Pulsar 200NS - Literal Saddlesore. Review on Bajaj Pulsar 200NS

Style:

It looks simply amazing in all colors, a true naked street fighter. Styling appears best when viewed from front, rear is average. Stunning looks, courtesy Bajaj and Edgar Heinrich of BMW Motor-rad. The tank looks way larger/voluptuous as compared to its actual 12 liter capacity.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox:

Performance is great, in no ways it can be considered a slouch when compared to the Duke 200 or the CBR250R. Acceleration is good and pick-up from standstill is also brisk. A top speed of 148 kmph was achieved on the speed which in real world translates to a true top speed of 135 kmph (tested using Android GPS app).

Fuel economy isn't bad either, achieved a 26 kmpl in Bombay city and 38 kmpl on long highway runs ate speeds over 100 kmph. But the 12 liter fuel tank capacity isn't sufficient for serious touring.

Gearbox is of good quality and gear ratios are well spaced to make it a comfortable ride in the city and on highways.

Ride Quality & Handling:

This is an area that leaves a lot to be desired. The P200NS suspension is setup on the stiffer side to aid handling. The bike is an excellent handling machine no doubt, but the stiff suspension makes the ride quality pretty harsh on bad roads. Potholes and road undulations do not deviate the NS from its intended line, but transfers all the jerks to the rider's hands and butt. Add to this a minimalist seat which literally causes a "Saddlesore" on long hauls. The chassis is spot-on for handling, no two ways about it.

Final Words:

With our road conditions going bad to worse over each passing week, its not easy to live with the NS if serious touring is on the agenda. Cross winds play havoc with the bike's stability causing the rider immense disturbance on highways. The puny fuel tank and rock-hard seat don't do justice either to serious touring.

Areas of Improvement:

Bajaj should have added the Self-cancelling Indicators on the NS too. A well padded seat is a must for this bike, city commuters won't face much of an issue though. The bike's cross wind stability is an area of great concern, it leaves a lot to be desired. Even a naked Duke doesn't budge in windy conditions. Maybe a set of stickier rubber could improve grip levels, though I didn't face any issues with the stock tyres.

Bajaj should rework the suspension damping of this bike to make it a bit less painful for touring; this could be altered by changing the springs to slightly softer ones. The front suspension rebound can take the rider by surprise at high speeds on road undulations.

Overall a good bike but my personal opinion is that if you can discount/overlook the liquid cooling, 4-valve head and triple spark of the NS, the Pulsar 220F DTSi is a far better bike with excellent touring capabilities. Agreed the NS has a more pliant chassis and the P220's chassis is outdated, but the P220 still excels as an all-round commuter and tourer. The 17.5 liter tank on the P220F is good for 700+ kms without a refuel.