2009 Bajaj Pulsar 220 Discussion Thread - First Ride Impression at Post No. 514

[prabhubravo]

exactly so we cant conclude the speed at redline just by the gear and sprocket ratios. Since the engine/clutch/gearbox is refined now, the power will be effectively transferred to the rear wheel than before.

[xbikerp220]

a nice review..

Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi (2009 Edition) Review

[MG]

- Front suspension dive is a LOT lesser. This might prove to be slightly uncomfy on bad roads.

Who cares as long as it is more stable at higher speeds and braking.I infact like the fact that the front suspension dive is LOT lesser.

Was it MG who mentioned that the speedo selfcheck was more quicker now? Is it really quicker?

I didn't said that.Infact I didn't found any difference between the self check of both the bikes or might be I was least botehred to check the self check.

Bajaj has only made the 5th gear taller....i.e. the remaining gear ratios are retained...Correct?

Where?Did I miss anything?
I asked the Bajaj guys and they said all the gears are worked on.

Seems like Praful and I got two very different bikes. I was mighty impressed by the bike except the fact that the P220Fi grunt is missing from the new one and also the lack of sharpness in the initial revs.

I tested the bike on NH-4 for good 3kms and for twisties went to a village nearby.

[pranay]

Hmm so you are saying that the speedo has error becasue you didnt feel it was doing 100? I think more appropriate would have been checking it with another bike.

Absolutely true. But that was taken into account but was not possible as it was small road and going parallel at such speeds is not possible or highly dangerous. Therefore, that was out. It was just a test ride. As afar as I feel, there is a significant amount of speedo error in the bike. We will see after we have a 'bakra' to test out his bike .

We were expecting awesome things from the bike, it's just that we were disappointed, as existing Fi owners, we know how much our bike performs comparatively. Let us see how existing 220 Fi owners feel after a test ride.

I would agree with your point Pranay, but , you cannot really go by mere "feeling" of speed. Just to give you an idea, when I drove the Octavia, I could not believe my eyes that I was doing a 120kmph (comparing to an Accent) on a small stretch of road, and what is the reason? Its just a better car compared to an Accent, it is well built, makes lesser noise, is effortlessly powerful and hence the FEEL of speed is not there. But I cant deny that the Octy is slower than an Accent can I?

When you ride a better bike, I guess its the same feeling isn't it? We'll sorted out , effortless engine makes you actually disillusioned to the fact that it MAY not actually be doing a 100kmph. Like Technocrat mentioned, it would've made a lot more sense if you took your 220 Fi alongside the carb to see if there was any difference. And I dont think a 5-6kmph optimistic speedo(compared to 220Fi) would've made you feel the way you do now.

Agree with you. But since we have had a test ride, and you haven't, I would like to hear this from you once again. Just ride it once,...

I did not go out of 3rd gear, as the main motive of my test was to check out the pull at the higher rpms and the braking. Bike seems much more sorted than the Fi, as Praful mentioned. It is also a lot more 'sturdier' in terms of the suspension. The brakes are good too, feels much more sharper and the bike definitely doesn't dive like mine in heavy braking. All in all, also being a classic 180 owner for three years, I think the pulling characteristic of the new bike is very much like it. It goes nuts after 5-6K rpm. It did pick up pace rapidly. I would also like to have tested out the fourth and fifth (where Bajaj have claimed the difference would lie) but lack of road hindered that. Also, the bike is not as revvy as before, and the exhaust is more muted now. The 'grunt' is definitely missing in the lower rpms and this is not a 'feel' thing, this is definite.

[silver_falcon_46]

I didn't said that.Infact I didn't found any difference between the self check of both the bikes or might be I was least botehred to check the self check.



Seems like Praful and I got two very different bikes. I was mighty impressed by the bike except the fact that the P220Fi grunt is missing from the new one and also the lack of sharpness in the initial revs.

I tested the bike on NH-4 for good 3kms and for twisties went to a village nearby.

Oh yes, it was Aryan who mentioned that the self check was faster.

I'm glad that you were impressed being an Fi owner, I hope it is a better bike overall, being an improved product from the same manufacturer I think anybody would expect it/want it to be a better product than something that already exists.

Absolutely true. But that was taken into account but was not possible as it was small road and going parallel at such speeds is not possible or highly dangerous. Therefore, that was out. It was just a test ride. As afar as I feel, there is a significant amount of speedo error in the bike. We will see after we have a 'bakra' to test out his bike .

We were expecting awesome things from the bike, it's just that we were disappointed, as existing Fi owners, we know how much our bike performs comparatively. Let us see how existing 220 Fi owners feel after a test ride.




Agree with you. But since we have had a test ride, and you haven't, I would like to hear this from you once again. Just ride it once,...

I did not go out of 3rd gear, as the main motive of my test was to check out the pull at the higher rpms and the braking. Bike seems much more sorted than the Fi, as Praful mentioned. It is also a lot more 'sturdier' in terms of the suspension. The brakes are good too, feels much more sharper and the bike definitely doesn't dive like mine in heavy braking. All in all, also being a classic 180 owner for three years, I think the pulling characteristic of the new bike is very much like it. It goes nuts after 5-6K rpm. It did pick up pace rapidly. I would also like to have tested out the fourth and fifth (where Bajaj have claimed the difference would lie) but lack of road hindered that. Also, the bike is not as revvy as before, and the exhaust is more muted now. The 'grunt' is definitely missing in the lower rpms and this is not a 'feel' thing, this is definite.

I'll ride it before I make my definite comments.

[Aparajith]

I think the "definite grunt" and the lack of response in lower rpms u 220Fi guys miss is linked to the presence of a more restrictive cat-con laden exhaust. That I think makes it sound a lot more muted!

[pranay]

I'm glad that you were impressed being an Fi owner, I hope it is a better bike overall, being an improved product from the same manufacturer I think anybody would expect it/want it to be a better product than something that already exists.

That is the thing. After reading all the mags, I went into the showroom that I would be riding a smokin' animal, fastest bike et'al. I am not disagreeing saying it isn't but ... I won't say more.

Seems like Praful and I got two very different bikes. I was mighty impressed by the bike except the fact that the P220Fi grunt is missing from the new one and also the lack of sharpness in the initial revs.
I tested the bike on NH-4 for good 3kms and for twisties went to a village nearby.

We didn't get to test it in the twisties or a highway. But it was more like a turn burn inside city in narrow roads. I would definitely look forward to riding one in the highway and the twisties. Your above mentioned two points is what I didn't like the most in the new one, and maybe the biggest factor for disappointment. The Fi is so smooth with the throttle.

I think the "definite grunt" and the lack of response in lower rpms u 220Fi guys miss is linked to the presence of a more restrictive cat-con laden exhaust. That I think makes it sound a lot more muted!

It is more muted, but we were expecting that anyways, as we had known about it feeling smoother in the higher rpms. But when I say grunt, I meant pull/acceleration observed when the bike is around 3/4K in any gear. The lack of it is very evident in the new bike.

[Devilpulsarian]

I received a call from Pune Pro biking showroom..

They said, p220 is launched and as already posted its 78,105 on road

and the bike is available for test drive

their are around 42 already booked bikes and it would take approx 15 days for delivery after booking....!

[Aparajith]

That is the thing. After reading all the mags, I went into the showroom that I would be riding a smokin' animal, fastest bike et'al. I am not disagreeing saying it isn't but ... I won't say more.

And what were u expecting? Neck-breaking acceleration like an R1/R6? Its a 220cc single cylinder bike with 1 PS increase....

[Nio]

I just read The 09 220 Dtsi features aircooler with bigger vents rather than oil cooler rom earlier version.. Is that true?

[pranay]

And what were u expecting? Neck-breaking acceleration like an R1/R6? Its a 220cc single cylinder bike with 1 PS increase....

Not really, but you've seen the hype right? Seeing it dynoed and everything and it registering a top speed of 135 doesn't look promising, especially when they claimed 138.5 top speed in real world conditions.

I just read The 09 220 Dtsi features aircooler with bigger vents rather than oil cooler rom earlier version.. Is that true?

Not really. This one has a bigger oil cooler. The existing ones have three rows if you see. This one has 4. Therefore the 33% increase.

[Praful]

Who cares as long as it is more stable at higher speeds and braking.I infact like the fact that the front suspension dive is LOT lesser.

Where?Did I miss anything?
I asked the Bajaj guys and they said all the gears are worked on.

Seems like Praful and I got two very different bikes. I was mighty impressed by the bike except the fact that the P220Fi grunt is missing from the new one and also the lack of sharpness in the initial revs.

I tested the bike on NH-4 for good 3kms and for twisties went to a village nearby.

Oh yes that is definitely there, its definitely going to offer more stability and braking feel at higher speed. Infact I am thinking how I can transport the mods of the new 220 to mine, without changing the forks that is...

I think we should wait till the specs are out and compare the gear ratios.

I think we got similar bikes only, I felt what all you felt...about lesser grunt low down and more grunt up in the range. Only I felt the rush of power not to the extent as you described! The rush beyond 7K rpm is a little more than what one feels in the Fi post 6K. But the lack grunt down under kindda compensates for the whole experience.

You're one lucky bugger to get a TD on open roads.

And what were u expecting? Neck-breaking acceleration like an R1/R6? Its a 220cc single cylinder bike with 1 PS increase....

ROFLMAO...I'm sure pranay wasnt expecting neck braking acceleration....

[road_ripper]

That is the thing. After reading all the mags, I went into the showroom that I would be riding a smokin' animal, fastest bike et'al. I am not disagreeing saying it isn't but ... I won't say more.

It is more muted, but we were expecting that anyways, as we had known about it feeling smoother in the higher rpms. But when I say grunt, I meant pull/acceleration observed when the bike is around 3/4K in any gear. The lack of it is very evident in the new bike.

That is what is expected and what happens with a peaky engine setup, I had experienced the same with an R15 when i rode it inside the city I was like, oh come on, my p180 pulls better than this anyday but after hitting a straight tarmac and once its past 7k rpm it was like...
So in city riding is not a thing to judge a peaky bike, from the paper figures its very evident that all the power is above 6-6.5k rpm so we'll wait until a bakra completes run-in and then rip that bike to hell
I'm definitely sure that this will perform better than P220 fi

[pranay]

That is what is expected and what happens with a peaky engine setup, I had experienced the same with an R15 when i rode it inside the city I was like, oh come on, my p180 pulls better than this anyday but after hitting a straight tarmac and once its past 7k rpm it was like...
So in city riding is not a thing to judge a peaky bike, from the paper figures its very evident that all the power is above 6-6.5k rpm so we'll wait until a bakra completes run-in and then rip that bike to hell
I'm definitely sure that this will perform better than P220 fi

I never said the bike is better or worse than the existing one. I said the low end grunt is missing, so much to the fact that I was disappointed. Also, I 'feel' there is greater speedo error. But thats just my speculative statements. Let it come out.

Our bakra is almost about to get his bike. And I'm sure this bakra will also complete run-in within 15-20 days at most. Then this bakra ra gaadi will be put to test.

[rockinggokul]

Here you go

Originally Posted by rockinggokul
plz show some pics of the console and handle bar-guess u said black ones wud like to see them


^^^
here are some pic's..

thank you!!

@vikas:the black handle looks unique ala rtr180
the steel on the handle for the brake lever someewhat spoils the all black look

@vikas&umesh:lucky u
the black tacho looks toooooooooooooooooooo good

@all:is there any way by which i can have that black tacho background in my pulsar 180ug4.

plz don't tell me,buy the entire console

the gap between the split handle looks too empty

can u guys suggest something to spice it up