Bajaj Pulsar - Good But...... Review on Bajaj Pulsar

I have read many rave reviews about the Pulsar. Not that I am going to outright trash the reviews - The Pulsar is indeed a great bike. But there are few things that still irritate me and it is these that I wish to throw some light on.

First the factors working for the bike -

The styling is amazing. The Pulsar was among the first bikes in India to actually look Male. No wonder the advertisement was such a big hit. The bike looks strong and sturdy like a young Stallion waiting to rush out. The Balance is superb. This thing just glides across the road with minimal fuss. The long wheel base adds to the riding comfort. The stance is just about right - but could have been a tad narrower, especially keeping in view the shorter people.

Now the bad part -

The petrol tank is a bit too large for the overall size of the bike, it sometimes stands out as a sore thumb. Second, there is a lot of body vibration, specially true for the non DTSI versions of the bike. Third, removing the seat is a very frustrating and tiresome experience. One has to almost dismantle the entire bike before one can remove the seat and retrieve some precious little (yes there is absolutely no space under the seat) stuff that lies there.

The clutch is very tight and the gear shift is awful. These are areas where any bike from the Honda / Hero Honda scores big time over the Bajaj bikes. This is also one factor which makes the Pulsar an unattractive option for the Not So Young set of riders. The fork / handle is very tight and maneuvering the bike in the crowded roads of Bangalore is a real nightmare. The seating position for the pillion rider is not the most comfortable. It could have been a bit shorter.

All these factors notwithstanding, the Pulsar is still a famous choice because of its looks and the value for money that it offiers. The Mileage is also not the greatest in its class, but I am sure the real biker never worries about the mileage.