Bajaj Pulsar P150 vs competitors: engine, performance, features, price

Bajaj recently launched Pulse star P150 in India its newest competitor in the 150-160cc motorcycle segment. It has a new look, an all-new engine that produces more power and is significantly lighter than the aging Pulsar 150. Here’s how the Pulsar P150 beats the competition: TVS Apache RTR 160 2V, Hero Xtreme 160R and the famous Yamaha FZ.

Bajaj Pulsar P150 vs rivals: engine and power

The P150’s new air-cooled single-cylinder engine produces slightly more power and torque than its predecessor, however, it’s still far from the best in its class, the Apache RTR 160 2V. While the Bajaj makes 14.5 hp, the TVS’s engine develops 16.04 hp.

The Hero Xtreme 160R sits between these two bikes, with its engine developing a bit more than 15 hp. Meanwhile, Yamaha FZ is at the bottom of the horsepower chart with a capacity of 12.4 horsepower. For maximum torque, the Hero reaches a maximum of 14Nm. It is worth noting that all motorcycles have a 2-valve setup and their engines are mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

Bajaj Pulsar P150 vs rivals: suspension and brakes

All motorcycles here have telescopic forks and monoshock. In fact, this is the first time a 150cc class Pulsar is equipped with a single shock absorber.

When it comes to brake hardware, the Pulsar, Xtreme and Apache can be chosen with a front disc, rear drum setup. However, in this spec comparison case, we only consider top-spec bikes with disc brakes at the front and rear.

Comparing the size of the front brake discs on each vehicle, it is clear that the Pulsar P150 has the smallest brake disc of 260mm – 22mm, smaller than the 282mm disc on the Yamaha FZ. However, when it comes to the size of the rear disc brakes, the P150 is the biggest at 230mm, followed by the FZ, Xtreme and Apache respectively.

All bikes here use 17-inch wheels, wrapped in tubeless rubber. The Xtreme and FZ have wider front and rear tires than the rest, while Yamaha has a 140cc rear tyre, something it has been proud of since its launch in 2008. In fact, both the Hero and Yamaha both have radial tires at the rear.

All told, looking at the P150’s relatively thinner rubber, it seems that Bajaj has focused on ensuring the car delivers good fuel economy. We’ll test this when we get our hands on the bike.

Bajaj Pulsar P150 compared to competitors: weight and dimensions

The Yamaha FZ has the least powerful engine, but it somewhat makes up for the lack of power by being the lightest of the quartet. Next is Apache, followed by Xtreme weighing 139.5kg. The Pulsar P150, despite its significant weight advantage over its predecessor, is still the bulkiest motorcycle in its class, at 140kg.

The Pulsar and FZ have the same ground clearance of 165mm, while the Xtreme is a bit more spacious at 167mm. However, the ground clearance of these bikes does not match the 180mm that the Apache offers.

There isn’t much of a difference when it comes to wheelbase or fuel tank capacity, but one thing in common is a 790mm seat height.

Bajaj Pulsar P150 compared to competitors: features

The Pulsar P150 has an LED spotlight and a neat looking analog digital tool display. However, neither Xtreme nor FZ can beat TVS Apache when it comes to features. The Apache all-digital cluster has Bluetooth connectivity with navigation. It also has driving modes that vary the power and torque of the engine, an unprecedented feature in this segment.

Bajaj Pulsar P150 compared to competitors: price

Yamaha is the cheapest motorcycle here at Rs 1.13 lakh. Interestingly this bike has a front/rear disc setup at this price point. Meanwhile, the remaining models have models equipped with singles that cost several thousand dong more than Yamaha. The Bajaj Pulsar P150 and Hero Xtreme 160R are roughly the same price, but the Apache is the most expensive of them at Rs 1.24 lakh.

Out of these bikes, which one would you choose? Let us know in the comments section below.