2005 Pulsar 180 DTSi. Review on Bajaj Pulsar

Hi! I used to be a fan of Hero Honda and drove a CBZ earlier. Due to the high maintenance costs and the low mileage, I was looking to upgrade to a better bike. My obvious choices were the Pulsar and the Unicorn. The rest of the bikes available in the market in the 150 cc category do not deserve a mention in the face of competition from these two.

The unicorn was the clear winner on many fronts considering that it is a new product in the market [albeit with design cues from the CBZ]. I drove the vehicle and it kept pace with the 150 DTSi in a straight drag race even though it did not manage to outrun the latter. But the engine is too good. If I had to describe the Unicorn engine in as few words,...it would be,...''butter''. It is so smooth that no other bike in the Indian market comes close. The mono suspension did wonders on our Mumbai roads.

However, it does have its drawbacks. A design that is too similar to the CBZ. A tail light that is so loose it wobbles badly. Lack of a self starter [at that time...now the Unicorn is available with the starter].

I finally settled on the Pulsar 180 DTSi. I got delivery of the same in Jan. The bike is too good. Not as silent and refined as the 150, but still in a class of its own.

The power on the bike is amazing. It wheelies easily if you are an experienced rider. And the pickup is amazing. I am almost always the first guy off the lights. the 180 beats most other bikes hands down, including the older 180, the Karizma and even the RX100.

It is currently giving me a mileage of 48kmpl which considering my previous bike is really better for me. More mileage with more power and better features. What more can one ask for.

I have been getting it serviced regularly and it helps if you change the engine oil at 1000kms. However the vibrations are still there and it can be irritating at times. Even though the bike is unbeaten in accelerations, it does not hold out on long races. Top speed is hard to come by as compared to the older 180 DTSi. Even though I win in drags, it is difficult to stay ahead in long stretches as the bike runs out of rpms too soon.

Also I had a small accident with a truck and the newer mud guard is not available even with the dealer. Being a new bike, its parts are not yet in the market it seems. Most parts can be used from dealers that stock parts for the older 180 DTSi. But the changes like the suspension, alloy wheels, fuel tank, etc are yet to come as spares.

But on the whole I am happy. Weaving through traffic is a breeze with the power at hand. the smaller 17 inch wheels aid quicker turns. The disc brakes are really packed with loads of bite. The mag wheels and lowered stance only adds to the image of the bike. However, tall riders like me would face some difficulty considering the lowered height. My back really hurts on the ride from dahisar to worli in mumbai traffic daily. [considering the ongoing work on the highway]

But I would recommend that the 150 DTSi is sufficient for most people who want a power packed bike with loads of features and excellent fuel economy for its class. It really is a pleasure to ride and a greater joy to be on when you leave the rest of the straining engines behind after the traffic stop!!!!!