a touring friendly set of wheels. Though it has visual characteristics of an adventure tourer, the motorcycle is intended to be a mile muncher rather than an off-roader.
The motorcycle changes directions easily but the suspension is tuned towards comfortable long distance cruising.
At 143 kg, the 150 variant is a good 10 kg lighter that its larger engined sibling and that shows in its readiness to change directions. The AS150 is very easy to manoeuvre in city environment and handling is light and predictable. The grippy set of MRF tyres is an added plus.
The bike employs 240 mm disc brake upfront and a 130 mm drum brake at the rear. Braking is progressive and adequate but the disc doesn’t have the famous aggressive bite the Pulsars are known for.
Features
The projector headlamp enhances value-for-money quotient.
Semi fairing, projector headlamps, split seats and clip-on handlebars are the noteworthy features of the Pulsar AS150. The bike also gets split grab rails and alloy foot rest mounts.
Verdict
The Bajaj Pulsar AS150 emerges as the new performance benchmark in its segment, like every new Pulsar in the history did. It has a fresh appeal, thanks to the Alpha Male semi faired styling; it is well equipped and has a capable perimeter frame. All in all, its a massive step up from the ageing Bajaj Pulsar 150 package which would continue to soldier on in a segment below.
The Bajaj Pulsar AS150 emerges as a new performance benchmark and is versatile. It’s strong on VFM too!
So if you’re looking for a versatile yet affordable motorcycle that can efficiently perform your daily commuting regime with an occasional escape out of the town, the new Pulsar AS150 is definitely a worthy candidate, especially considering the attractive introductory price tag of INR 79,000 ex-showroom.
Bajaj Pulsar AS150 Review – Photo Gallery
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