The Bajaj Pulsar is a motorcycle brand owned by Bajaj Auto in India. The two wheeler was developed by the product engineering division of Bajaj Auto in association with Tokyo R& D, [1] and later with motorcycle designer Glynn Kerr. Currently there are five variants available, with engine capacities of 135 cc, 150 cc, 180 cc, 200 cc, and 220 cc. Previously it was also offered with a 200 cc DTS-i oil cooled engine, which now has been discontinued. Instead a new version Pulsar 200NS was launched in 2012. But then Pulsar 200NS production was discontinued in August 2015.[2] With an average monthly sales of around 86, 000 units in 2011, Pulsar claimed a 2011 market share of 47% in its segment.[3] By April 2012, more than five million units of Pulsar were sold.[4]
Before the introduction of the Pulsar, the Indian motorcycle market trend was towards fuel efficient, small capacity motorcycles ( that formed the 80–125 cc class) . Bigger motorcycles with higher capacity virtually did not exist ( except for Enfield Bullet) . The launch and success of Hero Honda CBZ in 1999 showed that there was demand for performance bikes. Bajaj took the cue from there on and launched the Pulsar twins in India on 24 November 2001.[5] Since the introduction and success of Bajaj Pulsar, Indian youth began expecting high power and other features from affordable motorcycles.
The project was faced with internal resistance, reservations by Mckinsey and doubts on its effects on Bajaj's relation with Kawasaki. The project required approximately 36 months for completion and cost Bajaj ? 1 billion.[6]The original Pulsar came with a 150 cc air-cooled, single-cylinder, petrol, spark-ignited four-stroke engine which made 13 HP of maximum power. They featured a single spark plug to ignite the air-fuel mixture fed from a carburetor, simple spring shock absorbers, round headlamp dome and 1, 265 mm wheelbase. Disc brakes as standard equipment was a novelty in Indian motorcycles of the early 2000s. Other standard features were parking lights and an aircraft-type fuel tank lid.
In mid-2001, the Indian Army ordered 1500 Bajaj Pulsars for its defense personnel.
The 180 cc version made 15 HP of maximum power and came with a twin-tone horn, which was optional equipment on the 150 cc version. Electric Start ( ES) was offered as standard feature in the 180 cc model and optional on the 150 cc model
