At a Glance
Key differences that define each motorcycle
TVS Raider 125
- 124.8 cc Air & Oil-Cooled
- 11.38 PS @ 7500 rpm
- 71.94 km/l (ARAI)
- 10-litre tank
- 7 variants available
- TFT display (top variant)
Bajaj Pulsar N125
- 124.58 cc Air-Cooled
- 12 PS @ 8500 rpm
- 60 km/l (ARAI)
- 9.5-litre tank
- 2 variants available
- 198 mm ground clearance
Full Specification Comparison
Every number that matters — side by side
| Specification | TVS Raider 125 | Bajaj Pulsar N125 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine & Performance | ||
| Displacement | 124.8 cc | 124.58 cc |
| Cooling System | Air & Oil-Cooled | Air-Cooled |
| Max Power | 11.38 PS @ 7500 rpm | 12 PS @ 8500 rpm |
| Max Torque | 11.75 Nm @ 6000 rpm | 11 Nm @ 6000 rpm |
| Valves per Cylinder | 3 | 2 |
| Compression Ratio | 10.3 : 1 | 10.05 ± 0.3 : 1 |
| Bore × Stroke | 53.5 × 55.5 mm | 54 × 54.4 mm |
| Emission Standard | BS6 Phase 2 | BS6 Phase 2 |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual | 5-Speed Manual |
| Top Speed | 99 km/h | ~100 km/h |
| Riding Modes | Eco & Power (select variants) | No |
| Fuel & Range | ||
| Mileage (ARAI) | 71.94 km/l | 60 km/l |
| Fuel Tank | 10 litres | 9.5 litres |
| Reserve Capacity | 1.6 litres | 1.5 litres |
| Riding Range (est.) | 650–700 km | ~570 km |
| Brakes & Wheels | ||
| Braking System | CBS (Synchronized Braking Technology) | CBS |
| Front Brake | Disc 240 mm / Drum (base variant) | Disc – 240 mm (all variants) |
| Rear Brake | Drum 130 mm / Disc 200 mm (top variants) | Drum – 130 mm |
| Tyre Type | Tubeless | Tubeless |
| Tyre Size (F / R) | 80/100-17 / 100/90-17 | 80/100-17 / 110/80-17 |
| Wheel Type | Alloy | Alloy |
| Wheel Size | 17-inch (F & R) | 17-inch (F & R) |
| Suspension & Chassis | ||
| Front Suspension | Telescopic Fork | Telescopic Fork |
| Rear Suspension | Mono-shock, 5-step Adjustable | Mono-shock |
| Chassis | Single Cradle Tubular Frame | Diamond Frame |
| Rear Preload Adjuster | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions & Weight | ||
| Kerb Weight | 123–125 kg | 125 kg |
| Seat Height | 780 mm | 795 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 180 mm | 198 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1326 mm | 1295 mm |
| Overall L × W × H | 2070 × 785 × 1028 mm | 2018 × 810 × 1078 mm |
| Features & Electronics | ||
| Instrument Console | Digital Reverse LCD / 5-inch TFT (top variant) | Fully Digital LCD |
| Headlight | LED | LED |
| DRLs | Yes | Yes |
| Brake / Tail Light | LED | LED |
| Turn Signals | Bulb | LED |
| Hazard Warning Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | Yes (SXC & TFT variants) | Yes (BT variant only) |
| Call & SMS Alerts | Yes (Bluetooth variants) | Yes (BT variant only) |
| Navigation (Turn-by-Turn) | Yes (TFT variant) | No |
| USB Charging Port | Yes (select variants) | Yes |
| Gear Indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Tachometer | Yes | Yes |
| Service Reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Idle Stop-Start | Yes (iGO variant) | No |
| Silent Start | Yes | No |
| Side Stand Engine Cut-off | Yes | Yes |
| Traction Control | No | No |
| Keyless Ignition | No | No |
| Price & Warranty | ||
| Starting Price (ex-showroom) | ₹84,490 | ₹93,668 |
| Top Variant Price | ₹97,719 | ₹94,661 |
| Number of Variants | 7 | 2 |
| Standard Warranty | 5 Years / 60,000 km | 5 Years / 75,000 km |
★ Green highlights indicate the stronger value in each row. Prices are ex-showroom India averages and may vary by city.
Variant-wise Price Comparison
All variants laid out — find the right one for your budget
TVS Raider 125 Variants
Bajaj Pulsar N125 Variants
Pros & Cons
Honest strengths and weaknesses of each bike
Pros
- Highest ARAI mileage at 71.94 km/l
- 7 variants — widest choice in the segment
- Lower starting price at ₹84,490
- Segment-first TFT display with navigation (top variant)
- Oil-cooled engine stays cooler in stop-go traffic
- 3-valve engine for better breathing and torque
- Dual rear disc option on SXC and TFT variants
- Riding modes (Eco & Power) on select variants
- Idle stop-start (iGO variant) for fuel saving
- Silent start technology
- Larger fuel tank (10 litres) for longer range
Cons
- Lower peak power (11.38 PS vs 12 PS)
- Drum brake on base variant
- Shorter warranty km limit (60,000 km vs 75,000 km)
- Lower ground clearance (180 mm vs 198 mm)
- Shorter wheelbase (1326 mm vs 1295 mm — narrower stance)
Pros
- Higher peak power — 12 PS @ 8500 rpm
- Exceptional ground clearance — 198 mm
- Front disc brake standard across all variants
- Full LED lighting including LED turn signals
- Stronger warranty coverage — 5 years / 75,000 km
- Sporty Pulsar N-series design language
- Bluetooth connectivity available (BT variant)
- Higher seat height (795 mm) for taller riders
- USB charging port on both variants
Cons
- Lower ARAI mileage (60 km/l vs 71.94 km/l)
- Only 2 variants — very limited choice
- Higher starting price (₹93,668 vs ₹84,490)
- No TFT display or navigation option
- No riding modes on any variant
- No idle stop-start or silent start
- No rear disc brake option
- Air-cooled only — runs hotter in heavy traffic
Key Differences Explained
What really sets these two bikes apart
Fuel Efficiency & Range
The Raider 125 leads convincingly with an ARAI-certified 71.94 km/l versus the Pulsar N125's 60 km/l. The Raider also has the larger 10-litre tank, giving an estimated range of 650–700 km compared to ~570 km for the Pulsar. For daily commuters, this is one of the most meaningful differences.
Engine & Power
The Pulsar N125's air-cooled 2-valve engine produces 12 PS — slightly more than the Raider's 11.38 PS from its air & oil-cooled 3-valve unit. However, the Raider returns higher torque (11.75 Nm vs 11 Nm) and its oil-cooling keeps temperatures better managed in urban stop-go conditions.
Technology & Features
The Raider 125 offers the richer technology stack — including a 5-inch TFT display with navigation, riding modes, idle stop-start, and silent start on select variants. The Pulsar N125 counters with a clean digital LCD and Bluetooth in the BT variant, but lacks navigation, riding modes and stop-start technology entirely.
Ground Clearance & Ride
The Pulsar N125 dominates with an impressive 198 mm ground clearance — 18 mm more than the Raider's 180 mm. This is a significant advantage on rough Indian roads with speed breakers and potholes. The Raider's longer wheelbase (1326 mm vs 1295 mm) offers marginally better highway stability.
Price & Variant Choice
The Raider 125 starts at ₹84,490 — approximately ₹9,178 less than the Pulsar N125's ₹93,668 base price. With 7 variants spanning ₹84,490 to ₹97,719, the Raider gives buyers far more flexibility to match features to budget. The Pulsar N125's two variants sit close to each other at ₹93,668 and ₹94,661.
Warranty & Braking
The Pulsar N125 edges ahead on warranty with 5 years / 75,000 km versus the Raider's 5 years / 60,000 km. On braking, the Pulsar N125 offers front disc standard across all variants and LED turn signals, while the Raider reserves dual disc only for its top two variants but does offer a rear disc option the Pulsar cannot match.
Expert Verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
Buy the TVS Raider 125 if…
- Fuel efficiency is your top priority (71.94 km/l ARAI)
- You want the lowest entry price in the sporty 125cc segment
- A TFT display with navigation appeals to you
- You want riding modes for Eco and Power delivery
- You want more variants to match your exact budget
- Oil-cooled engine performance in city traffic matters
- Dual disc braking on the top variant is desirable
Buy the Bajaj Pulsar N125 if…
- You want the most powerful 125cc Bajaj motorcycle
- High ground clearance (198 mm) is a priority
- Sporty Pulsar N-series design is important to you
- Front disc brake on the base variant is needed
- LED turn signals and full LED lighting matter
- You want the longer 75,000 km warranty coverage
- You plan to ride over rough roads regularly
Overall Winner for Most Riders: TVS Raider 125. A significantly lower starting price, superior ARAI-certified mileage (71.94 km/l), 7 variants covering every budget, a segment-first TFT display with navigation, riding modes, oil-cooled engine and idle stop-start technology make the Raider 125 the more feature-rich and versatile choice. Choose the Bajaj Pulsar N125 if outright engine power, best-in-class 198 mm ground clearance, full LED lighting including turn signals, and a 75,000 km warranty are your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered by our experts
The TVS Raider 125 is better for most buyers thanks to its lower starting price (₹84,490), superior ARAI mileage (71.94 km/l), 7 variant choices, TFT display with navigation on the top variant, riding modes and oil-cooled engine. The Bajaj Pulsar N125 is better if you want more power (12 PS), exceptional ground clearance (198 mm), full LED lighting including LED turn signals, front disc standard on all variants and a longer 75,000 km warranty.
The TVS Raider 125 starts at ₹84,490 while the Bajaj Pulsar N125 starts at ₹93,668 ex-showroom. The Pulsar N125 is approximately ₹9,178 more expensive at the base variant level. Both prices are for India and may vary by city. The Raider's top variant at ₹97,719 is slightly more expensive than the Pulsar N125's top variant at ₹94,661.
The TVS Raider 125 has significantly better ARAI-certified mileage at 71.94 km/l compared to the Bajaj Pulsar N125's 60 km/l. Both are official ARAI figures. The Raider's 10-litre tank also gives it a longer estimated riding range of 650–700 km versus ~570 km for the Pulsar N125. For daily commuters, the Raider's mileage advantage results in meaningful fuel savings over time.
The Bajaj Pulsar N125 makes slightly more power at 12 PS @ 8500 rpm compared to the TVS Raider 125's 11.38 PS @ 7500 rpm. However, the Raider 125 produces more torque (11.75 Nm vs 11 Nm) and its 3-valve, oil-cooled engine provides better real-world performance in sustained city riding conditions where engine temperatures are elevated.
Yes. The TVS Raider 125 TFT Dual Disc variant (₹97,719) features a 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, ride statistics, and smartphone alerts. This is a segment-leading feature not available on the Bajaj Pulsar N125, which uses a fully digital LCD console across both its variants.
Both bikes offer a 5-year warranty, but the Bajaj Pulsar N125 covers 75,000 km compared to the TVS Raider 125's 60,000 km. The Pulsar N125's higher mileage warranty limit is a meaningful advantage for high-usage commuters who clock more kilometres per year.
Yes. The Bajaj Pulsar N125 comes with a 240 mm front disc brake on both its variants (LED Disc and LED Disc BT) as standard. In contrast, the TVS Raider 125 base variant (₹84,490) uses drum brakes, with disc brakes starting from the Single Seat Disc variant (₹88,608) onwards.