Bajaj Pulsar NS200

Overview

Bajaj Auto recently launched the Pulsar NS 200 in 2017. The motorcycle was informally discontinued in 2015 and brought back due to customer demand and increase in production. It now comes with all new dual-tone shades and uses the same engine with BS4 compliant emission properties on the 2017 version. Apart from its belly pan, no other component has been further added to the motorcycle. Here is a detailed review of the naked street fighter.

In terms of exterior design, the Pulsar aims to break new ground, and to a significant degree, it is successful, although it takes a number of cues from Bajaj’s Pulsar 135 model. The bike is a naked body type, and it is intended to combine slick styling with new-generation technology – the ‘NS’ is an acronym for ‘Naked Sports’. The bike’s chassis is stronger and more lightweight, hoping to boost the bike’s speed and power in keeping with its ‘sporty’ profile. The bike features an entirely revamped layout for the exhaust, now positioned beneath the engine – inspired by the 200 Duke. The new design also extends to the rest of the body: the fuel tank, side scoops and alloy wheels have a stronger yet sleeker look. The entire front of the bike is sharper, fiercer and more aggressive. Overall, it’s a very busy, eye-catching design, with lots of severe angles, planes and cuts – many will wish for a simpler, more classic design.

Bajaj Pulsar NS200 features all-new digital-analogue instrument cluster. It features digital speedometer, digital fuel gauge, digital trip meter and analogue tachometer. The huge round tachometer dominates the instrument cluster, is placed in the centre and is flanked by a digital screen on right side and other tell-tales LED’s on the left side. The tachometer also incorporates a small vertical screen which displays the fuel gauge. Bajaj Pulsar NS200 is powered by a liquid-cooled 199.5cc engine which develops a maximum power of 23.17 Bhp at 9500 rpm with maximum torque of 18.3 Nm at 8000 rpm. The company claimed top speed is 136 kmph. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The BS4 compliant engine is lesser polluting and the weight of the bike saw an increase to 152 kg on the 2017 version.

The Pulsar NS200, according to Bajaj, is capable of a top speed of 136 kmph, which puts it exactly equal with the Duke 200. The bike can accelerate from 0 to 60 kmph in 3.61 seconds and 0 to 100 kmph in just 9.83 seconds. It’s certainly a speedy and responsive bike, and the numbers are impressive – most drivers will be happy with the rate of acceleration and its stability. The addition of three spark plugs at the top of the engine helps to boost fuel economy at low and mid-range revs. The fuel consumption for the Pulsar projected by the manufacturer positions it in the middle to low bracket within its class. On city roads, riders can get a fuel mileage of 30 kmpl. On highways, you can expect up to 40 kmpl, giving a combined mileage of 35 kmpl, which is a respectable return but drivers who want plenty of mileage for their money may want to look elsewhere. The fuel tank has a capacity of 12 liters.

Wider shape means that it feels bulkier and more muscular. Its thicker handlebar grips have an enhanced texture and reinforce the feeling of control, despite it being a large bike. Riding the bike is simple and enjoyable: the overall seating position is predominantly upright, ideal for moving through city traffic, and the seat has been positioned higher in conjunction with a shortened wheelbase, lending it greater agility. The seat is solid but can feel a little too firm – you’ll start to notice it on long journeys. At the front of the Pulsar NS200, there is 37mm telescopic front fork suspension with anti-friction bush. At the rear, the bike features nitrox mono-shock absorber suspension with a piggyback gas canister. The suspension shows its worth on rough surfaces – when you hit a bad patch, the bike manages to mop up most of the shocks and retain a smooth ride.

The bike’s brakes are decent and solid. At the front Pulsar NS200 is equipped with 280mm disc brakes, and at the rear 230mm disc brakes. The bike’s braking distance from 60 to 0 kmph is 16.33 meters. The brakes perform well: a soft initial bite is driver-friendly, but the power comes into force with a harder squeeze, and when used the rear disc allows a significant degree of travel, making it easy to modulate its pressure.

The Pulsar NS200’s engine feels strong and punchy, and when moving through traffic it feels smooth and refined. It’s certainly quieter than any Pulsar model seen before, except when pushed toward the top end of its acceleration – the resulting metallic grind as you approach it is redline is unpleasant. In dense traffic, the Pulsar 200 is a quick, quiet ride that can twist and turn almost effortlessly. Leaning doesn’t feel too demanding, despite the bike’s bulk, thanks to its reduced weight and more spare chassis.

Pulsar NS200 is equipped with ten-spoke alloy wheels. The front tyre is a 100/80 x 17 inch, 52P, and the rear is a 130/70 x 17 inch, 61P. The bike does suffer considerably in wet condition – its tyres start to feel greasy and unstable, approaching a lack of grip that would be unsettling for any driver. It is a high-performance bike with a strong and capable chassis and excellent handling. Traditionally representing affordable performance, the new incarnation of the Pulsar doesn’t disappoint, it is one of the best deals on the market. Having claimed a ‘Decade of Dominance’ for itself in the performance motorcycle market for India, Bajaj is seeking to move the race forward with this new bike. The Pulsar NS200 in an impressive new offering with plenty of great features.