RED/BLACK with alloys. Review on Bajaj Pulsar 180

Well! There is a lot of debate about pulsar 180V3 I am writing down my experience after riding it for more than 13000 km in 1.5 years.I have been hitting mumbai and pune number of times, have rode different versions pulsar, I dont intend to compare with ZMA, for obvious reasons every bikers know.

Style: Its was brilliant when got the delivery in RED with Black alloys, It was one of the first RED and BLACK in my locality.Everyone used to turn their head to get the view of this bike.but know V3 has come no one bothers to look at it.I personally feel that this is better looking than the V3. the reason the V3 tank dosent gel with the LED panel,  Black alloys look excellent but the problem is that due to puncture repairss it is pinned with white marks which looks uuuuhh!

Comfort:It is good for short city rides up to 50 km, but when you take on the highway for a long ride it is not good for your back and your knees.However it is easier to ride than be pillion on this bike

if you are thinking for a ride of200 km and more please go for karizma or thunderbird.The other factor which has an affect is short gears.The Pulsar V3 is geared shortly than the Pulsar V2 and the 17 inches tyres dosent help! The engine is revable but you dont like it to rev hard.it is really to hard keep it on 90 for a long time unless you are very  cruel.In city its very well geared it can pull up from 20 in 3rd gear with out knocking and all the controls are well within reach.Wish it had a proper knee recess to grab the tank with your knee

Engine and Transmission:Engine is great not as good asHH ZZMA though for the simple reason that it is trying to extract 16.5 BHP from 180cc as compared 17 BHP which ZZMa extracts from 223 cc,  twin spark plugs make a difference,  the engine tends to get heated very soon as the black paint dosent dissipitate heat well as the grey one.the engine produces those BHP at very high RPM.i.e 8500 RPM .which in turns has more wear and tear on the engine, the biggest worry is clutch it is not progressive and cant handle the increased power. I had a lot of issue because it used to shudder while taking off.Hope bajaj can beef up the clutch and orgazised its gear box, it throws false neutrans when you keep it in first gear in traffic.

Handling:It inspires confidence in city, one can take sweeping turns without much to bother, but if you  brake hard especially the front, the rear tends to get lighter and throw you off line,  and gear control is difficult beign a four stroke it has inherent engine breaking quality which skids the rear tyre when you try to flick to lower gear in high speed.in city the handling is perfect for more a spirited rider.but on highway and high speed the rear tends to get offline its is difficult to control the vehicle when it crosses over 110, I personally did 125(Speedo read) but when I slowed down the engine breaked very hard and the bike wobbled a lot.I personally feel that its is not meant for high speed riding

Fuel Consumption: Fuel consupmtion is excellent in comparision to the power bike produces.It always gives me 42 to 48 in city riding and the max it has given me is 56 on a very light  throttle

Overall:Considering the price and fuel consupmtion for a powerfull bike it is the best deal, if you have 15 k more and milage is not your criteria then go for ZMA, or wait for the Pulsar 220 which has been launched in pune.

Improvements needed: Brighter head lamps, tall 4tha and 5th gear. improved clutch and gear box

knee recess on tank, proper weight distribution the front tends to be

heavier.i think we would get all this in pulsar 220