Right on cue after we posted the news about the new Adventure bike from Bajaj, today we have a testing video that has surfaced. Spotted by On2Wee near Pune, this test mule looks far more purpose-built than just a standard roadster dressed up in rugged plastic. The spy shots reveal a machine that looks production-ready, blending both touring and light off-road capabilities. Exactly the on-off road bike we were expecting Bajaj to make to take on the XPulse.
Proper Dual-Sport Styling and Rugged Hardware
From the side profile, the upcoming Bajaj ADV has a distinctly adventure-focused stance and a silhouette that looks quite similar to the XPulse. The design looks properly dual-sport-like, featuring a tall beak-like front fender, upright ergonomics, and a long single-piece seat.
The test mule was spied carrying a top box, heavily hinting at its touring intentions, but there still appears to be plenty of room left over for a pillion passenger. At the back, the compact tail section sports a split LED lighting setup that looks very similar to the rest of the current Pulsar lineup, alongside a rugged, upswept exhaust.
Off-Road Capability
When it comes to hardware, the bike gets exactly what you would expect from a proper dual-sport machine to give it decent off-road prowess:
- Suspension: Long-travel suspension at both ends, clearly evident by the offset telescopic forks at the front and a link-type monoshock at the rear.
- Wheels: It rolls on wire-spoke wheels, using what looks like a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear combination to balance on-road comfort with off-road capability.
- Tyres: It will likely use tube-type tyres to keep costs in check, which some riders might view as a bit of a drawback for serious, long-distance touring.
Is There a Secret KTM Connection Under the Hood?
One of the most intriguing talking points about this test mule is its engine configuration and chassis package. Judging by the engine crankcase, the motorcycle will mostly run a 250cc engine like we discussed in our earlier post.
There are currently two school of thought on what is powering this new ADV:
- The Pulsar Connection: Because the bike was spotted testing right alongside a Pulsar N250, there is a strong possibility it could be sharing that exact same powertrain. For reference, the Pulsar N250 uses a 249cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine putting out 24.1bhp and 21.5Nm of torque.
- The KTM Connection: On the other hand, Bajaj could potentially drop in the 249cc liquid-cooled engine from the KTM 250 Adventure in a lower state of tune. So expect around 30 PS and 26 Nm. This would give the bike significantly stronger touring credentials.
While the final specifications remain firmly under wraps and it is tough to draw firm conclusions, the possibility of Bajaj adapting its own newer-generation engine architecture certainly cannot be ruled out either.
Launch Timeline and Expected Market Rivalry
Earlier this year, Bajaj revealed that they would be launching 8 new bikes in the 125cc to 250cc segment, including an all-new ADV. It looks like this spied motorcycle is the exact machine they were talking about. Because most of the body panels, the exhaust system, the seating layout, and the rear luggage mounts look completely finalized, the bike appears to be rapidly nearing its market launch.
Though the headlamp design and instrument cluster were well hidden under camouflage, riders can likely expect modern features like Bluetooth connectivity, navigation support, and selectable ride modes based on Bajaj’s recent product rollouts.
We expect Bajaj to launch the motorcycle by around September or October 2026. Depending entirely on which engine configuration they go with, the new adventure bike will face some stiff competition:
- If based on the Pulsar N250 engine: It will go head-to-head with entry-level options like the Hero Xpulse 210, the Suzuki V-Strom SX, and the Yezdi Adventure.
- If powered by a KTM-derived engine: It will step up to battle the TVS Apache RTX 300, Scram 440 and upcoming Himalayan 440.
Whatever happens, pricing is expected to be highly aggressive, which has always been Bajaj’s ultimate ace up its sleeve. This upcoming model could very well end up being a much more affordable, homegrown alternative to the premium KTM 390 Adventure in India.
