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Originally Posted by fiesta_21
(Post 2698200)
Also I'm lean and 5'11 will the avenger suit my height? |
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Originally Posted by parrys
(Post 2688523)
Now, I wonder what Bajaj is doing to the actual production bike. Noticeable changes:
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| The new Pulsar 200NS stands for many things. It stands for a new direction for the Pulsar brand. It stands for a decade of progress. It also stands for election in your constituency. Just kidding. However, more than anything, the Pulsar 200NS stands for a giant leap forward for Indian motorcycling in general and for Bajaj in particular. A promised price tag of under a lakh and the potential to beat more expensive motorcycles? Bring it on! First off, the looks. Whichever way you look at it, the 200NS is a very good looking motorcycle. Aggression is the key word here and the 200NS wears an attitude that says, ‘Take no prisoners’. Stylish design cues abound, and the 200NS flaunts typical streetfighter proportions that Bajaj says alludes to the older Pulsars’ silhouettes. Well, that’s what Bajaj says — actually, other than a few hints of the older design here and there, the 200NS looks nothing like the older bikes. It’s a refreshing change from the ubiquitous older Pulsars, and it’ll be a good while before we get tired of looking at the new bike. And there’s a lot to look at here. Starting with the face: the headlight assembly mimics international streetfighter design trends and looks very menacingly European. That aggression carries over to the substantial tank area that is harpooned by that potent-looking twin-spar frame. And finally, under that minimalist tail section, we get a monoshock on a Pulsar. The cycle parts, again in keeping with the aggressive demeanour, are chunky – front forks, swingarm and wheels all play their part in giving the 200NS a nice, planted stance. Quality of paint and fit and finish are of a high order too. Swing a leg over the high saddle and you’re greeted with a smartlooking instrument console and clip-on handlebars. It’s certainly a pleasing place to be, although when you thumb the starter button, the muted exhaust note from the Triple Spark (yes, that’s three spark plugs on the 200NS!) motor doesn’t continue the aggressive theme that the looks establish. What does take that trend forward though, is the four-valve 199.5cc motor that makes 23.4bhp and 18.3Nm and takes the 200NS from 0-100kph in a claimed 9.83 seconds to a top speed of 136kph. Quick numbers, but they don’t convey the urgency with which the 200NS goes about its business. This new Pulsar retains the hooligan characteristics of the original Pulsar and is more than happy to do things that most other motorcycles would rather refrain from. It loves to be revved till kingdom come and even after many hours of hard riding, the motor feels fresh and ready for more abuse. It pulls strongly across the rev range and will be great to use in the city and on the highway. However, on our test bikes, the six-speed gearbox was a bit notchy, although these were pre-production examples and the bikes that will hit showrooms will have seen numerous upgrades to sort out little niggles likes this one. Handling-wise, the new Pulsar is again a scorcher. That twin-spar frame, combined with the taut suspension and 145kg kerb weight, makes for a supremely flickable package. Direction changes come naturally to the 200NS and it effortlessly sweeps through corners. Here too, however, the Eurogrip tyres on our test bikes were not up to the mark of the MRF Zappers that usually adorn Bajaj wheels. Apparently, the MRFs are still under development and will be available by the time the 200NS reaches showrooms. That the Pulsar is a brilliant bike for under a lakh is a given, but Bajaj refuses to say if that price is ex-showroom or on-road, so we can’t really be sure of its exact standing in the market. However, since the KTM Duke 200 is priced 1.2 lakh, the 200NS has to be priced a substantial amount below it. That rationale leads us to the conclusion that the 200NS should be priced between 95,000 which, given the performance and kit, would make it a killer. Will Bajaj do it? Nothing to do but hold your breath and wait. BAJAJ PULSAR 200NS TOPGEAR SAYS Possibly the best value-formoney all-Indian scorcher PRICE: NA MAX SPEED 136 kph (claimed) PERFORMANCE Engine: 199.5cc, single PERFORMANCE 0-100kph: 3.6 sec (claimed) |
| After having shown their thrilling new offering – the next generation Pulsar 200NS and giving a solid blow to its rivals with its expected pricetag of under a lakh of rupees, Bajaj Auto is working hard to better a product which already has all the right elements to continue the legacy of the Pulsar brigade and maintain its segment leading stature. And by working hard we mean, the R&D team at Bajaj Auto is ironing out whatever small creases that they can notice as well as better the quality and equipment level furthermore. While the test mules handed to the media previously were prototypes, the final production ready Pulsar 200NS will feature a host of improved components and equipment. To begin with, the headlight will get a bump in wattage from the 45 watt bulb on the prototype to a 55 watt bulb on the final model of the Pulsar 200NS. Also, the tell-tale lights will get some tweaks for better daylight visibility. The rear mudguard could undergo some changes with regards to the texture changing from its glossy finish to a matte black treatment. Also, there is a possibility that the company may offer optional tyre choice to the consumers who want quality rubber to truly exploit the Pulsar 200NS’s potential. From the company, the bike will come shod with tyres from MRF as well as TVS Eurogrip in varying lots. There are a host of other improvements too that will be visible on the production ready model and it only goes to say that this is going to be one cracker at an enormous price advantage. The vehicle is expected to commence production by the end of this month and until then there is more news expected about the exact launch date and the pricing of the new Pulsar 200NS. |
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