Apr 15, 2009 08:02 PM
8493 Views
(Updated Apr 17, 2009 10:27 PM)
I purchased a Bajaj Pulsar 150 cc in the year 2003, from Varun Motors in Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam, A.P for Rs. 52, 000/-(incl. taxes), It has been 6 years since I bought the bike and I have clocked 46, 700 kms on my odometer so far. I use it to commute to work. On an average I drive 25 kms every day. I have had minor problems and repairs, but no major problems with the engine so far.
I get a consistent mileage of 55 km to a litre, even today, as long as I maintain correct air pressure in tires, and get the air filter cleaned regularly. The trip meter is a real help in calculating mileage. I usually do it from reserve to reserve, after filling about 10 litres of petrol.
The styling is good, especially the view from the silencer side. The disc brakes at front really mean business. Whenever I want to slow down or stop, I use the front brake first and then the rear brake, after a small delay. Braking is more efficient this way and also avoids premature wear of the rear brake pads. My Pulsar, the first model, did not come with Alloy wheels. The rear tire size of ‘3.00 x 18’ is too small and accentuates that big body small legs kind of look when viewed from rear. Small tires are the secret of its good mileage, I think. The newer models can afford wider tires as the engine efficiency has been improved by use of twin spark technology. Seating is sporty but too hard and narrow for long rides. My wife hates being a pillion rider as there is hardly any cushioning at the rear. Be warned that a single stretch of riding for more that 60 kms could give you a bad ache in your rear, which can get very painful. I think this has been partially addressed in the newer models.
The teardrop shaped rear view mirror does not have much real estate where it is needed most, at the outer edge. This I see has been rectified in the newer DTSi models.
Side stand'out' indication is a nice thoughful feature and is in operation even today. Incidentally none of the bulbs except my head lamp before I switched over to halogen have ever fused from the day I bought my bike.
The original headlamps were of the incandescent variety so I got it replaced with a halogen lamp.
The twin horns, a first for any bike in its category, are so powerful and really useful to give jaywalkers the jitters. Anyway I would advise you to desist from honking in no horn zones like schools or hospitals.
I had a peculiar problem with my rear brake in the initial period. I noticed that with a pillion rider the rear brake would lock by itself whenever the rear tire hit a pothole(causing the rear shock absorber to get compressed). Increasing the travel of the Brake pedal solved this problem. I think the up and down motion of the rear swing arm was making the brake operate, due to the relative motion between the brake linkages and swing arm. However as the brake pads got worn out and the pedal play increased, this problem vanished. It looks like a small design problem, which I guess, has been taken care of in the newer models.
I have got all the free services done religiously, but after that I have become tardy because I found other than oil change and water servicing the authorized service centers hardly do anything that is written in the service manual, unless you make a specific complaint.
With a little patience you can do the oil change, greasing and brake adjustments yourself.
My first problem was a slipping clutch at 3 years and I got the clutch plates and springs replaced. I suspect it was from driving with low engine oil levels due to oil leak from gasket, which I ignored.
My silencer developed an opening at the exhaust, in the 4th year, which I got welded from a roadside gas welder, who did a very good job for just Rs. 75. It is still holding.
The self-starter was a new gadget in those days and I used it liberally. The battery went dead on completion of 2 years, in spite of kick starting it every morning, as I had read in some auto magazine. Thankfully The Pulsar has a kick start and I am now solely dependant on it since I am too stingy to replace the battery, which is 9 AH capacity and costs almost 1500 rupees. But the almost dead battery is still in place because it acts like a voltage stabilizer. It does not allow the DC voltage to rise above a limit while accelerating to top speed and thus prevent damaging the fuel indicator meter and other DC components. I remember in my earlier bike, a Kawasaki KB-100, I made the mistake of removing my dead battery from circuit and in a short time the fuel indicator burnt out due to high voltage.
Clutch cable gave away in 3rd year and the Accelerator cable at 5th year. Incidentally both the clutch cable and accelerator cable of my old KB-100 was still intact when I sold it after almost 12 years of single-handed use.
Engine oil leaks from the gearbox gaskets within a few months of its rectification.
Carburetor stated leaking petrol from gasket in the 5th year and surprisingly the Bajaj service center told me they do not have spare gaskets and instead asked me to replace the whole carburetor. I was wondering why I was being asked to change the entire carburetor for want of a small rubber gasket. After doing a bit of self-study and experiment, I soon found out why. The Pulsar's carburetor top is assembled to its sump base only with 2 bolts, provided diagonally. When I finally managed to get a non-Bajaj spare gasket from the market and tried to fix it, I found the gasket was not sufficient to make a good seal between the mating surfaces of the carburetor. I noticed the casting was deformed and expanded at the opposite end, where there were no bolts. I finally solved it by getting an oversized 2 mm rubber cord gasket, cutting it to suitable length and assembling the carburetor myself. It is working fine for the past 6 months now.
Disk brake system failed in the 4th year and I was told that a gasket needed is not available. Again the service people recommend change of entire brake cylinder, which must cost a good deal of money because of which I have been procrastinating the repair. The rear brakes alone does not give much confidence. So I have decided to get the front disc brake repaired quickly, even if I have to replace the entire cylinder.
Presently the chain and sprockets are all worn out and are begging for a change. The silencer has also developed a new opening, just before the catalytic converter. It requires another visit to my roadside gas welder soon.
I have changed my rear tire at 40, 000 kms. The front tire is still the original MRF Nylo-grip zapper and though it is totally bald, it is still going strong. Since it is unsafe I plan to replace it soon.
On the whole owning and riding a Pulsar was very enjoyable, in spite of the little nagging problems. The pick up and acceleration is fantastic. It helps if you know a little about automobiles and like to do small repairs yourselves.
