For motorcycles in India, the going seems to be pretty good. New bikes are being unleashed in quick succession. It’s a race for market share. Each giving its competitor a run for their money and customers a world of choice. Many bikes have been launched this year alone. But in terms of styling, efficiency and overall performance only a few are on a roll.
When it comes to an overview of motorcycles in India, one particular model sets my pulse racing. The Bajaj Pulsar. Definitely male? I don’t know. But it sure seems to have all the qualities any bike enthusiast would look forward to, in an Indian bike that is.
The ups
The first time I met the Pulsar one to one, it looked as though it was waiting to pounce on me. There was a strange sense of power that it exuded. Probably it was the muscular built, or the huge tank and unique styling that established its truly majestic presence.
The Pulsar is a tall fellow and this will dawn on you the moment you mount this mean machine. I turned on the ignition and its 178.60 cc engine roared to life. Shifted gears to the first and the feeling was nothing less than a take-off. Once you’re in 5th gear and full throttle, you’ll feel the air and the road gushing at you, an experience less ordinary. Thankfully, the Pulsar has a hydraulic disc brake to bring all the excitement and the person riding it to an abrupt halt.
Other striking features of the Pulsar include an 18 litre fuel tank (will come in handy for one of those impulsive holidays), 35 W head lamp and a special ‘pass’ switch to flash the head lamp while overtaking.
The downs
Believe me, this is going to be difficult. But a few things that I wished could have been better with the Pulsar...... Mileage - the Pulsar on an average gives about 45 kms to a litre (but that ain’t bad considering all the good things about it) .......While the bike offers excellent riding comfort, rear seat comfort is a little low ‘coz of its high lift (but it’s difficult to imagine the Pulsar without the high rear seat)
To sum up, the Bajaj Pulsar is a good buy. And for the modern day bikers, it’s definitely a taste of good things to come!