TVS Raider 125 vs Bajaj Pulsar NS125: Sporty 125 cc Showdown

If you want a 125 cc bike that does not look like a commuter, the shortlist is short: the TVS Raider 125 and the Bajaj Pulsar NS125. Both borrow their styling from bigger sports bikes. Underneath, they are aimed at slightly different riders.

The numbers at a glance

• TVS Raider 125: 124.8 cc, 11.38 PS, rated around 67 kmpl, 123 kg
• Bajaj Pulsar NS125: 124.4 cc and around 12 PS
• The NS125 has a small peak power edge, the Raider the better mid range and mileage
• At 123 kg the Raider is the lighter and easier bike in traffic

Engine and character

The Pulsar NS125 makes around 12 PS from 124.4 cc, a shade more than the Raider at 11.38 PS from 124.8 cc. The NS125 carries the sportier state of tune and feels stronger at the top of the rev range. The Raider is tuned for the middle, which is the part of the rev range you actually use in town and on district roads. Around Araria traffic, the Raider often feels the quicker of the two despite the number.

Mileage: a clear Raider win

The Raider is rated at around 67 kmpl. The more aggressively tuned NS125 gives up ground here, and owners generally report lower figures. If you ride 40 km or more a day, this is the difference that shows up in your monthly budget rather than on a spec sheet.

Weight and everyday handling

At 123 kg the Raider is light and easy to flick through traffic, and its low seat suits shorter riders. The NS125 uses the larger Pulsar NS chassis, which makes it feel more planted at speed but bulkier at walking pace and in a crowded market lane.

Features

The Raider offers a colour TFT display with navigation and call alerts on higher variants, along with ride modes and an LED headlamp. The NS125 keeps a simpler cluster. For a young rider who wants the bike to feel current, the Raider gives more for the money.

Service and ownership in Araria

TVS Madni Motors on Dak Bunglow Road is the authorized TVS dealership for Araria, handling sales, finance, exchange and authorized service in one place. Buying locally means warranty work and genuine parts without a trip to another district, which is worth more than most buyers realise until they need it.

Which one should you buy?

• Choose the TVS Raider 125 for better mileage, lighter handling, a much richer instrument cluster and easier local service.
• Choose the Pulsar NS125 if you want the biggest, most aggressive looking bike in the class and top end punch matters most.
• Both are good. The Raider is the one we recommend for riders covering serious daily distance.

Peak power is the number that sells a bike and mid range is the number you actually ride. The NS125 wins the first contest, the Raider wins the second, and the Raider also wins on fuel. Unless you spend real time at the top of the rev range, the Raider is the more sensible buy and the cheaper one to keep.

All figures are indicative and vary with variant and model year. Call our showroom to confirm current prices and offers.