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The Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 - A 5000 KM Ownership Experince
Hello guys, I wanted to wait till i completed 5000 KM to write a comprehensive review on my Passion Red Pulsar RS 200 which i loving named The Red Rakham (after the pirate). This is my first review so go easy on me.
About Me:
Myself Ajay Seethala, 25yrs old, am a visual effects artist based out of Hyderabad. I have always loved anything on wheels and absolutely enjoyed that feeling I get when there's an open road staring back and a fuel hungry motor provoking me to tear it up! So it is safe to assume I am a petrol head right from the beginning and when it was time to upgrade my 6 year old pulsar 180 - DTSI it was a huge Decision that needed to be just right. I already had a VW Vento that I use on a daily basis So what I wanted was a sports bike to make those long drives to the office exciting that also had to double up as a long tourer in the weekends.
The Requirements:
1. It had to be an entry level sports bike.
2. Budget 1 lakh - 1.2 lakh (on road Hyderabad).
3. Had to have a 150cc or above engine.
4. Liquid cooling a must for Hyderabad heat in the summers and long cruises.
5. Descent torque in the low revs for quick overtakes.
6. A responsive gear box for those quick shifts.
7. Has to have an ergonomic seating position.
8. Millage not much of a concern, above 25 KMPL acceptable.
9. A descent seat for the pillion rider.
10. Full faring or naked acceptable.
The Contenders:
The Obvious contenders where the Yamaha R15 V2.0, the Honda CBR 150R, The Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS and RS 200 and The Apache RTR 180. Right from the beginning i dropped the Apache as i just didn't want another city farrer and for some reason TVS never felt like a serious contender. Don't get me wrong here, its a great vehicle, but was just not for me.
The Yamaha R15: The poster boy of yamaha in india, obviously a proved and successful vehicle, quite the punch and in your face design. went through a lot of reviews from XBHP members, but the pillion rider was seated right in the clouds. Also the seating position was rather aggressive and strain full in the city, a test drive from a friend confirmed that so passed on the bike.
The CBR 150R: The descendant of the legendary CRB 1000R and one of the best sports bikes in india, this was a serious contender and was leaning towards it till the end despite the aggressive seating position. Loved the quick power delivery and honda had a proved service network. Ultimately drooped it for the next contender.
The pulsar NS 200: This was a bike i always wanted! since its release, it has always been considered one of the best naked bikes around. A proved motor, great seating position, pillion friendly back seat and it handles like a dream, especially in traffic. Also went through XBHP reviews and travelogues and confirmed the fact that it was built for the highway as well. Went to the dealership to get a test drive and make the booking, but to my utter dismay found out that bajaj had stopped production on the NS 200. I was really disappointing. But as i was about to leave the showroom the new Pulsar 200 RS and 200 AS caught my eye. I had dismissed the 200 AS as i did not want a half faring bike, but decided to give the RS 200 a chance.
This was followed by 10 days of intense research, shifting through hundreds of reviews and travelogues (most of them by XBHP members). And it was essentially the same motor as the 200 NS with the added advantage of fuel injection and bajaj's propriety triple spark technology. The pillion rider is rather in a comfortable seating position. It was a bit out of my price range but what can i say, i really wanted it! The decision was made, Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 it is!!
ABS or Non-ABS: The pulsar 200 RS come in two variants, the ABS 1.5 L (on road hyderabad) and non ABS 1.39L (on road hyderabad). Did some research and found out the ABS was a single channel one and was manufactured by Bosch and the guys at Bosch were to soon release a 2 channel ABS in india. Considering i was already over budget decided to go for the non-ABS model and get an ABS in a couple of months.
The dealership Experiences:
Went down to Sri Vinaka Bajaj dealership located in kacheguda, hyderabad. Now this was one of the worst dealership experiences i have ever had. First the guy was not even wiling to give me a test drive. Purchasing a bike costing 1.5 L without even a test drive felt really stupid at least. Decided to make the booking anyway as i had already done my research. Made a 5000 RS advance payment and we were in business. I was given a waiting period of 20 days, thus started a long and tedious wait. a few days later, i couldn't wait anymore and rang the dealership and was told it was still not in stock. Decided to look around and visited the sri vinayaka bajaj showroom in begumpet and they had them in stock and a nice gentlemen even agreed to transfer my booking from the kacheguda showroom so that i wouldn't loose any money. A quick swipe on the credit card and the beast was mine. The hole it drilled in my wallet - 1.39L.
On the day of the delivery.
The Ownership experience after 5000KM:
It has been almost 6 months since i have taken delivery of my Bajaj Pulsar 200 RS, 2 services and 5400 KM later i have to say... She's a beast! I will try to cover most aspects of its performance and my ownership experience with it. This being my first review, kindly go easy on me if i miss something guys.
5000 KM later
The Design:
This machine is definitely a head turner, no matter where i go, there are always eyes gawking at it and there is the occasional enthusiast that asks me for reviews as i wait for the green light. The full faring, its solid build and rather unorthodox tail lamp often interests motorists around. The headlight design is what i feel is the best aspect of it, you've got two angry lights staring right into your soul whenever you look at it. The faring is a bit overdone according to me but is not a deal braker. The rear view mirrors are of no use at all. The tail lamp is rather different, and i get mixed reviews on it from friends, some love it, other feel its weird. I for one really like the out of the box design there. I really fell in love with the its over all look and feel, its muscular design and in your face curves! While the attention i get on roads is sometimes annoying, it is also what distinguishes the vehicle from other full faring bikes. It definitely has its own unique identity!
Design features:
The best of an Engine:
The RS 200 is powered by the same 199.5 CC motor as that of the NS 200 with the addition of a FUEL INJECTION system. The liquid cooled beast churns out 24.5 BHP of power and 18.6 NM of torque. Power is readily available right of the line , but is available abundantly from 4000 RPM right upto 10,000 RPM. You feel a surge of speed as soon as you touch the 4500 RPM mark that carries right upto the 8000 RPM mark. It is a throttle hungry machine and feels more and more refined as i go up the RPM range. It cruises effortlessly between 100 -110 KMPH and will take you all the way to 140 KMPH if you are up for it. The cautious driver that i am never dared to go above 130 KMPH. The motor itself feels good as you work it through the gears. It is definitely not a gas guzzler, millage in the city is between 35-38 KMPL and delivers more than 40 KMPL on the highway. This is a well engineered engine and a lot more refined than the 200NS that it comes from. It takes a lot of restraint to restrain yourself from the challenge issued by the occasional random moron who wants to race you in rush hour traffic.
The Gearbox, handling and Ride Qaulity:
The RS 200 boasts a 6 speed gear box, torque is deliver at low RPM's so you dont have to work the gears too much in rush hour traffic. Gear shift are very swift and you feel no lag at all, it comes in handy when going for those quick shifts in rush hour traffic. There is the occasional gear slip but very rare and it idles in neutral very well. I would suggest am improvement in clutching but it would work for most people, i always preferred a hard clutch to a soft one.
This machine handles like a dream! At 165 KG it is the heaviest vehicle in its class but you dont really feel the weight unless you manually want to move it. The weight also gives you extra stability in those tight corners and vehicle handles tight turns like a pro. The turning radius however is just huge and can get you into trouble while doing U turns. It has a very short wheel base which makes it super agile even compared to the 200 NS, and it can easily swish through traffic during rush hours. There is a slight vibration between 50 - 70 KMPH but clears out as you reach the 80 KMPH mark. The vehicle eats up asphalt and devours corners with no effort at all.
The seating position is very ergonomic and no strain at all. Be it in the city or on the highway the ride is a comfortable one. There is the occasional vibration but nothing too mindful. The vehicle feels well refined and well engineered in all.
The Build Quality :
As i have said the vehicle feels very solid. The perimeter frame provides the back bone. The tail lamp is a solid piece of metal and feels very premium. The fiber parts are not too well put together. The fiber parts often vibrate and need to be tightened during service. The handle bars are well designed and reduce vibration. In all it is a well engineered vehicle. Here i would like to mention a small accident i got into. Was on my way to the airport when a dog came under the wheel all of a sudden (the dog was fine BTW) but i had a nasty fall at 70 KMPH. To my wonder the bike barely suffered bruises and the faring design actually protected my knees from major injury and the bikes weight never landed on me because of its design. A quick trip to the dealership and 1200 bucks later everything was good.
The Highway experience:
As i have already mentioned i needed the bike to satisfy my touring needs as well. The bike is built for the highway, it cruises with ease at 100 KMPH and feels very smooth. As you work through the Kilometers, you barely feel any strain. Did a 3 long trips so far:
Hyd - Vikarabad - Hyderabad - 160 KM
Hyd - Suryapet - Hyderabad - 300 KM
Hyd - Sri Sailam - Hyderabad - 500 KM
The service experience:
Bajaj has a huge service network but only a few are equipped to handle the RS 200. Had 2 services done so far:
First service 950 KM - Total cost 650 rupees
Second Service 4850 KM - Total cost 850 rupees
The bikes becomes a gas guzzler as it approaches the service. I would recommend an oil change every 3000 KM to keep the engine healthy.
Fun fact: I complained of a vibration near the faring joint during my first service, the response i got and i quote the service adviser " Arey khadeer!! Faring ke pass vibration aara Kehthe... Lubbar daal miya!! "
Lubbar daal miya.. :P
Finally me!
The pulsar 200 RS is definitely in my view a bang for the buk. It delivers great power , fantastic handling, ergonomic riding position and a sports bike in its DNA. The patriot in me always feels proud we were able to deliver a world class product! Will write an update as soon as i get to the 10,000 mark.
Closing with a quote i read on a bumper sticker
"In god we trust, Everyone else.... We race!!!"
Hello guys, I wanted to wait till i completed 5000 KM to write a comprehensive review on my Passion Red Pulsar RS 200 which i loving named The Red Rakham (after the pirate). This is my first review so go easy on me.
About Me:
Myself Ajay Seethala, 25yrs old, am a visual effects artist based out of Hyderabad. I have always loved anything on wheels and absolutely enjoyed that feeling I get when there's an open road staring back and a fuel hungry motor provoking me to tear it up! So it is safe to assume I am a petrol head right from the beginning and when it was time to upgrade my 6 year old pulsar 180 - DTSI it was a huge Decision that needed to be just right. I already had a VW Vento that I use on a daily basis So what I wanted was a sports bike to make those long drives to the office exciting that also had to double up as a long tourer in the weekends.
The Requirements:
1. It had to be an entry level sports bike.
2. Budget 1 lakh - 1.2 lakh (on road Hyderabad).
3. Had to have a 150cc or above engine.
4. Liquid cooling a must for Hyderabad heat in the summers and long cruises.
5. Descent torque in the low revs for quick overtakes.
6. A responsive gear box for those quick shifts.
7. Has to have an ergonomic seating position.
8. Millage not much of a concern, above 25 KMPL acceptable.
9. A descent seat for the pillion rider.
10. Full faring or naked acceptable.
The Contenders:
The Obvious contenders where the Yamaha R15 V2.0, the Honda CBR 150R, The Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS and RS 200 and The Apache RTR 180. Right from the beginning i dropped the Apache as i just didn't want another city farrer and for some reason TVS never felt like a serious contender. Don't get me wrong here, its a great vehicle, but was just not for me.
The Yamaha R15: The poster boy of yamaha in india, obviously a proved and successful vehicle, quite the punch and in your face design. went through a lot of reviews from XBHP members, but the pillion rider was seated right in the clouds. Also the seating position was rather aggressive and strain full in the city, a test drive from a friend confirmed that so passed on the bike.
The CBR 150R: The descendant of the legendary CRB 1000R and one of the best sports bikes in india, this was a serious contender and was leaning towards it till the end despite the aggressive seating position. Loved the quick power delivery and honda had a proved service network. Ultimately drooped it for the next contender.
The pulsar NS 200: This was a bike i always wanted! since its release, it has always been considered one of the best naked bikes around. A proved motor, great seating position, pillion friendly back seat and it handles like a dream, especially in traffic. Also went through XBHP reviews and travelogues and confirmed the fact that it was built for the highway as well. Went to the dealership to get a test drive and make the booking, but to my utter dismay found out that bajaj had stopped production on the NS 200. I was really disappointing. But as i was about to leave the showroom the new Pulsar 200 RS and 200 AS caught my eye. I had dismissed the 200 AS as i did not want a half faring bike, but decided to give the RS 200 a chance.
This was followed by 10 days of intense research, shifting through hundreds of reviews and travelogues (most of them by XBHP members). And it was essentially the same motor as the 200 NS with the added advantage of fuel injection and bajaj's propriety triple spark technology. The pillion rider is rather in a comfortable seating position. It was a bit out of my price range but what can i say, i really wanted it! The decision was made, Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 it is!!
ABS or Non-ABS: The pulsar 200 RS come in two variants, the ABS 1.5 L (on road hyderabad) and non ABS 1.39L (on road hyderabad). Did some research and found out the ABS was a single channel one and was manufactured by Bosch and the guys at Bosch were to soon release a 2 channel ABS in india. Considering i was already over budget decided to go for the non-ABS model and get an ABS in a couple of months.
The dealership Experiences:
Went down to Sri Vinaka Bajaj dealership located in kacheguda, hyderabad. Now this was one of the worst dealership experiences i have ever had. First the guy was not even wiling to give me a test drive. Purchasing a bike costing 1.5 L without even a test drive felt really stupid at least. Decided to make the booking anyway as i had already done my research. Made a 5000 RS advance payment and we were in business. I was given a waiting period of 20 days, thus started a long and tedious wait. a few days later, i couldn't wait anymore and rang the dealership and was told it was still not in stock. Decided to look around and visited the sri vinayaka bajaj showroom in begumpet and they had them in stock and a nice gentlemen even agreed to transfer my booking from the kacheguda showroom so that i wouldn't loose any money. A quick swipe on the credit card and the beast was mine. The hole it drilled in my wallet - 1.39L.
On the day of the delivery.
The Ownership experience after 5000KM:
It has been almost 6 months since i have taken delivery of my Bajaj Pulsar 200 RS, 2 services and 5400 KM later i have to say... She's a beast! I will try to cover most aspects of its performance and my ownership experience with it. This being my first review, kindly go easy on me if i miss something guys.
5000 KM later
The Design:
This machine is definitely a head turner, no matter where i go, there are always eyes gawking at it and there is the occasional enthusiast that asks me for reviews as i wait for the green light. The full faring, its solid build and rather unorthodox tail lamp often interests motorists around. The headlight design is what i feel is the best aspect of it, you've got two angry lights staring right into your soul whenever you look at it. The faring is a bit overdone according to me but is not a deal braker. The rear view mirrors are of no use at all. The tail lamp is rather different, and i get mixed reviews on it from friends, some love it, other feel its weird. I for one really like the out of the box design there. I really fell in love with the its over all look and feel, its muscular design and in your face curves! While the attention i get on roads is sometimes annoying, it is also what distinguishes the vehicle from other full faring bikes. It definitely has its own unique identity!
Design features:
The best of an Engine:
The RS 200 is powered by the same 199.5 CC motor as that of the NS 200 with the addition of a FUEL INJECTION system. The liquid cooled beast churns out 24.5 BHP of power and 18.6 NM of torque. Power is readily available right of the line , but is available abundantly from 4000 RPM right upto 10,000 RPM. You feel a surge of speed as soon as you touch the 4500 RPM mark that carries right upto the 8000 RPM mark. It is a throttle hungry machine and feels more and more refined as i go up the RPM range. It cruises effortlessly between 100 -110 KMPH and will take you all the way to 140 KMPH if you are up for it. The cautious driver that i am never dared to go above 130 KMPH. The motor itself feels good as you work it through the gears. It is definitely not a gas guzzler, millage in the city is between 35-38 KMPL and delivers more than 40 KMPL on the highway. This is a well engineered engine and a lot more refined than the 200NS that it comes from. It takes a lot of restraint to restrain yourself from the challenge issued by the occasional random moron who wants to race you in rush hour traffic.
The Gearbox, handling and Ride Qaulity:
The RS 200 boasts a 6 speed gear box, torque is deliver at low RPM's so you dont have to work the gears too much in rush hour traffic. Gear shift are very swift and you feel no lag at all, it comes in handy when going for those quick shifts in rush hour traffic. There is the occasional gear slip but very rare and it idles in neutral very well. I would suggest am improvement in clutching but it would work for most people, i always preferred a hard clutch to a soft one.
This machine handles like a dream! At 165 KG it is the heaviest vehicle in its class but you dont really feel the weight unless you manually want to move it. The weight also gives you extra stability in those tight corners and vehicle handles tight turns like a pro. The turning radius however is just huge and can get you into trouble while doing U turns. It has a very short wheel base which makes it super agile even compared to the 200 NS, and it can easily swish through traffic during rush hours. There is a slight vibration between 50 - 70 KMPH but clears out as you reach the 80 KMPH mark. The vehicle eats up asphalt and devours corners with no effort at all.
The seating position is very ergonomic and no strain at all. Be it in the city or on the highway the ride is a comfortable one. There is the occasional vibration but nothing too mindful. The vehicle feels well refined and well engineered in all.
The Build Quality :
As i have said the vehicle feels very solid. The perimeter frame provides the back bone. The tail lamp is a solid piece of metal and feels very premium. The fiber parts are not too well put together. The fiber parts often vibrate and need to be tightened during service. The handle bars are well designed and reduce vibration. In all it is a well engineered vehicle. Here i would like to mention a small accident i got into. Was on my way to the airport when a dog came under the wheel all of a sudden (the dog was fine BTW) but i had a nasty fall at 70 KMPH. To my wonder the bike barely suffered bruises and the faring design actually protected my knees from major injury and the bikes weight never landed on me because of its design. A quick trip to the dealership and 1200 bucks later everything was good.
The Highway experience:
As i have already mentioned i needed the bike to satisfy my touring needs as well. The bike is built for the highway, it cruises with ease at 100 KMPH and feels very smooth. As you work through the Kilometers, you barely feel any strain. Did a 3 long trips so far:
Hyd - Vikarabad - Hyderabad - 160 KM
Hyd - Suryapet - Hyderabad - 300 KM
Hyd - Sri Sailam - Hyderabad - 500 KM
The service experience:
Bajaj has a huge service network but only a few are equipped to handle the RS 200. Had 2 services done so far:
First service 950 KM - Total cost 650 rupees
Second Service 4850 KM - Total cost 850 rupees
The bikes becomes a gas guzzler as it approaches the service. I would recommend an oil change every 3000 KM to keep the engine healthy.
Fun fact: I complained of a vibration near the faring joint during my first service, the response i got and i quote the service adviser " Arey khadeer!! Faring ke pass vibration aara Kehthe... Lubbar daal miya!! "
Lubbar daal miya.. :P
Finally me!
The pulsar 200 RS is definitely in my view a bang for the buk. It delivers great power , fantastic handling, ergonomic riding position and a sports bike in its DNA. The patriot in me always feels proud we were able to deliver a world class product! Will write an update as soon as i get to the 10,000 mark.
Closing with a quote i read on a bumper sticker
"In god we trust, Everyone else.... We race!!!"
even i have brand new Gps locator for bike worth 1.8k (imported one) but still useless now 
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