Pulsar180 DTSi(v1)-The Powerbike. Review on Tips on Buying Second Hand Motorcyles

Hi guys, this is Karan signing in(again?). I am a total bike freak. I love all kinda bikes. But my favorite bikes are obviously the performance bikes. There are only about 10-11 powerbikes which have descended in our country where mileage is of prime importance. These bikes  have never sold in large numbers(possibly barring the RX 100) but have created a place in every bike lover’s heart. One bike which I immensely love is my 4 stroke cracker P180 dtsi(old).

This was one bike which being a whopping 43cc down on the Karizma beat it on accounts of performance and mileage. My silver monster has indulged in many a drag and won(almost) all of them. I don’t want to create any controversy here but I have beaten CBZ and P150’s(what competition?), RXZ, RX100 and shogun(great initial but….) and last but not the least Karizma. But, I have been beaten 2 times in a traffic light drag. Twice by the Indian Superbike RD 350. They really kicked ma bike’s arse. But the point is that the RD was made only for performance and costs a bomb.

Coming back to my bike, I have clocked a 0-60kmph(true) by means of sigma and stopwatch in 4.6 seconds and a 0-100 in 12.9 seconds. That’s damn fast by Indian standards. While in highway ripping mode the bike does 40+ kmph in 1st  gear, 65+kmph in 2nd gear, 85+kmph before I slip in 4th gear, 110+ gear before I move on for the top gear and finally the bike maxxes out at 136 kmph(@9500 rpm). The bike with its 100/90 tyre handles 100+ speeds well but not as effortless like the Karizma. The engineering by Bajaj is brilliant. I never thought Bajaj could come out with such a bike. With such kind of performance, my bike returns me around 35 kmpl in all conditions.

The fairing is very mean and it given a good throw of light. The18 litre fuel tank capacity is great and that adds up to the range of the bike. The shock absorbers are not good once you experience the gas shocks which are standard on the new Pulsars. The low handlebars make the rider feel very sporty while riding but the footpegs should have been more on the backward side ala CBZ. Everything about this bike is sporty, be it the low handlebars, the meters, the stance, the fat tyres, the tank and the mean fairing.

I agree the bike is not a enjoyable as the two strokes in a straight line, but on the twisties in the city there is nothing better than a Pulsar 180.

But there are some of its limitations too. The engine feels strained while doing 130+ speeds, but still there are no signs of wobbling which I experience on my friend’s 180 classic(probably because of the shorter wheelbase). Also,  there is the problem that there are just too many P150’s on the road and there is no difference b/w the P150 and theP180. Everybody thinks that you are driving a damn P150. Also, very few people know that the P180 dtsi(old) is faster than the Karizma in the acceleration and top speed stakes.

The overall experience on the bike is toxicating to say the least. The pleasure of the rev needle banging off the red line in each gear has to be experienced to be written in words.

But, now I dunno what happened to the Bajaj R&D Team, they have upgraded the p150 but downgraded the p180. All the low end torque is fine, but who needs the low end on a p180. They have lowered the top speed and the acceleration after 60 kmph. In what ways can it be called as a performance bike? Bajaj guys have disappointed fans like me with their new offering.

I had a choice b/w the old 180 and the new one as I bought the bike in early January and I went for the better one. Thank god for that.

Sorry guys I could not post under the pulsar heading as I had another revu on it. Comments on the revu would be welcome.