Beautiful Design of the Pulsar - a ripoff?

'72 Bullet · 26th May 2009, 14:32

I have always appreciated the beauty of the Pulsar, especially the first lot with the round head-lights. I also appreciated the fact that it was not copied from anywhere, and was actually created by a good designer.

Imagine my suprise when I saw a larger, more butch and much better-looking version while in Milan..

The Pulsar design has totally been ripped off the older generation Honda Hornet. It's not even just a little, it's everything... They just scaled it down a bit and that's about it.. I looked a little on the internet but haven't found the perfect pic. It has to be seen in the flesh.

Never expected this from bajaj, but unfortunately that's how it is. The same people who crib and whine about the Chinese copying their designs have no scruples copying others.

Designers are definitely 'inspired' by their counterparts.. that's how it works, there has to be some limit to it though.

And guess where the tank-design for the discover comes from...

Sorry that I can't convey how alike they look with the picture I attached, this happens to be a more recent model. Believe me though when I say what I saw was exactly like the Pulsar

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xxaarraa · 26th May 2009, 14:54

Dude the later generation of Pulsars were also ripped off of Suzie SVs. Welcome to reality!

varun911 · 26th May 2009, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by '72 Bullet

Sorry that I can't convey how alike they look with the picture I attached, this happens to be a more recent model. Believe me though when I say what I saw was exactly like the Pulsar

I think you have missed your attachment.

prince_pervez · 26th May 2009, 15:05

I think this hardly matters to Bajaj. As long as they are able to sell bikes and gain profits out of it, the purpose of a business is fulfilled. The percentage of people making a hue and cry over a copied design is very very less.
You make a very good point there about the hue and cry over the Chinese copying the design to make it a Gulsar.
Talking of bike companies copying designs, MUL's zen is a scaled version of some other car, I think Toyota's some car model. I saw it in person and concluded.
And there are many.

hillram · 26th May 2009, 15:09

I never liked Bajaj bikes with exception to eliminator.
They are hypocrites.

StarVegabond · 26th May 2009, 15:10

I feel Zen Estilo is a scalled down version of Toyota Innova,
so we should nto call it as copying .. instead " proudly found elsewhere"

Spitfire · 26th May 2009, 15:19

I thought the Pulsar looked ugly.

prince_pervez · 26th May 2009, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarVegabond

I feel Zen Estilo is a scalled down version of Toyota Innova,
so we should nto call it as copying .. instead " proudly found elsewhere"

Na Na. the type 2 zen, the model prior to the Estilo

Technocrat · 26th May 2009, 15:36

I think we are deviating from the topic here.

As far as designs are concerned there are always certain design patterns when it comes to a particular type of vehicle (be it cars, Bikes, SUVs, MUVs etc)

So most of the street sports bike in early 2000 & late 90s looked quite the same. They say all naked street sports bikes look like Ducati Monster.

Similar most of cruisers end up looking similar & ditto for others types. Its only recently that the designs have gone radical.

I remember a few years back most of us could not distinguish between different SBKs all that differentiated them was their Badge (Honda Suzuki etc).

What Chinese did was that they did an exact replica including a poor copy of the name.

prince_pervez · 26th May 2009, 15:56

Correct, but i'm talking about the ones which give you the : "hey that looks like xyz vehicle" feel

Technocrat · 26th May 2009, 16:05

Yes I agree, I think you are talking about Toyota Starlet which looked similar to the Old Zen.

I was replying to the thread starter.

fieroid · 26th May 2009, 16:17

The pulsar tail and rear cowl is a straight lift from the Suzuki.

Technocrat · 26th May 2009, 16:23

So is the case with the RTR which has practically copied everything from the Pulsars. Ditto with the Apache which had its tail lamp copied from Bajaj bikes.

prince_pervez · 26th May 2009, 16:32

Why? Is there is dearth of desi designers or are they super costly to house ?

'72 Bullet · 1st June 2009, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by varun911

I think you have missed your attachment.

Sorry bro. Yes, I did miss my attachment. Decided not to add it later, as it wasn't a very good picture in any case. If I come across a good one, I'll post it for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarVegabond

I feel Zen Estilo is a scalled down version of Toyota Innova,
so we should nto call it as copying .. instead " proudly found elsewhere"

Ironically, I think the 'Nano' looks like a scaled down version of the 'Estilo'

Anyone agree?

Haven't seen it in the flesh so not very sure, but that's what I've garnered from pictures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitfire

I thought the Pulsar looked ugly.

Kinda ugly but in a nice muscular way, atleast the first gen. It was a very nice-looking bike for it's time. The tank design etc. wasn't very ergonomic though. (a little difficult to tuck your knees in unless you're a midget) Guess that was because it's a scaled down version of the Hornet. Ofcourse the Hornet is properly designed and tested and is ergonomically very accomplished.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prince_pervez

Why? Is there is dearth of desi designers or are they super costly to house ?

There are alot of good and creative designers. I think it's just that the manufacturers aren't too keen on them. They want to maximise profits and that's IT! They aren't too worried about how good their product is or on optimising what they have. Sad.

Have you for example seen the New bike from Royal Enfield? They've down-sized the tyres to 18" (don't aske me why, it ruins the classic look) What they haven't done though is down-size the mud-gueard/wheel arch. Now it looks even worse than it could have because it looks totally out od sync.

Royal Enfields sell mainly because of their classic looks, their feel and the thump. With the new bike, they've just trashed all three. It looks weird, I am pretty sure the handling is screwed because of the smaller tyres and to top it all off, they've plonked in this weird looking engine. <Sigh!> Why oh why?

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26th May 2009, 14:32	#1
'72 Bullet BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Semi-nomadic Posts: 143 Thanked: 11 Times	Beautiful Design of the Pulsar - a ripoff? I have always appreciated the beauty of the Pulsar, especially the first lot with the round head-lights. I also appreciated the fact that it was not copied from anywhere, and was actually created by a good designer. Imagine my suprise when I saw a larger, more butch and much better-looking version while in Milan.. The Pulsar design has totally been ripped off the older generation Honda Hornet. It's not even just a little, it's everything... They just scaled it down a bit and that's about it.. I looked a little on the internet but haven't found the perfect pic. It has to be seen in the flesh. Never expected this from bajaj, but unfortunately that's how it is. The same people who crib and whine about the Chinese copying their designs have no scruples copying others. Designers are definitely 'inspired' by their counterparts.. that's how it works, there has to be some limit to it though. And guess where the tank-design for the discover comes from... Sorry that I can't convey how alike they look with the picture I attached, this happens to be a more recent model. Believe me though when I say what I saw was exactly like the Pulsar Note from the Team-BHP Support Team : Please take the time to use proper punctuation as per Team-BHP rules. Avoid...typing...like...this. Thanks. Last edited by Technocrat : 26th May 2009 at 14:48. Reason: see note in post
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 14:54	#2
xxaarraa BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lot of places Posts: 140 Thanked: 5 Times	Dude the later generation of Pulsars were also ripped off of Suzie SVs. Welcome to reality!
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 15:05	#4
prince_pervez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Redwood shores, CA, USA Posts: 4,210 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	I think this hardly matters to Bajaj. As long as they are able to sell bikes and gain profits out of it, the purpose of a business is fulfilled. The percentage of people making a hue and cry over a copied design is very very less. You make a very good point there about the hue and cry over the Chinese copying the design to make it a Gulsar. Talking of bike companies copying designs, MUL's zen is a scaled version of some other car, I think Toyota's some car model. I saw it in person and concluded. And there are many.
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 15:09	#5
hillram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,942 Thanked: 1,326 Times View My Garage	I never liked Bajaj bikes with exception to eliminator. They are hypocrites.
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 15:10	#6
StarVegabond Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,891 Thanked: 42 Times	I feel Zen Estilo is a scalled down version of Toyota Innova, so we should nto call it as copying .. instead " proudly found elsewhere"
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 15:19	#7
Spitfire BANNED Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Panaji - Goa/Bangalore - Karnataka Posts: 3,312 Thanked: 774 Times	I thought the Pulsar looked ugly. Last edited by Spitfire : 26th May 2009 at 15:21.
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 15:36	#9
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	I think we are deviating from the topic here. As far as designs are concerned there are always certain design patterns when it comes to a particular type of vehicle (be it cars, Bikes, SUVs, MUVs etc) So most of the street sports bike in early 2000 & late 90s looked quite the same. They say all naked street sports bikes look like Ducati Monster. Similar most of cruisers end up looking similar & ditto for others types. Its only recently that the designs have gone radical. I remember a few years back most of us could not distinguish between different SBKs all that differentiated them was their Badge (Honda Suzuki etc). What Chinese did was that they did an exact replica including a poor copy of the name. Last edited by Technocrat : 26th May 2009 at 16:03.
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 15:56	#10
prince_pervez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Redwood shores, CA, USA Posts: 4,210 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	Correct, but i'm talking about the ones which give you the : "hey that looks like xyz vehicle" feel
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 16:05	#11
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Yes I agree, I think you are talking about Toyota Starlet which looked similar to the Old Zen. I was replying to the thread starter.
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 16:17	#12
fieroid BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: bangalore Posts: 706 Thanked: 304 Times	The pulsar tail and rear cowl is a straight lift from the Suzuki.
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 16:23	#13
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	So is the case with the RTR which has practically copied everything from the Pulsars. Ditto with the Apache which had its tail lamp copied from Bajaj bikes.
	() Thanks

26th May 2009, 16:32	#14
prince_pervez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Redwood shores, CA, USA Posts: 4,210 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	Why? Is there is dearth of desi designers or are they super costly to house ?
	() Thanks