I have been driving the Pulsar 150CC for over an year now and I have had one accident too. Before that I had driven the TVS Fierro F2 for an year and herein I would like to give an honest feedback from a person who is a avid bike rider and who has ridden both the famous 150CC bikes for a year.
The comparitive is top down and I have done the ratings from the user’s perspective not the looks perspective as the later depends on the viewer.
Overall rating of the Fierro:
Overall rating of the Pulsar:
Why? Fierro
Very good pick-up, that stays with time
Very good balance
Very good braking
very Very comfortable ride, both for the rider and the pillion
Chain never becomes loose
Very aristrocratic look, when riding gives you a very compact and in-control feeling
Very Comfortable Handlebar, gives a sense of command
Very good Control switches
Good quality tyres, they are harder compared to the Pulsar so offer lesser road grip compared to a Pulsar, perhaps the weakest link in the chain.
Why? Pulsar
Good pick-up, that decreases with time
Fair balance, the bike’s weight is concentrated towards the front
Very good braking, disk is comparable to the fierro
Not very comfortable ride, Fair for the rider and bad for the pillion
Chain comes loose very frequently, specially if you are a fast driver, after why would you buy a 150cc unless you are.
So called male look, you’ll not get the compact feeling like you get on the Fierro, the headlight assembly seems to be so far protruding in front of you.
Handlebar requires getting used to, once the break-in period is over, it is not that bad, acceptable
Good quality of the control switches, but Fierro’s ones are better
The very best quality tyres, superb road grip perhaps the only undisputable plus point in the Pulsar.
Why do I rate the Fierro higher to the Pulsar?
I had faced two similar incidents, common to Delhi roads on two bikes at almost the same speed. One took it in it’s stride, the other gave me a broken collarbone.
We all face a situation when, in a T junction under a flyover, you have turned at a speed of say 30Kmph and a car has turned in from the opposite side to join the same road. Maybe you have turned right and the car has turned left to meet and go on the same road. Just after the turn the car changes lane, comes up infront of you and brakes.
What do you do?
You have to brake suddenly and at an inclined angle.
The Fierro took it in it’s stride, the rear tyre skidded about an inch and the bike came to standstill.
The Pulsar lost control, the rear swevered right and you fall on your right shoulder and your helmet crashes onto the tarmac.
Mind you, in the later situation, you had the best tyres under you. Why did this happen then?
Simply because the Pulsar is not having it’s CG in it’s center, which the Fierro is having.
What I feel is that bike enthusiasts should buy a Fierro and fit MRF Nylogrips to it. You have the best indian bike. Do not get taken in by the 5 gears on the Pulsar and the 4 gears on the Fierro. As a metter of fact, the fierro has managed to harness more power and punch compared to the Pulsar with it’s four gears. The 5 gears on the Pulsar are more of a drag than a comfort.
I have taken a approx 200Km constant ride on the Fierro and I did’nt feel tired at all. The ride is very very comfortable. On the contrary, I have taken an approx 85KM drive on the Pulsar and I had a backache.
Finally if you compare the finishing of paint and everything on the two bikes, the Fierro is a clear winner over the Pulsar.
Rest guys, are up to you.