Duke with a pillion and also a kid is a strict NO!

The rear seat is just too uncomfortably small for this type of riding.

for other questions, there are several similar thread



and

I would suggest you go for the Pulsar 200NS, please check the respected threads so that you would get an idea why the Pulsar and it would also avoid brand war created by keyboard warriors.

The 200NS is comfortable for rider as well as pillion in comparison to Duke, that doesnt mean Duke is bad but according to your requirements the Duke wont match your needs.

Still a confusion ?? So what you followed in ownership thread?? And have you ridden both the bikes??
Actually both bikes won't be good for a Man+Wife ok+3yr old Child Strickly no.
IF you recollect Duke and NS200 both has straight riding posture but both are heighted bikes so your wife won't be compfortable with a child.
Secondly, On any heighted bike, pillion tends to slip front, again due to child it's a bad idea.

When you are looking for a Bike for you+wife+3yr old child then i guess some less heighted and average speed bike will be good!! Unicorn, GS150r, RE best for family comfort apart from CL, any 100 oe 110cc bike.

...lol... good to see a person who wants to buy a bike from our suggestion instead of his own!!! Bro we can guide you with comfort ad speed bikes, but when both bikes are not for child carrying then i don't think i can guide in this...

Go by some comfrotable seating bikes, where your wife don't have to lean on you from behind while ride, because it will affect the child.

ZMA is also a ice choice but little heighted, i Have seen family riding it.


And i don't think that people should fight on NS200 as a pulsar brand with Duke. BTW both bikes are made by BAJAJ only. So i guess if people are trusting Duke for relaibility then NS200 too is the same!!

Go with RE electra or TBTS it will suit the family purpose apart from speed and Zig Zac!! and average of 40-42kmpl on highways!!

Safely indulge in a ns.take your wife and son to check the space available.

Why so much of sarcasm?
A fellow Bikers has a confusion and he is very open about it. So whats wrong? some of your suggestions were good. But try to keep them polite.

And as said by you, if bike is required and Wife + kid will be regular pillion, then go for a bike which has a comfortable rear seat. in 150Cc category : Look for Unicorn or GS150. else Karizma is still great choice.
And don't forget the new launched Vespa..

@TS, what you should be buying is a car, whether a second hand one or a new one depending on your budget. I guess you already know that Bike is not for 3 people, even if the 3rd person is a kid. That said, between 200NS & Duke, with a pillion, perhaps 200NS is a better bet. Why don't you go and take a test ride and ask your wife to be pillion, that way you will get an idea of how comfortable each bike is for pillion.

What you fail to mention is how much of that pillion seat will you really need?

Will ur wife accompany you everyday? With a kid? For long distances?
Or juz once a while to get bread and eggs?

Answer these and maybe we could help.

Btw, for a family man with a saree clad wife, the NS is undoubtedly THE bike vis-a-vis Duke.

Someone said the riding position is the same on both. No its NOT.
Duke is 90degrees straight up. I have back issues and I was highly uncomfortable.
I took a back to back TD with NS, and NS was hands down more comfortable (for me).
Correction is: its slightly leaned forward making it easier to put the body weight on the inner thighs aswell as the lower back, something that took me effort to build as a habit on my R15.

The acceleration is linear. To be frank, it sux in the low end. And thats what you'd (I'd) want with a wife/mom/sister/femalefriend seated in the sideways style.

I maybe highly prosecuted here but I found NS to a better handler. The rider seat was very well cushioned, even if the pillion seat was loosely leathered. The pegs were better stationed and more importantly the gear lever (that black rubber section) was much longer/better than that on the Duke and never gave me any mis-shifts.

The Duke no doubt is the Lord of the streets but unfortunately not for me.

As far as your comfort is concerned then its YOU who's gotta take a test ride. But as far as your wife+kid as pillion go I'd only echo what others have to say; neither of it suits the need.

Btw, ask yourself why do you need such a powerful bike? Its raw power at a small twist of the wrist.

Incase you cant figure out a reasonable answer then kindly look up the Discover ST125 xbhp review.

well I don't know how comfortable the NS riding and pillion comfort is but being a duke owner I would not suggest this bike if you are looking forward for regular rides with a Pillion, Also the pillion seat is raised upwards gets a pain in the wrong place after a while. . . And certainly not with ANY BIKE with three people its so Unsafe,real risky affair, Please AVOID IT

@ A Biker at Heart:I agree with the Back pain issue you faced with the duke,I too faced similar positioning issues for the first 200 Odd Kilometers of my rides! Which is a lot,Had also faced wrist and neck pain MIND YOU I AM A 6 FOOTER!! so may be subject from person to person.But now I am totally used to it and handling ride quality feels effortless! , its fun to ride solo but when it comes to Pillion may the you will have to drastically change your riding style.
Currently on Running in period but can say dukes power and acceleration is unmatched in its Category, i mean in Cubic Centimeters.
But you are right I too agree that the thread stater needs to find out the power requirement, or perhaps broaden his short listed bikes to More pillion friendly bikes like Unicorn, Hero ZMA, Which suerly offers better comfort than the Duke and also NS!!

Hello friends. Did not checkout the forum for sometime and just saw my query.

I went yesterday to take a look at the Pulsar 200NS. Took my wife along and showed her the bike. I saw the bike for the first time and also took a test ride.

a. bike looks fantastic and really big especially the front area.
b. the acceleration is linear not very jerky.
c. After sitting the pillion area was left with space for my wife and child. She never wears a saree and always sits legs on each side hence my son will be able to sit in between.

This bike will be mostly used for office commuting purpose (80% of the time). rest 20% will be with family. i don't think it will be a problem. I just have to get used to the new bike - riding position, handle bars, weight, acceleration, balancing etc. etc.

My preference for the pulsar 200NS is simply personal. I have been riding a 150 CC for almost 10 years now and wanted a more powerful bike. Though i wont be using it to its full limits but still having a powerfull bike does not necessarily mean that you have to ride it hard. i could have gone for the ZMA (old) but i feels that its an outdated bike now. And in Delhi the ZMR onroad price is almost 1.10 lac and less than its price i can get a more powerful, better looking bike. Also HH spares are too expensive for me to handle now, i have suffered at times with my CBZ star. I have bajaj spares are not so expensive, but even if they are then too i can live with it.

Now just waiting to arrange the finances and bring the pulsar home.

Also looking for the xena disc alarm lock. Can anyone suggest a decent model from the XX series and which online shopping portal will be cheapest.

as far as i am aware this lock is not available in India. I want to get this one because my bike will be parked outside at all times whenever i am home.

secondly will the KTM dukes weather cover fit this bike or should i go for a bullet one?

Its better for you to go for the 150cc comfortable bikes bro

I own a pULSAR 200 ns,
In my opinion both the bike wont suit your purpose, In my experience ladies cant sit one side in 200NS, it suits two side sitting style, if two side sitting style is possible 200 Ns is a good choice otherwise i suggest u to go for P220.

duke with pillion that too a family member no no no ... :P


forget about it, then regretting after, its just bike for hardcore

It will be two-side sitting style only.

NS200 is a nice choice but still Are you sure that you and your family will enjoy the comfortable ride on NS200 ??
Still think again. NS200 is very much a semi sports riding position...
Child won't be comfortable on rides between you and youe wife on any long tour or short tour. NS200 type bikes are good for two person only!! As you are a family man and tend to ride with family so in future 5 yrs your child grow and you two also..think twice before nS200 booking. And there are many options in market. Getting a powerful bike and later regret on family aspect will make you decide again. So think now! P220 or Karizma are indeed old but right for family use and power with speed. Why you say it's outdated when it can serve you well. Go with the req rather than heart here!! As you said 80% self and 20% family, don't you think this 20% will affect you more than 80% ?? Family is not happy then you won't be either!!
So bro...it's your choice atlast!!