2017 BAJAJ PULSARS

All six motorcycles that form the Bajaj Pulsar line up have been updated to comply with BS IV norms along with specific updates to some bikes

The complete range of Pulsars now adhere to BS IV

THERE’S A BAJAJ PULSAR lurking in every die-hard Indian biker’s past is what my friend, a certified Pulsar fan if ever there was one, once said. Half a decade later, at the cusp of swinging a leg over the new range of BS IV compliant Pulsars all lined up neatly at the Bajaj test track in Chakan, I’d have to agree. Just look at that line up. If you’ve not owned any of these at some point in time or another, you’ll certainly know someone who has because the Pulsar is what truly transformed the performance motorcycling scene in India.

What’s common to each of these six motorcycles is that they have all been made BS IV compliant, feature Auto Headlamp On (AHO) and have a new set of graphics. Beyond that however, some of these bikes feature a few more changes. So here goes:

Pulsar 135 LS

The Pulsar 135 LS has now been made more commute friendly with a slightly taller screen and a heel-and-toe gear shifter in place of the earlier toe-only shifter. The old split seats and split type grab handles too have been replaced with a single piece unit and a single grab rail

respectively. Delivery of the 13.4bhp of peak power and 11.4Nm of max torque from the air-cooled 134.6cc single-cylinder engine feels marginally more linear even though the engine’s character remains as delightfully racy as ever. On the go, the 135 LS feels light and nimble, and flicking it through a set of tight corners feels easy and effortless. On the whole however, at `60,178 (ex-showroom, Delhi), the 135 LS is perfectly placed to introduce an element of thrill in the daily commute.

Pulsar 150

This is the bike that no one talked about but the one that had the most significant change. The bore is now smaller while the stroke has increased. As a result, there is a 0.98bhp drop in peak power to 13.8bhp with an accompanying 1Nm gain in max torque to 13.4Nm. The extra torque also helps improve drive through bends with the power being made available in a more linear fashion once the throttle has been wound open. Bajaj has also worked on the NVH levels of the bike to create a more refined riding experience.

The bike has lost some of its old dynamic abilities but now boasts a plusher suspension set up. Although we couldn’t really test ride quality on Bajaj’s smooth test track, there was a hint of the wallowing feeling one gets when the suspension has been softened. The rest of the bike remains the same and is just as enjoyable as before at `74,603 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Pulsar 180

The 180 feels no different from what it was like earlier because apart from the addition of the rear disc brake and the changes necessary to make the engine comply with the new emission norms, there’s precious little that has changed. With no mechanical changes to the bike, the new 180 feels exactly like the old 180, which may not be a bad thing given how many people find the old bike endearing.

Pulsar 220F

In the case of the Pulsar 220 the only changes that have happened are the BS IV updates and the new graphics. As a result, the bike feels as good as it ever did. There’s plenty of grunt from the engine of this best-selling Pulsar for all sorts of riding, be it touring or tackling a set of fast twisties or an occasional trackday.

Pulsar NS 200

The NS 200 makes a return to the Pulsar line up in BS IV guise and with a new belly pan and new graphics. That liquid-cooled single feels more refined than the unit on the old NS but the rest of the bike feels exactly the same. It still handles turns with as much confidence as it ever did. If you want a naked street bike that does everything with a very high degree of competence then look no further.

Pulsar RS 200

The previous RS was perhaps a shade too radical in its design for a consumer base whose aesthetic sense is largely conservative. So, the RS’s styling has been toned down with the new graphics making it more acceptable to that consumer base. This should help sell the bike that is powerful and is blessed with excellent dynamics. Interestingly, the RS continues to be the only bike in the Pulsar line up to get fuel injection. Around the track, the RS 200 feels as confident and capable as it always has. Its linear power delivery from fairly low down in the rev range means easy ride-ability for the user. At the same time there’s enough top end grunt to cruise at triple digit speeds. On the whole a bike that was always good to ride and is now compliant with all new regulations and looks better too. ⌧