Name an Indian who hasn’t driven or ridden a bajaj vehicle. Bajaj has come a long way as a scooter giant but now its emerging as a Motor Cycle giant too. Stiff competition and customers shifting from scooters to Motorbikes made Bajaj come up with a complete portfolio of bikes ranging from Boxer to the Eliminator. The Pulsar is one of them and not to mention a completly indegenous vehicle and I must admit that Bajaj has come up with a stunner. To be available in both 150 and 180 cc versions, the Pulsar aims to combine fuel efficiency with performance, not always an easy trade-off. The Pulsar however copes admirably. Designed in-house at Akurdi, the Pulsar has a very appealing macho look about it with a flared fuel tank and side panels which scream for attention. The exhaust has a sporty angle to it like ’’firang’’ bikes and the large front round headlamp comes up with a brilliant spread of light. The seat is somewhat uncomfortable and though the riding position is good, one needs to get used to the massive fuel tank between the legs. The instrument panel is also very dramatically styled with vertical needles and a round fuel gauge. Electric start is standard on the 180 cc and an option on the 150.
The 143.9 cc engine produces 11.9 bhp while the 178.6 cc produces 14.7 bhp. These are 4-stroke lean burn units which happily meet emission norms while supplying the power. Our initial impression of riding the bikes is that the power delivery is smooth and creamy and although the 150 does not evoke much of a response, the 180 is quite responsive for such a small capacity 4-stroke. The 180 also has a bigger 100/90 R18 radial tyre on its rear wheel. The biggest advantage of both the bikes is the handling, which is sweet and forgiving - throw the bike in any corner and she comes up true to form. Oddly enough, the 150 cc Pulsar uses a 5-speed all down shift, while the 180 uses a one-down-four-up pattern. Disc brakes are standard on both. Fuel efficiency of the bikes is good too, with the 150 capable of returning upwards of 55 kmpl while the 180 should be good for about 50 kmpl.
While there are those who might point out the CBZ as competition, rest assured that the Pulsar outperforms the competition on many counts. It is as sleek as it is sexy and the build quality equals or betters Hero Honda. Everything about the bike is thoughtfully designed so at least ergonomically, it is spot on. There are negatives - the huge fuel tank and the small saddle for large rear ends but then these are minor quibbles