[TusharK]

The Bajaj Pulsar has traditionally been the rival of the Karizma. It has had a free run ever since Hero discontinued the model. However, things are about to change.



Hero MotoCorp is gearing up to launch the Karizma XMR 210 on August 29. In fact, competition is already heating up not just on the ground but also in the virtual space.

Taking a dig at the upcoming Karizma XMR, Bajaj has shared a picture of the Pulsar NS with the tagline, "The Original Legend Killer". Now, this comes in response to a teaser shared by Hero that shows the digital instrument console of the Karizma with the text, "Ride Your Legend".

The Karizma XMR is said to be based on a new platform powered by a 210cc liquid-cooled, DOHC engine paired with a 6-speed gearbox. While detailed specs have not been released, we can expect it to develop around 25 BHP.

Link to Team-BHP news

[turbo]

As an AS 200 owner, it's a horrible motorcycle, and I wish I had bought a Karizma.

Also Bajaj, what's up with the French? 🧐🤔

[jeeva]

Now, what's with Bajaj Auto?
They did a couple of such tasteless silly ads targeting Royal Enfield earlier, and we all know who laughed all the way to the bank.

Bring in good products which should sell on its own merit. You don't bring in a half baked product with some fancy stickers and paint jobs, and expect it to sell by taking potshots at your competitors. Grow up, Bajaj! You can do better.

[Mr.Ogre]

I think they also messed up with 200 NS ad. I think their tag line was racing on the tracks was for amateurs and real riders should race on the public streets - it was on those lines.

Up until P220 their ads were actually good. I guess P150, 180 and 220 killed the CBZ and Karizma.

Not this 200 NS.

[puntra800]

I guess the creative team at Bajaj needs a overhaul, look at the ads of Hoodi Baba or the Discover where Jackie Chan starred. Even the P150 initial ads were spot on, it targeted the buyers directly.

Their Dominar ad mocking RE was a fiasco and these kind of subtle digs at other brands don't really work for Bajaj. I own a P150 and its a decent bike I would love Bajaj to focus on the merits of the bike rather.

[itsmb]

Bajaj makes really good ads, hope same was true with their bikes as well. They were commanding second position in Indian 2W market, now they are struggling to survive. Honda and TVS have shaken the foundations of Bajaj, simply by providing quality products to the customers. Whatever Bajaj is selling today is because of its credit policy to the Dealers. Bajaj Dealers are bound to Purchase a particular number of 2W from the company on a monthly basis, failing which the company bills the 2Ws to the Dealer on Credit. The Dealers are thus forced to sell 2Ws at par or at very less profits.
Source - Family member is Bajaj Dealer, he opened dealership recently after the previous Bajaj Dealer switched to Honda.

[PaddleShifter]

Originally Posted by turbo

As an AS 200 owner, it's a horrible motorcycle, and I wish I had bought a Karizma.

+1.

Ex-Karizma 2004 (2004-2012) and ex-RS200 2016 (2017-2019) owner here. I wish I never bought the Pulsar RS200. I had a fun time with Karizma and a horrible one with the RS200.

What surprises me is the presence of Bajaj in Latin America (Argentina etc). Are they selling good quality products there? In thats the case, then I got a lemon.

[Samarth 619]

I'm a somewhat of an old timer, so I vividly recall how the entire 2000-'s decade was the Pulsar vs Karizma one. Only in the 2008, did Yamaha YZF R15 add itself to the equation.

Pulsar did suffer from minor quality issues here and there, almost all of which are ironed out now. But frequent feature upgrades and good power output got it noticed. UG1, UG2, UG3, UG4 and so on...

Karizma on the other hand, suffered from lack of innovation, they had tons of paint schemes but no changes to the engine. Things were so bad with Hero Honda, that they couldn't even solve the irregular gearing of the Karizma (3 gears close-ratioed, 2 far) which meant shifting into 4th gear you got a noteable lag.
HH, in their years, couldn't even get the 6 speed box from CRF 230, which was the donor engine for Karizma anyways. It remained 17 bhp for a long time.
But it was smooth as anything can be. No one can deny. Plus, with its tall 5th gear & torquey engine, it was a cruising delight.

Pulsar 220 Fi was initially fuel injected when the world was of carburetor based fuelling, around 20 bhp. But only sold through Probiking showrooms so it sold less.

Then, Pulsar 220 came with a carburetor, saving around Rs. 15,000 in exshowroom price, and with mild tuning, it made 21 bhp. No Fi meant it was sold at many more showrooms across India. It was an instant hit, due to distrbution power... This was the real Legend vs Legend Killer moment.


Later, in the later 2010-'s, when Karizma did get engine upgraded to 19 bhp, the competitors were far ahead, plus ZMR made for a vibey, but weird/funny looking, uninteresting machine which wasn't so legendary as its predecessor.

Overall, let's be honest: if it was anyone who killed Karizma, it was Hero. Hero had this battle won easily, they lost it due to their own inaction.
In 2010, we should've had a 6 speed Karizma based on CRF 230. In 2015, they should've borrowed a CBR 250 engine.

Let's see what Karizma can do different from the already launched Hero 200cc bikes.

[ambarkhan]

13 years back maybe product merits were important;
today cringe sells.

A decade back good ads used to work.
Live young live free,
Reclaim your life,
Pulsarmania used to work,
Now we are full throttle on cringe powered by reels and tikFTok

https://youtu.be/6rgLwYpFWm8?si=9KloBZjkyRdeDlRx

[clementw]

I am puzzled at the use of French, not sure what i am missing. I can only remember the elephant ads of the Dominar which did not boost the product. Bajaj can focus on product differentiation, they seem to have to many of the same thing in the Pulsar range. I test rode the 250s and though both are competent and good bikes they did not excite me and that is a failing for a Pulsar which made college boys go weak with envy when it was launched so long ago.
And the Bajaj ads definitely need a rethink.

[huntrz]

Get ready for another paint and sticker jobs. We all know what "new platform" Hero Motocorp is capable of developing. Bajaj with all its drawbacks did evolve and also tried to develop things inhouse as well as through collaborations and aquisitions and also got decent success. But Hero motocorp has just been unapologetically stagnant, selling the same stuff again and again. Its like they lack the R&D DNA or hate it. Except xpulse everything is 15-25 yrs old. I was in school when they were selling splendor, Now I have school going kids and they are still selling the same stuff with same engine. Not even a design change. Hero motocorp gives me shivers. How can an organisation as big and cash rich as it be so averse to evolution. They look like crippled witout Honda and don't even try to recover. On the other hand TVS and Bajaj flourished so well beyond their suzuki and kawasaki partnerships.

[Sam800]

Originally Posted by ambarkhan

A decade back good ads used to work.
Live young live free,
Reclaim your life,
Pulsarmania used to work,

Sir, the ad video you posted literally gave me goosebumps today just like it used to do 15-18 years ago. Those ads were like a magnet for the showrooms, not to forget THE FASTEST INDIAN one for 220.
Those were catchy and filled with wow factor to no extent. Watching those ads gave innumerable Indians the dream of owning a Pulsar, including me.

Come back, old bajaj 🥺 a fellow P150 owner

[professortarzan]

Originally Posted by huntrz

Get ready for another paint and sticker jobs. We all know what "new platform" Hero Motocorp is capable of developing. Bajaj with all its drawbacks did evolve and also tried to develop things inhouse as well as through collaborations and aquisitions and also got decent success. But Hero motocorp has just been unapologetically stagnant, selling the same stuff again and again. Its like they lack the R&D DNA or hate it. Except xpulse everything is 15-25 yrs old. I was in school when they were selling splendor, Now I have school going kids and they are still selling the same stuff with same engine. Not even a design change. Hero motocorp gives me shivers. How can an organisation as big and cash rich as it be so averse to evolution. They look like crippled witout Honda and don't even try to recover. On the other hand TVS and Bajaj flourished so well beyond their suzuki and kawasaki partnerships.

I have had the same opinion but I feel a change happening in the backdrop at Hero Motocorp.

If you take a step back and look, Bajaj has been milking 10 (NS XXX) and 20 (Pulsar XXX) year old platforms with minor facelifts, paint schemes, sticker jobs and re-introductions. They have discontinued Discover, RS series and the less we talk about AS the better. Even the new gen NS are not that inspiring. Other than Dominar, what has Bajaj produced since the first NS200? Yes, they have given many engine options to choose from, I give them that. And I am not counting KTM, Huskies, Kawasaki or Triumph.

Hero have badly stagnated for a long time, banking on Splendor to save their backside. Now with Mr. Munjal handing over the reigns, their story can change. New designs like Xtreme, Xoom and Vida suggest that this must have started a few years ago. Investments and partnerships with Ather and Gogoro should help them in the EV space. We already see the manifestation of this with removable batteries in Vida. I am not very confident if the collab with Zero will help them though. The partnership with Harley can bring in a niche segment, but only time will tell. Karizma and the next set of releases would define their path forward.

Off topic, Splendor is one fantastic vehicle. Post lockdown, one of my friend asked me to start his bike (at least 5 year old) that was left unused for almost a year. The tires were flat and the dust on it was as thick as seal's blubber. Believe it or not, that thing started by the second kick. No hiccups, no choking whatsoever, it was idling like it was used yesterday. From that day, I found a new level of respect for Splendor. No wonder it sells so much.

[Sam800]

Originally Posted by professortarzan

Off topic, Splendor is one fantastic vehicle. Post lockdown, one of my friend asked me to start his bike (at least 5 year old) that was left unused for almost a year. The tires were flat and the dust on it was as thick as seal's blubber. Believe it or not, that thing started by the second kick. No hiccups, no choking whatsoever, it was idling like it was used yesterday. From that day, I found a new level of respect for Splendor. No wonder it sells so much.

Yes, splendor, passion, CD deluxe and CD100 are league apart class of vehicles. My dad has CD100 1997-98 model. Now a days it remains pretty neglected by him and is driven 3-4 times a year only. Few months back he started the bike after almost 5 months, it started in 2-4 kicks and he drove it off like nothing happened. My jaw was hanging below my knees in utter shock and surprise..!!

[vjvinamara]

Reminds me of the time when Bajaj used the 'Elephant-like' advertisment taking a dig at Royal Enfield. I was so amused after first seeing that ad and had a good chuckle but it hardly dented the sales of Royal Enfield. If they'd used their resources well and made an ad highlighting the merits of the Dominar 400, maybe it would have sold more than it has as it is a good motorcycle in it own right.
Seems Bajaj is going down the same route again.