India's Best Premium 150cc Motorcycle

This lightweight sporty machine, is no average commuter, and manages to pack quite a punch, while giving great returns on kms to the litre

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS

Yes. The Pulsar 135 LS is the precursor to the next generation of Bajaj Pulsar models. Loaded with modern-day technology like the 4-valve head, lightweight frame and sporty handling dynamics, the Pulsar 135 LS is not your average commuter. The high-revving nature of the bike indicates that it likes to be ridden hard and there is no doubt that this tiny tornado is well-armed to take everything that the spirited kind has to throw at it.

Make no mistake, the gearing and tune is such that even with some liberal use of the right wrist, the bike manages to return a fairly impressive fuel efficiency to not disrupt one's monthly fuel budget.Even with the two-piece handlebars and a rather sport ergonomics, the riding posture is still comfy for the average Joe commuter and it doesn't take a toll on the wrists or the back even under long hours of riding.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the most appealing motorcycle to have rolled out of Bajaj Auto's Chakan plant with its street-fighter like design language presenting the bike with a sporty and aggressive stance. One of the key points in this segment is the ease-of-use factor and the Pulsar 135 LS does a splendid job at instantly comforting the rider. The Premium 150cc Commuter motorcycle segment is slowly, but steadily gathering pace as more and more buyers are upgrading from the 125cc category to a higher ground. Out of the four key players in this class currently, the Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS truly delivers on all grounds and more without having to part with a huge sum of money, which is what today's buyers look for in the power-commuter motorcycle. This is why this bike has been named the Pulsar LS, the suffix standing for Light Sport. Tripping the light fantastic just got better and even more pleasurable!

Quick Facts

Engine: 134cc Air-cooled, single

Power: 13.5PS@ 9,000rpm

Torque: 11Nm @ 7,500rpm

Transmission: 5-speed manual,

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 1,325mm

LxWxH: NA

Weight: 122kg

Performance

0-60 km/h: 4.7seconds

Top speed: 112km/h

Fuel efficiency (overall): 56.5kmpl

Variants

Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS (Ex-showroom, New Delhi): 51,000

Cheers:

1. High-revving engine with oodles of torque and best-in-class power-to-weight ratio

2. Extremely well-done styling on this baby Pulsar. It is light, fast and a lot of fun!

Sneers:

1. There is very little to complain about the youngest sibling in the Pulsar family. The only glitch we really thought could be bettered was the muffled exhaust note

1st Runner Up

Yamaha SZ-X

The latest offering from Yamaha India, the SZ-X, is a fine product by itself neatly packaged with a potent 150cc engine enveloped in a very nimble chassis coupled with handsome looks. The only glitch we felt was the lack of disc brake as an optional fitment, especially since the bike is capable of crossing the 100km/h mark. Besides it's a very good all-around motorcycle.

Other Rivals

Bajaj Discover 150 DTSi

In order to establish its Discover brand furthermore, Bajaj Auto launched the Discover 150 DTSi model at an exceptionally great price advantage that left many stumped. Powered by a 150cc motor, the biggest Discover offers 5-speed gearbox, grunty motor, electric starter and disc brakes as OE fitment at the pricepoint of a 125cc motorcycle. However, the bike still carries the Discover design which seems a little dated when compared to its competition. Leaving aside the bland looks, it's a great motorcycle if one is looking for a powerful workhorse for daily commuting with frugal nature and good rideability.

Hero Honda Achiever

One of the oldest 150cc offerings from Hero Honda, the Achiever has been completely over-shadowed by its two siblings, the CBZ-Xtreme and the Hunk. The Hero Honda Achiever's strong point is its butter-smooth engine (same as the one found on the Honda Unicorn) and comfy ride quality, but in the today's age of glamour and flamboyance, it clearly fails to charm the buyer. It is extremely sedate and conservative in its design, which feels bland and obsolete. It is the cheapest 150cc bike amongst the three Hero Honda offerings and makes for a good value-for-money package.

Vibgyor Shark 150

The new West Bengal-based bike-maker has not limited its entry upto the 125cc segment but also ventured into the rather challenging 150cc market with its Shark 150 motorcycle launched during the 2010 Auto Expo held in New Delhi. We must admit that the Shark 150 does come across as a promising model with regards to its styling and design. The ergonomics of the bike too are comfortable and it offers a nice wide cushy saddle. But the proportions of the body panels seem to be a little mis-matched and how well it lasts over prolonged use, still remains to be seen.