Thanks to the XBHP Team for a such an extensive review of the New Pulsar 2012. I am in love with this motorcycle. Kudos to Bajaj for creating such a street design for the bike. Regarding the engine specs, Pulsar NS is the strongest in the Pulsar Generation. The only low I find in this bike is the top end because I like to test the limits(Pulsar 220 and Yamaha R15 served the purpose of achieving high speeds ). The colors are mind blowing. I like Red and Blue

The most stylish part of this bike is the headlamp and even the design of the fuel tank. I would love to burn the Delhi streets with this machine. May not be a very good tourer as Old Fox sir mentioned that it can be problem to load the saddle and the tank bags. Well, there are many more bikes to serve our touring "keeda". But as per my usage, I am more of city rider and style does come into picture which this bike is providing me along with good performance at a very convenient cost. I don't care about the mileage now.

10 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP PROVED TO BE VERY IMPRESSIVE! CHEERS!

Thanks a lot for the appreciation. The effort this time was to give as detailed and complete a review as possible, something that would help any rider in decisively deciding whether to go in for the bike or not. And I guess we have been able to do that.

Am putting up here a feature by feature class comparison between the KTM Duke 200 and the Pulsar 200NR. Check out the excel sheet below. But having prepared this, I do strongly feel that choice is a very personal thing and should not be based on such camparo's that could be contaminated with the author's personal views. They are a good reference source though and thats exactly the purpose of it being here.

Visual Signature

KTM: The Duke is a thoroughbred KTM with a typical KTM's sharp lines and angles with all functional components adding to the beauty of he machine. The bike displays an aggressive stance, looks very purposeful and has great road presence.
Pulsar: The 200NS is an aggressive naked. A streetfighter from all angles though the design does not convey a sense of purpose as strongly as the Duke's does. But it is indegenious, a beautiful bike going by what has been offered to bikers in the country since long and has a strong brand identity.
Verdict: The Duke wins here and by a good margin at that!



Fit n finish

KTM: Impeccable is the only word that comes to mind here. Truly meeting international standards and virtually faultless.
Pulsar: A few notches above what we have been used to from home-grown models. The paint quality is great, the engine covers are beautifully finished and the plastics feel solid. And going by less plastic on this bike, it being a 'naked' version, there will be a lot less possibility of ungainly rattling in the long run too.
Verdict: The KTM again is a winner but the 200NS, even when not seen with reference to its Pulsar identity is a close second here.



Powerplant

KTM: A well designed engine that delivers what it promises and how! 25PS, 19Nm mated to a 6-speed tranny means business. Consider the low all-up weight and the expectation for the powerplant prowess increases further. And it delivers.
Pulsar: Shares the bottom end with the KTM and has a spanking new head which is no minor technological feat. To top it all it all works and works well when put together. The 200NS is at a slight horwe-power disadvantage here but then you'll probably end up saving a lot of money with low initial price, less expensive spares and better fuel efficiency.
Verdict: The KTM might look like an outright winner here but the 200NS engine is no wimp, is a good design and in all probability will beat the KTM at the 'value for money' stakes.


Running Chassis

KTM: A super-rigid trellis frame, aluminum swing arm, upside down fork, rear Mono-shock, wide and radial tires, front radial and rear floating caliper brakes. The specs don't get much better for a 200 out here at least. Handling is at par with the best anywhere and very forgiving at that. With a wheelbase a trifle longer than the 200NS, even straightline stability is amazing.
Pulsar: The perimeter frame and new swing-arm combo has thrice the lateral rigdity compared to the older Pulsars and that is a big improvement. Light, flickable and controlled, the 200NS can surprise an ordinary rider on a KTM back to back. Straightline stability is also at par with the best as is the chassis feedback. Add the monoshock and firm front end with good wide rubber and the good handling becomes obvious.
Verdict: The KTM is a more sorted motorcycle in this aspect but the 200NS is a close contender for its sheer forgiving nature and practicality.




Performance

KTM: High power to weight ratio combined with low gearing spread across a 6-speed box spells good take-off and fast sprinting. The quick-revving engine puts down those horses fast and the bike prods you to ride harder.
Pulsar: The 200NS has a good engine, a well matched gearbox and relatively high power to weight ratio. Good throttle response and a predictably sharp clutch makes it quick off the blocks and a good sprinter. The engine begs to be thrashed and responds tirelessly.
Verdict: The KTM has a slight edge here what with a more powerful engine, less weight and better running chassis.




Seat

KTM: This one is best ridden solo. The pillion treatment is stepmotherly but the rider has a good place to park his behind. The seat padding is firm and should be good for long hauls. The non-slip dimpled cover allows you to move only when you want to. No inadvertant sliding forward everytime you brake hard.
Pulsar: They both seemed similar on this count with the KTM pillion being a trifle worse off that the one on the 200NS, not just because of a smaller seat area on the KTM but also due to the rear footpegs being placed a little higher.
Verdict: The Pulsar appears to have a slight edge here, winning not just due to a marginally wider seat but also with better pillion comfort.




Electricals and Instruments

KTM: A very comprehensive instrument console with that multi-function display that probably gives the rider more information than he would regularly expect or use. The lights again seem right and should do a good reliable job.
Pulsar: The instruments might not be as sophisticated as the KM's MFD but the 200NS has a comprehensive complement of features in its display. The 'sidestand' indication, twin trip displays, engine oil level and temp, low battery indication and a shift light are pretty good per se.
Verdict: The KTM MFD wins but the 200NS is close behind it.




Fuel Efficiency

KTM: The Duke is purpose made with a certain brief on performance where fuel economy was not very high up in the priority list. Adequate but not above that.
Pulsar: The 200NS engine has been designed for upping the ante especially in thermal and volumetric efficieny stakes. And it shine there. With a claimed 58 kmpl under the Indian Driving Cycle and the figure dropping by about 30% or so at around 100 kph says a lot about fuel efficiency especially on a naked bike.
Verdict: The 200NS is an outright winner here.


Range

KTM: A small 10 ltr tank could be the Duke's achille's heel for long rides, more so with its average fuel efficiency.
Pulsar: The 200NS has a 12 ltr tank capacity and that allied with its better mileage gives is almost 30% more miles between fuel stops.
Verdict: Again the 200NS wins here.



Brand Impact

KTM:The KTM is a very coveted brand but this passion for it remains limited mainly within the enthusiasts.
Pulsar: The 'Pulsar' is almost a household name amongst bikers in India and a product like the 200NS that stands shoulder to shoulder with the best anywhere is a matter of pride for its owner. And less anxiety about long term ownership needs.
Verdict: The KTM is new, exotic and globally respected. The Pulsar stands proud here and is growing globally. The KTM assures of purposeful quality while the Pulsar is reassuring as it has been always there and apparently will always be.


Price

KTM:At 1,17,500 INR ex-showroom, the KTM is a steal.
Pulsar: No price disclosed yet but rumors doing rounds point at anywhere between 85,000-95,000 INR.
Verdict: The KTM, for the passionate and the knowledgable is a steal but the Pulsar shall be a bigger steal for the masses and the enthusiast alike if it comes it at <90,000 INR.



The 'lazy needle' is due to the damping in the instrument (the usually used the eddy-current dampers these days are hard to tailor for differing response compared to oil damping of yesteryear) and is not a reflection of the engine response though I believe you already are aware of that. The one on the 200NS seemed brisk enough to me.

I am a tourer Harish so I probably will either wait for a version with a fairing or plonk this stonking engine in the ZMA frame (kidding about the engine change there). The ZMA, though a good performer, is now rather dated and not as sharp as the 200NS in any respect. Need I say more?

There has been no commitment from Bajaj either about the date the booking will begin or the deliveries will start except that things will begin moving in April the next fiscal year). There is also no concrete indication about the expected price except that it will be sub-1 lac INR.

No reason why you should not go for this bike even if it happens to be your first. The only issue could be if your height is below 5'5" as it is a tall bike and you'll be tip-toeing around on your feet. A very practical and forgiving bike otherwise.
Thanks.
The 'Japanese' part quality thing is rather subjective but then the 200NS has fit and finish several notches above the other Pulsars and when compared to lots other bikes in the fray today.
The bracket Satyen is for mounting a cantilevered tyre hugger which will come along with the saree guard and RVM's in the production version. This bracket though can be put to lots of possible uses as the tyre hugger is not really all that necessary quite like the saree guard.

nice review and superb photos. any chance of uploading higher resolution photos for wallpaper ?

also any idea about Fuel efficiency ?

SunilG just need a better fitting riding suit (this one was borrowed from Sunny ). So please transfer some money, if you can

Man you've got the eye for dust, i mean detail . 90% of the time we are shooting out in the dusty environment, so it can't be avoided...but thanks for the feedback.

Should be less than 1 lac mark, around 90K OTR

Great review! Now I am in a dilemma as to go for the Duke or the Pulsar 200NS. I will wait till I see a few of these on road. Then I will decide. Although I love the blue NS a lot.

no fairing = no tourer ?.
Harleys, RE are producing non-tourers because they don't have fairing right?. I guess then V-rod is a track bike.
I didn't notice but has the earth started rotating from east to west?

For the record I've done numerous tours with Pulsar, R15 and in general 1 long haul stop on pulsar equaled to 3 long haul stops for R15. But then again I'm the guy with normal physique. You guys must be having mutilated physique like hulk to commit such discovery.

N650, busas have fairing but they can reach the speeds that are impossible for 200NS. Wind blast at 120 KPH isn't that severe.

^^ +1 mate, I wondered about this countless times, whenever somebody posted about this i.e. on lack of fairing means no touring. It's absolutely baffling how these guys miss that RE's or Harley's don't have fairing, they are tourers, probably cruisers is the exact word. But how in the hell can you miss that they don't have fairing either and they are primarily used for touring. Agreed, fairing gives considerable protection from wind blast. But is touring all about zipping through the miles at high speed?? there can be stretches where you might just rev the machine to it's limit, but after that again it will be more of taking pleasure of touring.

oops, how did I forget praising the review..

@OLD FOX sir, excellent review, which I guess is the norm on xbhp. You summed up Duke 200 vs P200NS very well, this should serve prospective buyers very well. In the end, it felt like both bikes serve their purpose 100%, after all performance with no holds barred & affordable performance are very different.

and photos, I guess nearly every single post mentioned them. Always, I wonder how you guys pull off such wonderful pics. Bikes be it R15, Duke or Pulsar, I feel that they look 10 times better in the pics posted on xbhp.

Finally one question, what's the backlit colour of speedo console?? so far, not even a single pic on that.

Amen! Thanks a tonne for the entire review; you deserve every bit of praise showered on you.

Fantastic photographs! Apart from the fuel tank (12 litres) and windblast factors (no fairing) another aspect which will be a bit of a pain in mile munching is that short stroke engine, I would prefer something more relaxed when you need to hold a steady 110-120 kmph for 7-8 hours. While, its damn fun to rev up and zip around in the urban environment but when you are touring (specially in the hills) you would want the peak torque to arrive before 8000 rpm!! Its a personal opinion though, lots of people may love to tour on a short stroke engined bike.

A favourite mis-conception, eh? Thanks to senior members for clearing it time and again!

Thankx Dude!!

Now I just hope this bike fits my budget..

Also one more question.. Are they going to launch the full series of NS bikes..
Like Pulsar 200NS, Pulsar 150NS & Pulsar 125NS?? cause the bike that were being tested outside the factory(from akurdi to chakkan) didnt have rear disks.. so.. is there such a possibility??

Great detailed review,awesome pictures and the comparo with the Katoom too..

Actually its not no fairing = no tourer. The fact is, with fairing = better 'sports tourer'.

this

Edit: P.S.: This cruiser also has a Fairing.

I quote from my review I guess at no place do I out-rightly denounce the 200NS or any unfaired bike as a tourer. I shall not further this argument of other unfaired bikes being popular tourers as I have been touring for more than half my age.

Your tone in the above post is unnecessarily sarcastic, presumptuous and draws conclusions that are nowhere suggested. I advise you to please ensure your opinion is put forth in an acceptable and dignified manner, befitting a long time member of the forum.

Thanks for the appreciation. The touring question has hopefully been adequately answered above. As for the console backlight colour, I honestly admit I couldn't notice it well enough to be sure of the colour but I was told it is orange. Two reasons for not noticing myself. 1) it was a very bright day and the colour was hard to discern and 2) we rode on the track and even though we would repeatedly look at the console for rpm and speed, you can well understand how easy it is for a rider to lose himself to the thrill of a good fast bike on a great track.

Obviously OF sir I was aware of that. Its just that it feels great if the RPM needle too moves in sync with the throttle inputs and not like the pulsars where the needle is very lazy. Good that they sorted that out.

And as always awesome review sir.