Hello readers,
It’s my 2nd review. And it’s all about my first bike pulsar 135ls. I had bought it in October 2011 for Rs 62100. This review is going to be big one. But it shall help future buyers of a good bike. Now I feel that as I am riding it for around 2.5 years so now I am in a position to give my views on it.
Now without wasting much time, let’s come for the reason behind selecting it.
Reasons behind selecting a bike only:-
I live in Delhi. And I used to go to my college by bus(as I wasn’t eligible to get a licence as at that point of time my age was below 18). And due to Jam, my life was like a hell. At least 3 precious hours a day were getting wasted due to this(distance between my house and college is more than 18km). So I was too desperate to buy a vehicle.
My father suggested me to look for a car(either santro/nano), but I refused him as I was irritated with Jam and car won’t help me in that situation.
Reasons behind selecting pulsar 135:-
So as soon my age crossed 18, I started researching for my dream bike desperately. I wanted a good looking bike as I was a college going guy. I neither wanted a powerless bike nor a too much petrol consuming bike. So I had 4 options: Yamaha SZ-R, Pulsar 135/150, Hero Honda Hunk.
I was impressed by the looks, engine and reliability of Hunk initially and was almost going to buy it, when my friend(who had bought it sometime before) stopped me of doing so. He told me that newer Hunk doesn’t have a kick-start. And it gives a lot of pain to start in winter morning by self-start if battery is low or any other reason.
Gear shifting of Yamaha SZ-R is butter smooth. But it’s not a powerful bike(12.5bhp) and weight was heavy so power to weight ratio [(bhp/weight)*100] was less. This ratio tells that your initial pickup will be how good. As much the ratio will be, the much initial pickup will be. I didn’t require a bike crossing 150 kmph. But I needed a bike which can easily lead the traffic when the traffic signal turns green. So pulsar 150 was also out of my list. Now I was only left with Pulsar 135.
So first I took test ride of pulsar 135 of my cousin and I was totally happy with its performance. So I bought it. Now let us see the pros and cons of it:
Advantage:-
“Traffic cutter”; really the so called name proves it to be true. While being in traffic you can easily overtake anyone.
Both Self-start and kick-start are available.
Leaned posture towards further, split rear mudguard, high mounted back seat, wide rear mirrors and digital dashboard(except rpm meter) gives it a sport bike look.
MRF Zapper-C tube tyres give it a decent grip(but it doesn’t mean that you will get the same grip on small stones or on pebbles). Wide rear MRF tyre.
13.5 bhp and 122 kg kerb weight leads it 1st in its segment in power to weight ratio.
1 down and 4 up(front part of foot only) gear shift pattern gives you sports bike feeling.
Decent mileage around 55-57 kmpl if mixed riding. Beyond 60 kmpl if speed around 50 without brakes and acceleration.( It can be extended around 70 kmpl or beyond it by tightening a bolt but I will vote against it as it will make bad effect on the engine.)
“Twin spark” won’t let you in trouble in the middle of your journey in case of 1 spark fails.
Silencer is mounted high from the rear so bike will not come to standstill on a water logged road. And metal on the silencer won’t let the pillion rider to feel the heat of it.
Disc brake on the front and drum brake on the rear perform their task efficiently.
Nitrox suspension absorbs most of the shock due to potholes.
Saree guard, and other structure on the rear tyre helps to stop any miss happening if any female is on the back seat.(But if there is not any such pillion, then you can remove these structures and your mileage will increase around 2 kmpl).
Now let us see some disadvantage also:
Disadvantage:-
It’s meant for those whose height is around 5’8”(my height is around), persons shorter than this height might feel tedious to touch the ground fully by their feet.
It’s not for aged persons around 45+(as the back seat is highly mounted, so they will have to stretch their legs much to ride it). They might feel discomfort.
Not for heavy persons.(as I feel that quick pick up is its USP and it wouldn’t occur efficiently if weight is 90+)
You will feel shock of potholes if a heavy pillion is on the bike(I can say so as my father’s weight is 85+).
Front headlamp is not enough in night (I’ve seen Hero bikes in night; their headlamp light is enough).
Tyre is MRF Zapper-C but it could have become better by giving tubeless tyres.
Gears aren’t smooth and in starting you might feel very tedious to change the gears. (You will find this problem in every bajaj bike). And you’ll curse gear pattern only in rainy season(as your boot soul will be dirty and it will make gear switch dirty. And while gearing up your boot’s upper part will become dirty.)
Your mother or any old lady in your relation might refuse to sit as the pillion(as they feel that the seat is too high and they will fell down in any medium-to-hard break situation)
Petrol tank is just 8 litre(Therefore if you want to go with your friends for a long trip say 400km, then you’ll have to keep an eye on roadside petrol pump while going; if no such trip then it is enough)
Initially immense vibration was there @55kmph. But we checked it from main dealer and they tightened the foot peg. And now only some vibrations exist beyond 105 kmph.
Verdict:-
It’s value for the money. If you are a college going dude residing in a city full of traffic jams and wanted to own a bike which won’t make a big hole in your pocket for the fuel then you should go for it. But if your one-side journey is more than 30km, then I will recommend car. And if your one side journey is more than 40km, then I will recommend taking a room near your office/college.
NOTE: - Always wear helmet while driving a bike. Safe riding!