Bajaj Pulsar 200NS review

• Published On: 29 March 2017
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This naked is the successor to the original Pulsar series. Can it live up to its high expectations?

Bajaj’s original Pulsars are India’s biggest two-wheeler success story – it put a sporty bike in the hands of the everyday consumer. The new 200NS will have to stick to its family DNA to strike a balance between sporty and practical if it is to successfully lift the baton from the outgoing Pulsars.

On the outside
When you first look at it, the 200NS is aggressive and muscular, it looks a fair bit like Honda’s CB1000R when viewed from the front. Where the bike resembles its ancestors the most is when you view it from the rear. The headlight shines a clear, well focused beam in the night. The NS uses digital-analogue instruments, with all the information you need neatly laid out, including a digital speedometer, odometer and trip counter. The bike comes with clip-on handlebars, comfortable control levers and switchgear that works with crisp feel. The palm grips are decent, but not the best, they feel less rubbery and more plastic-like than we’d expected. The properly shaped grooves on the fuel tank provide good thigh support for the rider. The NS’ silencer box sits neatly tucked away below its engine, to keep center of gravity as low as possible. Overall build quality and fit-finish on the Pulsar 200NS is not the best in its class however.

Power Torque
The four-stroke, 199.5cc, single-cylinder, Pulsar 200NS engine is based on the KTM 200 Duke platform. Maximum power is a meaty 23.2bhp at 9500rpm, and the latest Pulsar is good for 1.86kgm of torque built up at 8000rpm. Its six-speed gearbox runs through gearshifts smoothly, with precise feel in a one-down, five-up pattern. The clutch feels easy to operate too.

Bottom end power quickly builds into a strong mid-range, with the top-end feeling really potent – sticking to the sporty yet useable nature of the earlier bikes. The 200NS engine is ever willing to rev; we liked its free spirited nature. The NS does the 0-60kph dash in 4.11 seconds. The 200NS can hit a top speed of 127kph flat out in sixth gear.

From the saddle
The NS is a comfortable bike to pilot thanks to its upright riding position. Ride quality is good and the TVS-made tyres performed reasonably well when riding the new Pulsar, but there is still lot of room for improvement. The 200NS brakes are really good – they allow you to stop the NS from 60kph in a scant 16.4 metres. The 200NS gives around 35.9kpl when riding in the city, and 41.1kpl when cruising on the highway.

Is it worth the money?
The 200NS is a great looking bike, with an efficient new liquid-cooled engine that outperforms most of its competitors. It keeps its rider comfortable, while simultaneously providing enough of a sporty experience, all at a sensible price. Bajaj has managed to retain all the qualities that made the original Pulsar famous in India. The NS looks capable of carrying the baton forward.