The year 2001 is remembered as the dawn of a new era as far as the Indian motorcycling industry is concerned. The rise of the Pulsar brand. Pulsar has revolutionized motorcycling here in India, so much so that the once commuter friendly mindset of the average Indian biker has made way to a more aggressive, sportier, and more value for money mindset. After a decade of leadership in the premium segment, Bajaj had to do something out of the ordinary to take the benchmark set by the legendary Pulsar brand to a whole new level.
Enter the Pulsar 200 NS. Though NS here stands for naked street, I would rather term it as nimble and smooth. There was a lot of buzz surrounding its unveil since the spy shots were all over the net and the expectations were running sky high from both the Pulsar maniacs and other enthusiasts alike. It is one thing to be a trend setter and it is a totally different thing to make it better. Does this bike manage to live up to our expectation? Does it perform as well as it looks? Is it going to stir the Indian motorcycling market all over again? Let’s find out.
LOOKS/DESIGN:
Stunning looks is a key factor as far as motorcycles are concerned. If the looks don’t draw people’s attention, the rest just wouldn’t matter. Once you set your eyes on this beauty, I can guarantee you would not think of taking your eyes off it anytime soon. You will be left staring at it bluntly until you come to your senses - thanks to the sculpted tank, the all new cb1000r inspired headlamp, the newly designed side panels, the sleeker rear panels and grab rails that resemble that of the 135 LS, the fresh looking semi-digital console, the new step seat design that looks identical to that of the KTM Duke 200, the perimeter frame, new clip ons, the petal discs, and the list goes on. Everything just seems to fit in perfectly.The paint job and quality of plastics is good, but could have been better.
The seats are nice and plush, better than that of the previous Pulsars. The only glitch I feel is the gap between the rear seat and the rear panels. It is very clearly evident and there is a tendency of a lot of water getting in to the storage area. The rear tyre hugger looks a bit ugly and can be removed at our discretion.Then you have the 10-spoke alloy wheels, which give the bike an up-market feel. All in all, this bike would grab people’s attention any day, anytime, any place. The pilot lamps located under the headlight perfectly compliment its "street fighter" demeanor.
Also I personally don’t like number plates sticking out on the headlight spoiling the entire look of the bike. Thankfully, unlike the FZ and KTM Duke, the 200 NS has the number plate where it is supposed to be, under the headlamp.
COMFORT:
I personally feel, for the segment this bike finds itself in, the comfort level is good enough. The seating position is nice and upright. The foot pegs are not rear-set like that of the Duke.The handlebars are slightly raised so as to not put much pressure on your palms or wrists and at the same time do not strain your back.The seats are not as hard as they used to be in the earlier Pulsars. I am an ex-Pulsar 180 UG IV owner and my posterior used to really ache after long rides.This problem I guess looks to have been solved to some extent with the NS. Also the weighted clutch was a major concern for all those who have owned a Pulsar earlier. I am afraid that problem continues on the NS as well.The Nitrox mono suspension is on the softer side though not as soft as the double Nitrox shocks on the older models. This bike would come in handy in the city as well as on the highways.The engine is really smooth and refined.There is no hint of any vibration.The vibrations show up only on higher rpms.
BRAKING:
Coming to braking, the 200 NS does sport a world class By-Bre unit(“By Brembo” – Indian subsidiary of Brembo brakes) with 280 mm front and 230 mm rear petal discs with floating calipers. The braking experience is very secure and confidence inspiring and would have been a lot better assisted with better rubber on board rather than Eurogrip.
PERFORMANCE/HANDLING:
This I guess is the section where the 200 NS was really meant and made to outshine the previous models. Right from the pick-up and acceleration to the smooth universal delivery of power at all rpms, this piece of art is light years ahead when compared to its competition in the similar price range. I kept shifting gears up just for the sake of it as the power never really felt to saturate upward of the fourth gear. I know this is unbelievably smooth and inconceivably refined because I have owned a Pulsar 180 before. Though vibrations on Pulsars were never as evident as they are on a TVS Apache, this was something out of this world. The 199.5 cc liquid cooled 4 valve engine churns out 23.52 Ps of power @ 9500 rpm with 18.3 Nm of max torque @ 8000 rpm. The power on board seems almost unending with the slick six speed gearbox making it an absolute delight. The perimeter frame combined with the new extended swing arm and the underbelly exhaust compounded by the mono-shock suspension aid to the mass centralization concept and lowers the center of gravity, thereby providing great stability while cornering. The 100/80 front and 130/70 rear Eurogrip tyres, though not as good as MRF, do their job dutifully by rendering adequate road grip. The triple spark plug promises 27% faster combustion than twin spark and 50% faster than a single spark technology. This combined with the 4-valve technology enable the engine to breathe easy and at the same time result in greater power, better fuel efficiency, and lesser emissions.
MAINTENANCE AND AFTER SALES SERVICE:
Maintenance is never an issue with Bajaj bikes. They are the most budget friendly bikes you will find if you look around. I was told a paid service costs around Rs. 600 including the oil change when compared to Rs. 800 for the KTM Duke.
FUEL EFFICIENCY:
“Kitna deti hai” is a very logical question these days with the fuel prices being as unstable as the mind of a lunatic. Well, according to owners’ feedback, it gives 35-40 kmpl under mixed riding conditions – city and highway rides put together. This I guess is pretty rRajeev_Vermactable for a 200 cc bike.
CONCLUSION:
Bajaj pulled off a miracle a decade ago and made every Indian biker’s dream come true with the launch of the Pulsar brand allowing one to experience the thrill of riding a sports bike at an affordable price.The Pulsar revolutionized biking here in India. Now, I guess the time has come where revolution makes way to evolution.This is where the 200 NS stands. It is now about evolving and taking the world on.The bike may not be perfect; it does have its share of glitches like the rear tyre hugger that throws dirt around, no twin horns, greater turning radius, the turn indicator switches not being easily reachable, etc., but when you look at all the other stuff on board, you wouldn’t really mind. All in all, this I feel is a welcome change in the affordable range. While it may not match the sheer class of the KTM Duke 200, this is definitely. "The Best Pulsar Yet” and I feel the “MANIA” will now become a “NEW AGE RAGE!”
That I guess pretty much sums it up guys. Always wear a helmet, never take your eyes off the road, set the headlight on low beam while within city limits, and never use a cell phone while riding. God bless and take care.