First of all, I would like to clear that i'm a Pulsar fanatic, from the day it launched, I was crazy about it as it was the only bike at that time which really grabbed my attention. And finally after 7 years of its launch, I bought myself one, Pulsar 180 DTS-i, before starting the review, I would say, the name itself is so commanding, and the bike, just too Hot!.
Now coming on to the review, my bike is 20 days old, and I am not disappointed on my choice. The black wolf eye front is just awesome, the streamline body, muscular tank, perfect tail lamps, and the best of all, the Digital speed-o-meter.
As of now, there are number of bikes in 150 category, so I was never interested in 150 segment, and the 200's only warrior is Pulsar, and 220 segment, is crowned by Pulsar and Karizma, but as the Karizma is little tooo Old and also it hasn't been upgraded since its launch, the Pulsar 220 is almost for 99Grands, so it was always out of equation, and the 200 DTS-i, well, nothing different from 180 apart from tubeless tires and just extra bit of added Plastic decors, so, Pulsar 180 was the only bike that I was looking for.
The Performance:
Pickup - With 180 cc heart, and 16.5 Bhp, you can not ask for any more, and well, it will fly from 0-60 in under 5 seconds, I guess around 4.5 seconds to be precise, I haven't checked it on numbers yet, but the feel of the pick up says it all!
Handling - Good handling, but could have been better as when you reach 100+, it feels the bike will get off the road, as it feels so light, u just can't feel anything apart from the fear that it will just flew off. But Rest ASSURED, it won't :)
Top Speed - For the first week or so, I was not riding it above 80, but mind you, keeping it below 75 on 5th gear is a real hard challenge.On the very first day, I was conscious and was trying not to get above 90, but as soon as I shifted to 5th gear, speed-o-meter showed 80Km/h and it was really hard for me to keep it constantly on 70-75, but I really enjoyed my first ride.
And after that, I had one thing clear in my mind, that I have to get above 100, and I did it after 10 days, and on that day, I touched 111 Km/h and was quite happy. Than, it was my daily routine to get it above 100, n I touched 113, 114, and 116 Km/h which is my top speed so far and I really love to fly it at this daunting speed, but as my stretch from home to office is just 8Km, and I have just 2 km of curved road and 5 km are in city, so only 2 km curved road is left for me to take it past 100, and its really a thrilling experience.
- The one thing I have noticed is that, when I first touched 111, my bike was kind of stopped @ it for couple of seconds, and than the curve came and I had to slowdown, but with time, after 20 days, today I touched 116, it was like, om digi meter >>> 100.. 105.. 108... 111... 112.. 113 .....and than the magical figure 116 and I was so happy that I have achieved a new feet, and I am quite sure that I can touch 120+ in a straight stretched road.
Mileage - Hmmm... I fueled its tank full a week ago and so far I have completed 202 km and the tank is showing half the fuel still left ( My total run is 372 Km) so if we calculate it as the meter shows, i'll end up with around 390-400 km in full tank, so the average would be around 27-29 (And if you notice that I ride my bike in racing conditions, I ride @ 90 in city and above 100 in the remaining road, so its obvious that the mileage will be affected, and also as it new, so till the first service, it is expected) and I am quite sure that in normal conditions, say @ 65 to 75 or even @ 80, you'll get @least 45+ mileage.
As I m not concerned with the mileage, and at the end of the day, I want to enjoy my ride, no matter whatever the cost is (of the fuel).
Shockers - I would consider myself lucky as I m living in Chandigarh, the city beautiful, and the roads are quite good for riding, so no real testing for the shockers, but still, in the small pits, it wont disappoint you.
Looks - People often say that Pulsar 180 and 150 are similar in looks, and hence doesn't stand out in crowd, for all those, I would say that it does, not for the ones who are not bike fanatics, but those who are, can definitely differ out on the red signal, when you throttle up, and Wroooom... and there u go ahead of every one else including pulsar 150 and others, and that is the time when people will know the real difference, I know its not related to looks, but, for that matter, the Black coated Engine and silencer is quite enough, and the broader rear tire as well.
Braking - Front disc is very good, and also the rear braking, you can trust them while riding above 100.
Over all, I am very happy with my bike, its looks, performance and almost every thing, but as its still new, only one thing is that, how I will enjoy my riding eXperience even more after 6 months and than even more after 1 year, and I am quite sure that I will.
One Important Point for all those who are not worried about the mileage, and even for those who does, The price difference between the 150cc and 180cc is mere 1500 rs, so before you go for 150 cc, Please test ride the 180 cc to feel the real difference, and I m sure that their is alot of riding difference b/w the two.
And if u r mileage conscious, than also there is hardly any difference b/w two, 150 gives u around 55-60 under normal conditions and 180 will definitely give you 48-55 under normal riding (@ 60-70 Km/h)
and now with the petrol prices down @ 40 per liter, even mileage conscious people can afford it.
And the only thing I love about Pulsar 180 is that it is the only king in its territory, for 7 years, we did not have any other bike in this segment, and even if it comes, I don't think it can beat it!.
Be the proud owner of the only 180 cc bike in the world, go, get it!, ride it, to feeel it!
*Now After the First Service (@ 650 kms) of My bike, here I am, Still happy with its performance!
#Pickup is still great, even better I would say!
#Top speed and the pickup, improved, now it touches 110+ quite easily as compared to earlier.
#smoother than before service ride.
#Braking is good, no problems as of yet.
Now, I'll be back for next updation after 2nd service
