"Definitely Male" comes home.





This is the first time I will be writing an ownership for a motorcycle. I might be rusted in some terminologies and details, so kindly excuse.


Prologue:
I got the first taste of riding a motorcycle back in 2005 when I purchased my first bike the Honda Unicorn and learnt to ride on it. It was a wonderful experience couple with couple of road trips. Then there was a graduation to the Hero Karizma, which catapulted my road trips to bigger distances culminating with a trip to Kodaikanal with my better half. That ride was the best trip I have ever taken probably 2nd only to the Ladakh drive.

After 2009 I became a car driver or as they say in biker parlance a "cager". Fast forward to 2014 when we sold our Manza and bought home the AT Grand i10, I started to get an itch to ride again.


Current State:
Now what further funneled that itch into determination was the economics of driving an AT which was not satisfying. So the biker in me rose again and I went ahead and got myself a pre-worshiped Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi UG2.


The Search:
First the idea was to buy a CBZ or 1st gen Pulsar that would not cost more than 15k. But after a few searches which yielded very badly maintained bikes. I decided to up the budget and look at 8 - 9 year old machines. I did land up with a Pulsar 180 "Fear the Black" version for 27000 but missed it by a whisker as I delayed my decision. However, thanks to sulekha.com I was able to find this genuine 1st hand owner who was relocating to the US and selling this bike. Bargained and got the bike for 21k.


About the machine:
The machine has been kept well at least the internal engine etc is pretty good, only cosmetically there are some misses and blemishes but I wouldn't complain as its an 8 year old machine. The best part is that it has done a genuine 35000 kms only. So I would say the bike is in its mid 30's if I equate it to human life.


Work Done:
The bike was given for a general service with oil change on 29th Sept. I was also able to identify few things on the bike that needed attention, the bike would have worked otherwise as well but I am a little finicky when it comes to having everything perfect. So here is the list of things that were done on the bike.

1. General service
2. Engine oil change
3. Replacing all indicators with clear lens (Left side was not working while right side front was missing, so got all 4 changed)
4. Changing the headlight dome to UG3 (Current headlamp dome had scratches and I like the new design)
5. Rear brake shoe change (rear braking was next to nil)
6. Instrument cluster fixing (RPM needle was not working, along with lights for neutral)
7. Tail lamp was not working so a bulb change
8. Cleaning the carb (both the jets) plus checking the shape of the diaphragm as the bike was struggling to go freely beyond 70kph
9. Changing to normal petrol tap from the current tap lock
10. Adjusting the tappet clearance as they were making noise
11. Bike was not starting when in gear so they checked and replace something called a clutch switch

Extras added by Bajaj without me informing them

1. Polishing charges of 33 bucks

Engine & Performance:




Ride & Handling:


Other smaller but significant things:

1. The forward inclined seating position gives a racy style to riding than the Unicorn but nothing can beat the seating of the Karizma
2. All switch gears etc are still functioning properly without seeming to be breaking off after 8 years.
3. The clutch lever was too hard, may be its a one of case of my bike
4. The plastic bits like the side cover locks are loose I guess some rubber bushes will do the trick
5. Mirror adjustment angles are pretty small and I have still not found the correct position
6. Removing the seat is an ergonomic disaster as the side panel needs to be opened
7. The front brakes have too much bite and needs to be handled with care, I guess all Pulsars are in the same league. Its like a on or off switch.
8. Last but not the least the looks of the bike is classic and ever green.

Future Plans:

1. Convert the electrical to DC and fix a 55/60 Philips Extreme Vision
2. Convert all indicator & tail lamp to LEDs
3. Petrol tank luster and shining with new UG4 emblems

Here are few pictures of the bike, I tried to put some some closeups as a Google search of Bajaj Pulsar 150 yields more than "32,30,000 results (0.25 seconds)"


I love the sharp angled pilot lamp design



A close up of the devils eye's



The old and the new



Ok heres a shot of the entire bike



I am sure the above points are nothing new as the bike itself is so old but I will keep this thread alive with timely updates.


Parting shot of the aggressive face