Yes Sir, having the bill low on pocket will always bring back a smile. Any part that gets banged up/damaged needs replacing, but not sure how many ppl calculate the exhaust cost when buying a bike, after all it isn't an oil filter that needs frequent replacements. Certainly the P200NS exhaust costs lesser and has brought down the overall price tag, now why to think about replacement cost? its well secured that it cannot be banged that easily .

I have one question, if the third spark isn't a wasted-spark then all three plugs operate in the same cycle/timing? is that true?


The cat-con will always be red-hot after warming up the bike to a certain extent. So while parking after a ride the catcon starts cooling down, hence it gives the tik tik sound from the exhaust. (May be it contracts the mesh when getting cold). May be the Duke's exhaust has some new catcon design, like a way-type used in cars instead of mesh type that is commonly used on bikes.

Do you realize that you are comparing two products that are selling at two different price points and still expecting same quality?

I think tik tik sound generally comes when you run the bike at high speeds and then come to a halt or you run the bike for long without breaks in between. It doesn't generally happen(in a noticeable way) whenever you take the bike out for a short spin.

i feel bajaj is making more profits from ns than duke ...duke will give good image to bajaj and ns will give them good sales figs and more profits...
i think they forgot about the quality .. just park both duke and ns next to each other ,, anybody with good eyesight and knowledge will agree that duke is a way better quality product ...
i have had duke for about two weeks now and never have i heard that ' tik tik ' sound from the exhaust when i bring it home and park it ... all my previous bikes had that sound...

Thanks for the link. However, me as a user never faced the issue. Nope, I dont patronise any brand. I may have sounded like that.
At the end I think it is the responsibility of the Company (Brand) to ensure the reputation of the Brand. If someone feels Pulsars or any Model have Quality issue, then it is Bajaj's or that company's responsibility to change that image. End users trying to fight just does not sound right.

Irrelevant Links... the first link (by the way anybody can edit stuff on wikis) is something about "wasted spark" and the second link is of a company which sells off the shelf "Ignition systems" and CERTAINLY NOT which deals into Triple Spark Plug tech... not even remotely.

I don't think any other maker in the world has ever dabbled with three spark plugs on a single cylinder.


My dear friend, doesn't banged up/damaged exhausts in case of accidents of Honda/Yamaha bikes ever need replacement..??

Forget about changing the exhaust then.. but then the third spark plug on the P200NS also plays a role in slashing the final price of the bike by Rs. 6,000. The moot point here is that the Triple Spark tech is not a gimmick but actually seems to have tangible benefits in terms of cost reduction.. whether in contruction or replacement cost.

I have at least provided proof in terms of spare cost comparision and also the absence of the "tick - tick" sound in the exhaust if the P200NS while cooling down (signalling the almost non-existance of the expensive Catalytic Converter syatem). Rather than with "feelings" and personal/second person "opinions".

Its actually interesting to note the perpetual disparaging attitude of a few.

That is interesting. So, correct fuelling (Fi) + complete burning (with multiple spark plugs) can have significant impact on emissions to such an extent that catcon becomes unnecessary Because Fi+single spark Duke uses Catcon, I can only conclude P220-fi's non-Catcon exhaust system is possible only because of extra plug. P-220 Fi came in BSII era right? Would the same bike pass BSIV norms? Just curious. Or better way would be to ask, does 200NS have a catcon?

I was a skeptic of this multiple plug theory but this fact (P-220 Fi w/o catcon exhaust system) is perhaps changing my opinion. Thank You for the info @antz.bin

I think the enthusiasm develops into patriotism. So, you aren't aware of most common Pulsar exhaust corrosion issue at all? Very strange !!!!

Ok, nevermind whatever it is, read this

Dude I dont know where you get all these from. If you talk about 220 alone, baring a first few lot which had all sorts of issue (2008-2009), my 220 Fi is from 2009, same with my friends, we do not face any issue. If you include Pulsar 150, 180 I graduated from a 2004 Pulsar 150 dtsi to 220 in 2009. All these years never did I have an issue with the exhaust, also the guy who has it now, hasnt complained either.
Not only me, I know a lot of guys who are still running 5-6 year old P150, 180, with no issues with exhaust.
There may be a few issues here and there (as in CBZ) but it should not be generalised.

At least they are not saving costs by skimping on essential equipment like pass light and engine kill switches on a premium product by using switchgear from bikes which cost 70k less. I guess you would have understood by now which *Globally Renowned* Manufacturer I am talking about. Interestingly enough, that particular *Globally Renowned* manufacturer also managed to bring the cost price down by ~35k (= price difference between Duke and 200NS) compared to the more premium cousin but at the cost of losing a third of the horsepower, half the torque and the aforementioned equipment.

Any cost saving innovation which reduces spare cost and total cost of ownership w.r.t. competition without hampering/degrading usability and feel of any of the functions of the motorcycle (including lights!) cannot be counted as a Marketing Gimmick. The correct word for it is 'Frugal Engineering'.

As long as the single windshield wiper on a Tata Nano doesn't cause the driver any difficulty in driving in the rain, there is no harm in Nano not having the 2nd wiper. But at least, as end user, the driver can see that here Tata has done something against the norm and crib about it / ridicule it. In case off the 200NS, the only time the owner will notice the presence of 2 extra spark plugs is at every 10k km service when they have to be replaced (as per schedule).

@NitinGirish
1 & 2. Triple spark is not a replacement of Fi. The point was to make a carb engine as clean burning one as a Fi one. Thats why they have experimented with multiple plugs. And apparently the result is that they have made a cleaner burning engine than a FI + single spark engine.

3. P220 FI has 2 spark plugs

4. P220 FI stock exhaust does not have a Cat Con. But these days if you happen to break yours, the replacement you get is the 'exhaust + cat-con' from the P220 carb since thats the one which is mass produced.

Started reading this thread at the end of a stressful day at office. Completed 1st 6 pages and no strength now to read through entire thing. As a layman I am just curious to know:-

1. Are spark plugs substitute for fuel injection technology which can be used to achieve same objective of lower emissions? Ofcourse the former approach actually burns while the latter controls the quantity fed to be burnt.
2. Are spark plugs substitute for catcons to acheive lower emissions?

Intuitively I feel the methods themselves are vastly different and the outcome may vary significantly. Isn't a system of feeding correct amount of fuel based on engine load more efficient than having an extra plug to burn whatever is fed?

Did P-220fi also have more than one spark plug? If yes, what kind of kmpl it returned and how was its emission like?

The article talks about a multi spark ignition, where the main spark (1 or 2) is fired on the compression stroke and the other spark fires at the exhaust stroke to remove the unburnt exhaust gas, which is called Wasted-spark. Dont confuse it with Twin spark technology where both the sparks are fired on the compression stroke itself. You can check the Twin spark definition at last in the same article.

Now Pulsars already have the Twin spark ignition and here the 3rd spark in P200NS is a Wasted-spark that operates on the exhaust stroke. This wasted spark has no impact on the bikes performance or mileage coz its timed to fire at the exhaust stroke to burn the left over. Hence it eliminates the need for a catcon.

Payeng sir will be able to throw more light on Tri-spark....


I hope you over-looked my comment, I have clearly mentioned "WERE" is my comment, coz exhaust failures were very common on pre-2009 Pulsars. I hope today none of the vintage Pulsars on road run with their original exhaust, while an equally aged CBZ has no such issues on its exhaust (again a very few exceptions are present)

Dude I have 2 P220 (Fi and the Carb) and a lot of people in my group own 220. None of us have faced any issues with the exhaust. Just because a couple of guys face issues with exhaust, you cannot generalise it.

May be the first lot 220 Fi might have had issue with exhaust, however in my 4 years of ownership I havent faced any issue yet. Same goes with my group.

Shibadip and Vrugonnab... leave the mis-communication.

@Shibadip, Vrgonaab was just try to put it that "even if we accept that it was a marketing gimmick.." he was actually supporting Payeng's article.

@Vrgonaab, Shibadip, sincerely didn't get it, I guess.

Sorry for Back to Back post!

Eh.. where's the Triple spark tech in those links? The Wiki link talks about waste spark, that can max be tech used in older Dtsi (2spark) and TRI-Spark is an alternator and Ignition unit, do they have three spark plugs for single cylinder engines???

By the way I have been a owner of 220Dtsi for 3 years, no problem with the silencer. And low cost of component is not only in case of failure, but also in case of accident as well and other numerous factors.

Sir, I found this on wiki, check and see if its appropriate to the topic. Also there are many companies which offer this tech to most internal combustion engine types.

On a friendly note......
Pulsars were prone to exhaust issues and hence I think you have a Big grin on your face while seeing the exhaust price. Mostly Hondas and Yamahas (Even in India) never face any failure on their exhaust system at all until the product's life time. Changing the exhaust is like a blue moon on a 4 stroke. Hence what I feel is Bajaj has saved the Catcon part and spent a little more on drilling the head and timing operation.