With the launch of the new Bajaj Pulsar N125, how does it stack up against the current top dogs, the Hero Xtreme 125R and the TVS Raider? The Raider has been an all-time favourite performer since its launch, but the Xtreme 125R has shaken things up with its sharp styling and features. Now, the N125 looks to capture the throne, but does it have what it takes to stage a coup?
None of the three has a significant advantage over the others in terms of engine output, with the N125 pushing 11.83 bhp, the Raider does 11.22 bhp, and the Xtreme 125R does 11.24 bhp. This makes sense because, despite their athletic appearance, these devices are primarily designed to be a cheap and efficient form of transportation. Because of its powerful engine and relatively light weight, the newest bike on the block, the Pulsar N125, boasts the best power-to-weight ratio.
In terms of weight, the Xtreme 125R is more than 10 kg heavier than both the N125 and the Raider, which weigh 125kg and 123 kg, respectively. Despite offering nearly 200 mm of ground clearance, the N125 has a low 795mm seat height. Additionally, it has the lowest wheelbase, which should technically increase its handling prowess and agility. The Raider has the lowest seat height and is the lightest bike in this group, and from our previous experiences with it, it has been a hoot to ride!
The three motorcycles measure up equally in terms of features, although the Raider gets a better display than the units on the Xtreme and N125. Other than the listed differences, there’s nothing really groundbreaking here, but based on the growing popularity of the segment, we can be sure to see them on the road in multitudes soon. There’s a very close competition between the three, and on paper, that gets hard to put a verdict on, but the three bikes will be properly featured in a detailed head-to-head comparison soon, so look out for that.
