Bajaj Pulsar AS 150 Road Test Review

Before we start with our review like we do all the time, let's take a while and go back in time. The time when there were few manufacturers in the country and all were aiming at producing a motorcycle which was able to give better fuel efficiency and the time when 100-110cc motorcycles were like a big thing in the country. A time when there were no bigger cc bikes (except Bullets of course). The time changed when Hero came up with a 150cc motorcycle, the Hero Honda CBZ in 1999. Thus the era of performance bikes demand started growing. Bajaj took this as an opportunity and on November 24th 2001, launched the Pulsar twins. This was a huge step towards revolution as the pulsar had everything a prospective buyer wanted. It had good looks, bigger engine (i.e., 150cc as opposed to 100cc bikes) and not to forget it even delivered a good fuel efficiency.

Soon the bike became a hit and since then, Bajaj have been upgrading the Pulsar 150 (let's leave the Pulsar 180 aside now) to make it better and better. It's 2015 now and it's time for another change. This is the change that the 150 needs, a change that is going to re-write history all over again. Thus, the new generation pulsar 150 is launched. Folks, let's welcome the all new Pulsar 150 Adventure Sports aka Pulsar 150AS. This bike is totally new Pulsar, nothing like before and everything new. It now has more power, better looks, it has got new features and it has a new frame too. So is this the successor of the legendary Pulsar 150? Read on to find out:
Riders Note: The Pulsar 150 was and is one of the most favorite bikes in India and with the addition of the all new 150AS, it's going to carry the legacy forward. The AS is definitely way better than it's previous Pulsar 150I. I really loved it over it's bigger brother, the 200AS, this bike feels lighter, is easy to maneuver, is a lot more fun to ride, be it the corners, the highways, the city or off road, the bike just performs very well in all the terrain.
Styling:

Let the 150AS and 200AS stand side by side and I bet at first glance, you will not find any difference as both the bikes look exactly the same, including the colour schemes (Bajaj should had at least considered different colour schemes so as to differentiate the two). But take a closer look and you'll know the difference. There is no radiator, the tyres are thinner and there's no disc brake at the rear. The styling on the bike is pretty good, everything seems to have been reworked, though not losing out what it actually is. Let's start with the headlamps now. The headlamps are now redesigned and it's the only one bike in the 150cc segment that has a single projector headlamp along with a normal reflector. The bike has taller windscreen that helps cut the wind when you are out touring. The tank now is now sculpted very well and it has got room to lock your knees while attacking the corners. The seat is split-seat. The rear has a conventional mudguard but without a tyre hugger which can be found on the 200AS. The bike though has thinner tyres and there's no rear disc brake. Overall the bike looks good. Instrument Cluster and Switchgears:

The 150AS gets the same instrument cluster as seen on the 200AS. The instrument cluster is a three part, with the analogue tachometer and fuel gauge at the centre, the tell-tail and warning lights taking the left side and the right consists of the speed, trip meter, time and so on. The instrument cluster is neat and easily readable. The switchgears on the other hand are also of good quality.

Ergonomics:

The ergonomics is a mixture of riding positions. You sit comfortably on the bike, though you lean a bit on the front. The seating position in no way affects the rider's comfort. The cushioning of the seat is comfortable enough for long rides. The suspension on the other hand is similar to that of 200NS and can take bad roads too without being a pain. A long travel suspension would had done justice, bearing in the mind the "Adventure Sports" tagline, but nonetheless going by the touring capabilities of this bike, the present suspension does it job well. Coming to the pillion, the pillion sits comfortably with no back or any other sort of pain. Performance:

Thumb the start button and you are greeted by an all new sound from the engine. The engine is nothing like the previous generation Pulsar and it's way better now. The bike now produces a whooping power of 17PS @9500rpm and a torque of 13Nm at @7000rpm. The bike redlines at 10000rpm, though harder twist at the throttle will take you to 11000rpm. If there's anything that the bike's enjoyed at its best is the mid range. The bike has very good mid range power and feels very much alive between 6000-9000rpm making it ideal for touring as well. The engine on the new 150AS is much more refined now, the refinement on the Pulsar 150AS is way better compared to the previous generation pulsar. There are some vibrations that can be felt at the handlebars and footpegs, though they are not irritating. The power delivery is linear which again makes it a good bike for the highways. The engine doesn't seem to be stressed out much after riding it hard Riding Dynamics:

The seating on the 150AS is good and thanks to the suspension setup. The front suspension is a telescopic and the rear comes with gas-charged mono-suspension, combine the both and it ensures a comfortable ride and at the same time giving you enough confidence to attack corners. The suspension is on the softer set up. The weight of the bike is 143kgs, almost same as the old generation Pulsar and it does not in anyway make you feel like it is 143kgs, i.e., the bike feels light. The bike now comes with a perimeter frame which translates to the bike's good handling. The bike's tyres may be thin but again, thanks to the MRF tyres which offer really good grip, giving you the confidence to push the bike harder, until the center stand starts to scrape the ground. Overall, the handling is good, thanks to the perimeter frame and the tyres from MRF. The Off-Road Experience:

We took it to an old rally track that was barren now and did some couple of rounds on it. There was a BIG GRIN on our faces as we took the bike off-road. The feel of the bike was really really good riding on the off-road. Thanks to the smooth linear delivery, especially the strong mid range made it feel a lot happier to ride it on this terrain as opposed to the 200AS which made it like it needed something more.

Apart from this, we took the bike to some very very bad roads, even where the bike faired very well and we did not feel any kind of irritation while riding it on bad roads. The tyres are quite good for off-roading, though a dual-purpose tyres would had made it even better to ride on. Overall, the off-road experience was good, though we still wanted to have those extra goodies that would make this experience feel even better like a long travel front suspension and a bigger wheel at the front and so on but nonetheless this was also joy to ride. Verdict:

So finally we reach the end of our discussion. Let's end this up this way. The Pulsar 150AS is not really an Adventure Sports bike, as it doesn't have a long travel suspension, dual purpose tyres or so on which makes a typical go anywhere bike. On the other hand, this bike has got so many things like a strong mid range, very good power, only bike in the 150cc segment to come up with a projector headlamp, a semi-fairing, a big windscreen, perimeter frame, good tires and so on.

This all combined together makes this bike ideal for touring and also taking on corners while still be fit to ride everyday without stressing out any of your muscles as the seating position is comfortable and the bike is very manoeuvrable. The bike should deliver 50+kpl of fuel efficiency which is another plus point. To conclude, this bike is for someone who wants everything in one single package (i.e., daily commute, touring, some off-roading, getting his knees down). If this is all you want in a motorcycle and also that comes at a good price tag then just close your eyes and go for the Pulsar 150AS. With the introduction of this all new Pulsar, Bajaj aims for higher sales target and this will definitely help gain it
Pros:

1. Projector headlamps, perimeter frame, monoshock suspension.
2. Value for money.
3. Ride quality.

Cons:

1. Tyres, should had been wider.
2. Rear Disc brake should had been offered.
3. A different paint scheme would had been a lot better to differentiate the 150AS from the 200AS.
Review By: Rakesh Gowda
Photography By: Camera Cardiacs
Bike Courtesy: Popular Bajaj, Mr Girish and Mr Naveen Kumar
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