Is the Bajaj Pulsar RS400 really the hype?

I wonder how this will affect the used bike market. The RS400 could also depress used sportbike prices or could help lure buyers away from other brands.

It doesn’t have to beat the RC 390 to succeed. If the RS400 can offer 80 percent of the performance for 70 percent of the price, the RS400 could be a winner for a lot of riders who desire a sporty bike but can’t justify the KTM’s price tag.

No way. The RC 390 is on a different league in terms of build quality and refinement. Bajaj is improving at a level that KTM is not yet at.

RS400 could be a good innovation in the segment. It’s a success and will force the rest of the manufacturers to up their game, whether on bikes or with better value. It has always been a good thing for consumers.

Not only the bike itself, but what it represents. If that is the case, it will encourage more Indian manufacturers to compete with the big international brands in the sportbike segment. It could be the beginning of an Indian motorcycle era.

Is it possible Bajaj is phasing out the Dominar and replacing it with the RS400? Perhaps it’s a way to offer a new angle to their 400cc lineup without having to own up to the Dominar not delivering as they had hoped.

I think that price is the bottom line. Should they price the RS400 very much higher than the Dominar, they would have enough distance to avoid direct competition. But if the prices are close to each other, it may be a problem.

I’m more worried about that because this will have an adverse impact on Bajaj’s relationship with KTM. As a result, the RC 390 could even fight against the RS400. That’ll be interesting to see how they’ll deal with that potential conflict I think.

RS400 could in fact be a better every day riding bike. It might be that Bajaj hits a better balance between performance and comfort than KTMs are known for.

The real question is, would Bajaj be allowed to eat into KTM’s share of the market. This partnership may limit the closeness of the RS400 to the RC 390 performance.

The real impact on rider training and safety could be this. If the RS400 allows all riders to take up sportbike performance we need to ensure that new riders are able to do so responsibly.

Brand perception will have a big hurdle to overcome. If the RS400 is as good as the RC 390, then there will always be people who will refer to it as a Pulsar and not a premium bike.

I'm skeptical about its impact. The Pulsar brand is also connected to commuter bikes. That perception will need more than one model to change and actually shake up the sportbike market.

It's not just about performance. The RC 390 has a good racing pedigree and aftermarket support. If Bajaj is serious about competing, they will have to create an ecosystem around the RS400.

I feel it would aid Dominar sales. The more attention the RS400 gets for Bajaj’s 400cc range in general, the more chances are for some of those who come to see the RS400 to opt for the more comfortable Dominar.

It's definitely a concern. They are both 400cc bikes and manufactured by the same company. If Bajaj does not differentiate them in terms of features and riding position, it could be competing for the same customer.

Well, it shouldn’t be too big of a deal. Two different kinds of riders are targeted by the Dominar and RS400. While the Dominar is a sports tourer more, the RS400 will be a pure sports bike. Bajaj has space for both in its line up.

The question is whether it can carve out its own niche. The brand name must be unique and different from the premium brands and budget options. If Bajaj nails that balance, that hype will be justified.

It is not to be forgotten that Bajaj has been improving their build quality and refinement consistently. The RS400 is the one that could be their chance to show they can mix it with the men. I'm cautiously optimistic.

I am a Pulsar fan and RS400 is one of my favorites. I think Bajaj has always given great value, and I believe they have learnt a lot from their tie up with KTM. If they can bring some of that knowledge to the RS400 it would be an awesome bike at a killer price.

It depends on the price point. The trick will be for Bajaj to undercut the competition by a vast amount while still delivering similar performance. However, if the price is too close to other existing brands in the market, there may be no place for it.

I'm skeptical. Bajaj is good at the lower end, but a big jump to 400cc. They will be facing some serious players and I do not know if they have the expertise to compete with the refinement of bikes like KTM RC 390.