Bajaj Auto ups the sports bike ante with new Pulsar P150

Bajaj Auto is looking for more sales traction in the 150cc motorcycle market, today launched the all-new Pulsar P150 in India, priced at Rs 116,755 (ex-showroom Delhi). After the 250cc (N250 and F250) and 160cc (N160) versions, this is the third Pulsar on the all-new platform launched in October 2021.

While it will sell concurrently with the longstanding albeit ageing Pulsar 150, the new P150 is positioned below the more modern Pulsar N160. The Pulsar P150 is powered by an air-cooled, 149.68cc single-cylinder engine which develops 14.5hp at 8500rpm and 13.5 Nm torque at 6000rpm and is mated to a five-speed gearbox. Fuel tank capacity is 14 litres and fully fuelled up, the P150 weighs 140kg, which variant-for-variant, is 10kg lighter than current Pulsar 150. Seat height stands at an accessible 790mm and the ground clearance is 165mm.

Despite being positioned as the more affordable model in the popular Pulsar line-up, the new P150 benefits from some key features. It uses the same semi-digital 'infinity' instrument console as on the Pulsar N160, which shows the gear position and has a range indicator. There’s also a full-LED projector headlight, flanked by LED daytime running lamps as well as an LED tail-lamp. Another useful feature is a USB charging port. 

Suspension duties are handled by a 31mm telescopic fork and a monoshock, which is a step up from the twin shock absorbers on the current Pulsar 150. Braking is through 260mm front disc and a 230mm disc at the rear (which changes to a 130mm drum on the single disc variant), complemented by single-channel ABS.

Rakesh Sharma, Executive Director, Bajaj Auto said, “Two decades ago, the Pulsar 150 created the genre of sports sporty street motorcycling. With the launch of the all-new Pulsar P150, we have again raised the performance bar. The P150s are a great addition to the new Pulsar platform, which has already seen the launch of the 250s and the dual-channel-ABS-fitted N160.”

Two variants on offer
Bajaj Auto has launched the Pulsar P150 in two variants – single seat and split seat. The single-seat variant has more basic underpinnings in the form of a rear drum brake and a single-piece handlebar, while the split seat variant gets a rear disc brake and clip-on handlebars. The single disc variant is shod with 80/100-17 (front) and 100/90-17 (rear) tyres, while the twin-disc variant gets fatter 90/90-17 and 110/90-17 tyres, front and rear, respectively.  

The single-disc Pulsar P150 has a sticker price of Rs 116,755, while the dual-disc variant costs Rs 119,757 (ex-showroom, Delhi). The latest Pulsar is available in five colours – Racing Red, Caribbean Blue, Ebony Black Red, Ebony Black Blue and Ebony Black White.

Its India-market rivals comprise the Yamaha FZ-FI, TVS Apache RTR 160 2V and Hero Xtreme 160R. While the first market to get the P150 is Kolkata, the newest Pulsar will be retailed across the country over the coming weeks, says Bajaj Auto.

In the first seven months of FY2023 (April-October 2022), Bajaj Auto has sold a total of 1,121,869 motorcycles, which constitutes 9.35% YoY growth (April-October 2021: 1,025,874 units).