Pulsar 200 NS Owners Review and Experiences

[Xennai_Warrior]

Got my bumblebee

Finally got my yellow NS yesterday 170Kms done on ODO already And atleast a 1000 stares

Btw thats me in the red tshirt, n the other fellow is the dealer.. Looks like I'm handing over the key to him, but its the other way round

[sagar_phoenix]

Mail the customer care and let them know.

Make some senior sales Rep of the concern to brain wash your dad

It will be better if some person who is already known to customer care does it...I hope chintan helps... and i am going to call that showroom owner tomorrow and give a nice lecture..

[movies99]

I did it with my 220, and now 200NS. But this doesn't mean that one should start ripping the bike right out of showroom. Basically what I follow is simple.

(1) Ride between 3K - 5K RPM
(2) Post 10Kms on ODO, give short bursts of acceleration till 8k RPM (once every 30kms or so) (and engine should hot enough, say at least 10 kms of riding before you give a burst)
(3) When giving short bursts, try to do it in all the gears.
(4) Change engine oil by 80-90kms on ODO.
(5) Post 150Kms on ODO start riding between 4K-5K RPM normally.

- Don't ride for long distance, and try to vary the speeds (medium traffic is best)

- While giving bursts don't sustain for a long time, say 10seconds is enough.

This is what i follow..

once every 30kms or so ? So every 30 km short bursts should be given ?
Short bursts of acceleration in all gears post 10km? And these short burst should last how many minutes and interval between these short bursts in gears ?

Awaiting reply..thanks

[Shibadip]

Finally got my yellow NS yesterday 170Kms done on ODO already And atleast a 1000 stares

Btw thats me in the red tshirt, n the other fellow is the dealer.. Looks like I'm handing over the key to him, but its the other way round

So at last the warrior gets his weapon.
Congrats.

@chintan and other old members, why you all are so silent?
Busy riding I guess....

My wait for transformation from a Laptop biker to On-Road biker still continues...

[neoakshay]

First Impressions of the 200NS

Hi fellow bikers,

Lots of people have been waiting for my review of the 200NS and here it is. Do keep in mind that I previously owned an R15 on which I've clocked 40,000km. I used to be a Pulsar-hater, and was surprised to find myself booking the NS. It ticked all the right boxes and now that I've got the bike I'm more than fully satisfied. I've realised that the Pulsars have character and it almost feels like the bike talks to you! Fell completely in love with my baby, the NightFury, in just 2 days.

The Delivery:

Nothing much to speak about here. Got my bike on 26th July from Khivraj Bajaj, Kasturba Road. Since I'd already made full payment, I just had to sign a few forms and I was good to go. The bike had 3km on odo. A mechanic explained a few features of the bike to me and gave me a receipt that could be presented at the petrol pump next door for 1 litre of petrol. Filled the 1 litre as I wasnt sure how much gas was in the tank and then tanked-up with Shell Super.

Engine & Mechanicals:

The engine on the NS has a strange, clattery sound at idle. Like there are loads of loose parts within. Most of the sound seems to be from the engine head. Once revved, it sounds unique! I like my bikes smooth and silent and the NS delivers on both counts. There were a few vibes experienced from the handlebars and footpegs at first, but it's really smoothened out post ~150km on odo. Morning starts aren't too much of a problem, the bike starts at first crank but strangely shuts off after about 8-10 secs of idling. The manual suggests giving the bike a little throttle or using the choke for the first start of the day and it does work. The bike idles at 1400 - 1500rpm. Once out on the road, the engine feels smooth and power delivery is linear. Gearshifts are a surprise from Bajaj, being pretty clicky and accurate, although it's not as precise as a Yamaha gearbox. The clutch is well weighted, without being tiring in heavy traffic. Running-in this bike is no joke as it pulls effortlessly and you constantly have to keep an eye on the rpms as the super sensitive throttle can have you above 50kmph in no time, and with just a few millimeters of throttle open. I've never felt the radiator run, even in bumper-to-bumper traffic, this is probably because Bangalore has been quite cool recently and most of my riding has been in the evening or night.

Bajaj's run-in instructions are crap and won't run-in your engine well. A brand new engine needs moderate throttle inputs so as to provide enough pressure for the piston rings to seat against the cylinder walls. I've been keeping it under 5k rpm with constant varying of throttle and engine braking whenever possible. By engine braking, I mean accelerating slowly in a gear and then letting go of the throttle till the bike slows a fair bit and then accelerating again (I usually do this in 4th, 5th and 6th gears). Post 100km on odo I've been taking it to 6k rpm ocassionally and gradually.

Although the engine is smooth, different parts of the bike have started developing vibes - the brake pedal, the grab rails, visor etc. But it is very much tolerable and pretty much disappear once past 4k rpm. Will have to get these checked and tightened during 1st service.

Braking:

Brakes took about 50km to offer feel and braking power. The front disk provides decent feel and pretty good retardation. The rear disk doesn't have much feel and I accidentally locked up the rear wheel at slow speeds on two occassions. Overall the braking is reassuring and I'm waiting to see how it fairs at speeds close to and above 100kmph.

Ergonomics, Handling, Suspension & Tyres:

Handling is extremely neutral and with the extremely comfortable riding position makes the NS a breeze to ride, both for everyday commuting as well as long stints in the saddle. Although I've ridden my R15 extensively, the handling on the NS felt much more stable and confidence inspiring, especially in bumpy corners. I use every corner, minor and major, to practice my cornering lines and skills, and the NS leaves a big biggg smile on my face. The tyres are pretty good although being TVS, and are more than adequate for a regular rides. I haven't had the opportunity to try any aggressive cornering, but for the stuff I've done so far, the tyres have held up beautifully. Suspension is quite stiff, which is expected as I found my bike having been set at the second stiffest setting. Feel and cornering precision is sharp, but will adjust the monoshock to a softer setting in interest of better ride comfort.

The rider's saddle is extremely comfortable. Although the pillion seat is comfy as well, the seat itself is very hard and coupled with the stiff suspension setting, the few pillion riders I've had have complained of minor butt pain. I'm happy nevertheless as I'm always going the be in the rider's seat and I don't like riding with a pillion anyway. The pillion seat is very easy to remove and put back, definitely a boon for someone who reaches for his tools and bike papers regularly.

Switchgear & Lighting:

Switchgear is functional, and I don't have any issues here. Even the indicator switch, which took a while to get used to, is now working smooth and easy. The blue-backlight on the switches looks good only in complete darkness, otherwise they look cheap. Luckily they complement the deep blue shade of my baby. Headlight is pretty adequate, although for serious touring I'd recommend an upgrade to better bulbs or a HID + Projector setup. Indicators and brake lights are bright and very visible. I'm planning on getting the KTM Duke's LED indicators for better looks and am researching headlight upgrades.

Fuel Economy:

I tanked up with Shell Super and have been riding mostly in the city. After filling in the complimentary 1 litre from Bajaj, the bike swallowed 10.53 litres of petrol. I had to switch to reserve at 380km on odo, so the bike seems quite efficient with an average of approximately 37kmpl. Will have to tank-up again to calculate precise mileage. 35kmpl is more than acceptable from this bike, and anything more will be a happy bonus.

Verdict:

The NS has truly amazed me and has won my love, admiration and trust in just 2 days. The bike's looks, feel and character has me completely head-over-heels in love with her and I don't miss my R15 one bit! I use the bike for my daily commute to office and on weekends to explore distant tarmac. I will post here about any issues, experiences or foibles I encounter with this truly magnificent motorcycle.

Fellow riders, do let me know if I've missed out on something in my review. Will be more than happy to answer questions. Check out the few pics I've taken with my buddy's KTM Duke, do excuse the phone camera quality. Will be doing a proper photoshoot soon!

Congrats to all NS owners and best wishes to prospective buyers! This baby will keep you guys happy and content for years to come. I truly feel that this baby can be described to have these characteristics - Awesome-NS, Mad-NS and Smooth-NS! Cheers, ride hard and ride safe!

[HVP]

Awesome review Akshay

[Shibadip]

@neoakshay,
Nicely presented review.
Ur Blue one looks superb, and quite glittering. Must have been polished hard!!
Just IMO- Looks lot better than Duke
Enjoy the Awesome-NS, Mad-NS and Smooth-NS!

[lionnitish]

Hi fellow bikers,

Lots of people have been waiting for my review of the 200NS and here it is.

That was really detailed and a great piece of write up there.. Would look forward to read another review covering the performance aspects once you finish the run-in..

[neoakshay]

Awesome review Akshay

Thanks man! Now get your butt back to the R15 ownership thread! Don't need you trolls here! Will meet up with you soon so you can try my NS.

@neoakshay,
Nicely presented review.
Ur Blue one looks superb, and quite glittering. Must have been polished hard!!
Just IMO- Looks lot better than Duke
Enjoy the Awesome-NS, Mad-NS and Smooth-NS!

Thanks man! Was a silent spectator on this thread, only coz I hadn't got my bike. Now that I have her, I will be posting a lot more. I opted out of Bajaj's 'teflon coat' and got the bike polished with Blue Diamond polish, this is some Carnauba Wax based polish from UK. After this impromptu photoshoot, an esteemed xbhp member and my good buddy n_Aditya pampered her with TurtleWax! Once I take pics with a good camera, you'll see the actual glitter and gleam..

Btw, the Duke owner also agreed that the NS looks great!

That was really detailed and a great piece of write up there.. Would look forward to read another review covering the performance aspects once you finish the run-in..

Thank you! Am really looking forward to experiencing the true potential of this baby once this painful run-in is done with. Can feel the power pulsing beneath you even at 5000rpm!

[nand15]

@neoakhay : superb review mate ... let it rip a bit too rather than always under 5K RPM .

I'm just gonna sit here and keep trolling ya , oh and for the record , you didn't have a R15 , you had a mutant R16 ...

[rahuldevnath]

once every 30kms or so ? So every 30 km short bursts should be given ?
Short bursts of acceleration in all gears post 10km? And these short burst should last how many minutes and interval between these short bursts in gears ?

Awaiting reply..thanks

Yes, start giving short burst of accelration right when you have completed your first 10kms on the bike, and then every 25-30kms. Basically once your engine is warmed up, move on to 2nd gear, rev till 4K RPM, up shift to 3rd, push it to 6-7K RPM and subsequently, move till 6th gear, with REVs touching almost 10K RPM, don't over rev though.

From first engaging 2nd gear till 6th should happen within 10-15 seconds max.

Also forget to add one more thing- Don't hit the brakes after accelerating, let the engine braking slow you down.

[Shibadip]

From first engaging 2nd gear till 6th should happen within 10-15 seconds max.

Is the above line only for the Short Brust for every 20-30kms that u are telling??

[annydhanya]

Front Disk Brake

There is a humming sound in my bike... It is very audible when I hold the clutch... it should be the disk brake pads rubbing across the disk... Anyone with this issue?

[extremerocker00]

What kind of stoppie is that? hehee

Didnt look like one to me! If the video wasnt titled 'stoppy', we'd not know what is being suggested.

[movies99]

Yes, start giving short burst of accelration right when you have completed your first 10kms on the bike, and then every 25-30kms. Basically once your engine is warmed up, move on to 2nd gear, rev till 4K RPM, up shift to 3rd, push it to 6-7K RPM and subsequently, move till 6th gear, with REVs touching almost 10K RPM, don't over rev though.

From first engaging 2nd gear till 6th should happen within 10-15 seconds max.

Also forget to add one more thing- Don't hit the brakes after accelerating, let the engine braking slow you down.

From first engaging 2nd gear till 6th should happen within 10-15 seconds max 10-15 seconds from 2nd gear to 6th ??

let the engine braking slow you down

can you please tell me how to engine break.. should I shift down gear suddenly.. then thak gear sound and pressure suddenly.. or if I leave throttle then after slowing down.. the bike will be about to switch off by khat khat push..

and one more question..10k rpm on 6th would touch 100 I guess ?