[payeng]

Originally Posted by ishan12

In terms of product life-cycle, anyway the "Pulsar" brand is on the fag end of its life.

That is purely your OPIONION. Since the sales numbers definitely doesn't support that.

For the Product Life Cycle to show a decline, a product/brand has to reach maturity (flat sales) first.

Originally Posted by ishan12

A 125 cc pulsar will only dilute the brand further more which was already diluted after Pulsar 135LS.

Really?? According to me, the Pulsar 135LS wasn't accepted as a Pulsar.. and had no effect of the Pulsar 150 leave alone "Dilute" it.

Despite being much superior in Dynamics/Handling and even in Engine, the Pulsar 135 did not make much of an impact in the hearts and minds of the typical Pulsar 150 customer.

[ashwinprakas]

On the upside this is literally the only 125cc Commuter available in the market that offers DC electricals, a colossal improvement when it comes to safety and usability.

This also becomes the perfect learner's motorcycle since it comes with backlit controls. Wouldn't want your kid to get stranded at night in the middle of nowhere due not being able to figure out the position of the engine kill switch, would we?.

If you look past the negatives you'd realise that the P125 has absolutely raised the standards of commuter motorcycles in India since the Duke 125 is still a sports motorcycle and costs twice as much being out of the reach of many out looking for a commuter.

This also poeses a degree of guarantee for existing Pulsar owners of the UG3 era as most parts seem to be lifted from the previous design. Hence ensuring better spare circulation.

So all in all, doesn't seem to be that bad an idea.

Edit: Ignore your favorite Vloggers if they've missed the above critical points, just validates the fact that the market has been feminized (not a gender reflection).

Regards,
A.P.

[payeng]

This (Pulsar 125) makes business sense to me.

With ABS being mandatory on 125 cc plus bikes, Pulsar 150 has to vacate it's No. 1 Position of its price (65K-70K) range.

With the Pulsar 125 bajaj will definitely do away with its Pulsar 150 Neon variant, that obviously was a stop gap arrangement in order to retain its Price Point for sometime.

[payeng]

Officially launched now: EconomicTimes at 64,000 Ex-Showroom

[TusharK]

Bajaj has launched the Pulsar with a 125cc engine. The Pulsar 125 Neon is priced at Rs. 64,000 for the drum brake version and Rs. 66,618 (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the disc brake version.



The Pulsar 125 Neon measures 2,055 mm in length, 755 mm in width, 1,060 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 1,320 mm. The bike weighs 140 kg (kerb weight).



In terms of looks, the Pulsar 125 Neon looks identical to the higher capacity variants. It gets a colour co-ordinated Pulsar logo, grab rail, 3D variant logo on the rear cowl and neon coloured streak on the black alloy wheels. The bike comes equipped with clip-on handlebars.



The Pulsar 125 Neon is powered by a 124.4cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that produces 11.8 BHP @ 8,500 rpm and 11 Nm @ 6,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The bike rides on telescopic fork suspension at the front and has twin gas shock absorbers at the rear. It features 170 mm and 130 mm drum brakes at the front and rear respectively. The disc brake version gets a 240 mm disc at the front.

The Pulsar 125 Neon is available in three colour options - Neon Blue on Matte Black, Solar Red and Platinum Silver.

Link to Team-BHP News

[sukarsan]

I suppose the variants are a side effect of being a global bike maker for the mass market. Each country has its own identity and bajaj will have to make many variants to cater to that market. With those variants ready adn already productionized, the folks in marketing will come up with grandiose ideas on trying to fit a product to the Indian market. I feel sorry for the assembly line at bajaj as I dont think that such variants were considered during planning of the assy line.

[Bismaya]

Here are some of my points:

1. This bike is supposed to compete with Saluto, Glamour and Shine. Why is it priced higher than them all?

2. What was Bajaj thinking? It would have made more sense to introduce the future proof NS125 rather than taking the V12/Discover engine and putting it in the 150 body.

3. 64K Ex-Showroom seems too much for a 125cc. Glamour & Shine start at 58-59K range respectively.

4. The kerb weight is too much IMO. Highest you can find on a 125cc. Previously the highest was 133kg on V12. Now, it's this bike at 140kg.

5. Front Drum brake? Why even give the option for it? A disc is mandatory with all that weight TBH.

6. The 2-piece clip ons seem unnecessary IMO. A single handlebar is much easier on your body. It's on the 150, yes. But why do you need it on the 125?

Plus Sides:

1. This is definitely a proper sports 125cc commuter.
2. DC Electricals, Backlit switches and Kill switch. Take that HH.
3. Fuel Efficiency. I've had friends who get 62kmpl from this 125cc mill.
4. Digital Console
5. Premium fit and finish
6. Cheap spares. Easy to source as they share most underpinnings with P150 Neon.
7. Only 125cc bike to offer counter balancer.

Overall: Bajaj seems to be clearing inventory by using the 150 parts on this bike.

[payeng]

Originally Posted by Bismaya

Here are some of my points:

1. This bike is supposed to compete with Saluto, Glamour and Shine. Why is it priced higher than them all?

Why?? Just because its 125 cc??

In that case the KTM 125 Duke competes with the Saluto, Glamour and Shine as well. Right?

[anjan_c2007]

Just because it has attained a brand equity, they make Pulsars stoop to the 125 cc category. The "Bajaj Marketing" ways will take years for an ordinary mortal to understand. What next ? A 110 cc Pulsar for Rs 45,000 or a 150 cc Dominar for Rs 75,000 ?

It's like Maruti launching a Ciaz hatchback, with Swift dimensions and the famous 1200 cc engines ! Or Mahindra launching a XUV 500 pickup truck ! Or Hyundai launching a Verna hatchback with its signature 1100 cc engine !

[nkrishnap]

The design is good but it has outlived its tenure. Bajaj just having same design with varied engine sizes is seriously difficult to understand, especially in the 125 cc segment. Market has moved on and Bajaj is stuck with this.

Pulsar design and brand will fetch decent numbers initially.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

The "Bajaj Marketing" ways will take years for an ordinary mortal to understand.

True! Pulsar brand spans 6 different engine capacities!

• 125 Neon
• 150
• 150 Twin Disc
• 150 Neon
• 160 NS
• 180 F Neon
• 200 NS
• 200 RS
• 220 F

[iceman.]

Apart from the fact that this version looks hideous - in the grey and neon color scheme, I also believe that this is seriously going to undervalue the Pulsar brand or whatever is left of it. The 135 had already diluted the value, but to be honest, it was never seen as a true Pulsar anyway - more like a kid's toy.

Contrast this to TVS, which built the Apache brand aggresively - getting the RR310 to be the flagship - which makes the brand so much more stronger.

[kiku007]

For your entertainment. Golden words from Rajiv Bajaj.

"Discover 100-cc launch my biggest career blunder: Rajiv Bajaj"

“Greed came in. Marketing people said if the 125-cc Discover sells so much then how many would a 100-cc Discover sell? We went ahead and made the 100-cc Discover. We lost our position and five years later we lost our performance too..."

“We started off as a point of difference, with a different perception and a USP, but we ended up being a ‘me too’ product. Me too is bad in life and marketing," he said, speaking at an event in the city.

"We could have made a Tesla on two-wheels or a Tesla on three-wheels and created different news... we will try and do that in 2019 now: Rajiv Bajaj"

In 2019, they launch a Pulsar 125

Is the QUTE his idea of Tesla in 2019?

[Bismaya]

Originally Posted by payeng

Why?? Just because its 125 cc??

In that case the KTM 125 Duke competes with the Saluto, Glamour and Shine as well. Right?

Price ranges dude. Apart from D125, all of them are priced in the 60-70k range. I kept that in consideration.

[payeng]

Originally Posted by Bismaya

Price ranges dude. Apart from D125, all of them are priced in the 60-70k range. I kept that in consideration.

The Pulsar 125 falls bang in your 60-70k range.