Announcement

**The Monk** · 07-29-2015, 08:11 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Query Approved

**sanjaysangar1990** · 07-29-2015, 08:47 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

First of all take the test ride of all the bikes you have mentioned.

1. CBR250 is a good highway machine, in city you will need frequent gear changes, but not a deal breaker.

2. RS200, with what is going on with the alloy wheel, It can be one off case and rest of the batch may be OK.

3. RC200, very aggressive seating position your wrist will cry for sure. If you like the sporty riding condition, go for a new one as it will be very hard to find a RC 200 in immaculate condition and that too if the owner wants to sell the bike maintained immaculately.

4. Pulsar 220: it is still a better bike, but now new generation pulsars are introduced chances are that the bike will be outdated.

If pure commuting is the job, take a look at the gixxer/gixxer sf and yamaha fz version 2. These bikes are great when it comes to city commuting and can be decent when it comes to highway.

Cheers
Sanjay

Sent from my LT28h using xBhp Connect mobile app

**HyperRetard** · 07-29-2015, 09:18 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Originally posted by manas.neo View Post

Hi Guys,

The bangalore traffic has now made me sick of driving my Rapid TDi everyday to work. At this point I regret selling off my trusty Pulsar 220. And have decided to get back on two wheels. I need your help in deciding for what to buy. Before you suggest I'd jot down my requirements.

Budget : 1 - 1.5 Lakhs
Height : 6 feet 2 inches
Weight : 88 kgs
Usage : Mostly driving to work that is 8 kms from hy home. And occasional highway tours (will be very rare though)

I have now shortlisted the below options
- A used Honda CBR250R : Which model should I look for. And what price bracket should I find this for?

- A used KTM RC 200 : I find this bike the best looking of the lot. Is a much more aggresive stance. Would you recommend this for my height and build? And again what price bracket should I set for this?

- A new Bajaj Pulsar RS200 : This fits my requirements perfectly. It's a more relaxed seated bike and stands somewhere between a tourer and a sporty bike (definitely not a Race Sport bike as bajaj calls it). I do not like the red and yellow colors which are being sold right now but can wait till the all black version comes out. I know the design is a bit over done and there are some reports about broken alloys and handlebars are around, but I can wait till a revision happens (if it happens soon).

- And lastly, will it make sense to get a Pulsar 220 again?

I'd really appreciate your comments and suggestions which can help me decide on what to buy.

Thanks!

While you owned the 220, were you able to exploit even 50% of the bike's power?

**Fmeeran** · 07-29-2015, 10:13 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

While the CBR250R is a brilliant machine and I absolutely love mine to bits, she is not for the bangalore city traffic.
I mean, you can ride a CBR in the city traffic but it will not be as comfortable as a pulsar in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
If on the otherhand, you want a milemuncher to tour on, she is lovely.

**manas.neo** · 07-30-2015, 10:30 AM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Originally posted by sanjaysangar1990 View Post

First of all take the test ride of all the bikes you have mentioned.

1. CBR250 is a good highway machine, in city you will need frequent gear changes, but not a deal breaker.

2. RS200, with what is going on with the alloy wheel, It can be one off case and rest of the batch may be OK.

3. RC200, very aggressive seating position your wrist will cry for sure. If you like the sporty riding condition, go for a new one as it will be very hard to find a RC 200 in immaculate condition and that too if the owner wants to sell the bike maintained immaculately.

4. Pulsar 220: it is still a better bike, but now new generation pulsars are introduced chances are that the bike will be outdated.

If pure commuting is the job, take a look at the gixxer/gixxer sf and yamaha fz version 2. These bikes are great when it comes to city commuting and can be decent when it comes to highway.

Cheers
Sanjay

Sent from my LT28h using xBhp Connect mobile app

Hi Sanjay,

Thanks for your response. I agree that P220 has come to EoL now. I'd wait and see how RS200 shapes up. CBR250R is the obvious choice at the moment. But in the meantime I went to try the RC200. Though it's definitely a race track bike I didn't find the stance so unusual. May be because I am tall and have relatively longer arms. I could almost sit comfortably with a straight spine. I believe most problems happen when people don't keep their back straight (don't mean upright, but rather just straight).

Originally posted by HyperRetard View Post

While you owned the 220, were you able to exploit even 50% of the bike's power?

I am not sure how you can quantify that. But yes I did indeed use the 220 for its full potential. Apart from the daily sprints to work there were numerous highway rides while cruising at 100+. There were trips up the hills down south. It went on until I had an unfortunate accident causing some fractured ribs and then I had to stop using the bike and eventually give it up.

Originally posted by Fmeeran View Post

While the CBR250R is a brilliant machine and I absolutely love mine to bits, she is not for the bangalore city traffic.
I mean, you can ride a CBR in the city traffic but it will not be as comfortable as a pulsar in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
If on the otherhand, you want a milemuncher to tour on, she is lovely.

Hi Fmeeran, I intend to use the bike in the outer ring road part of bangalore. The ride will mostly be of open stretches and very occasional bumper-to-bumper traffic (which comes up after Ecospace). But i'll keep your suggestion in mind while taking a decision. Thanks

**HyperRetard** · 07-30-2015, 11:21 AM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Originally posted by manas.neo View Post

Hi Sanjay,

Thanks for your response. I agree that P220 has come to EoL now. I'd wait and see how RS200 shapes up. CBR250R is the obvious choice at the moment. But in the meantime I went to try the RC200. Though it's definitely a race track bike I didn't find the stance so unusual. May be because I am tall and have relatively longer arms. I could almost sit comfortably with a straight spine. I believe most problems happen when people don't keep their back straight (don't mean upright, but rather just straight).

I am not sure how you can quantify that. But yes I did indeed use the 220 for its full potential. Apart from the daily sprints to work there were numerous highway rides while cruising at 100+. There were trips up the hills down south. It went on until I had an unfortunate accident causing some fractured ribs and then I had to stop using the bike and eventually give it up.

Hi Fmeeran, I intend to use the bike in the outer ring road part of bangalore. The ride will mostly be of open stretches and very occasional bumper-to-bumper traffic (which comes up after Ecospace). But i'll keep your suggestion in mind while taking a decision. Thanks

Saw your post in team-bhp too.

Lets get a few things clear now, shall we.
a) You are now, as we call them, a 'cager'
b) long trips in the past or not, you aren't going to do any now
c) the sole purpose of this bike is that you find using your 4 and a half metre iron box(yep, thats what we call cages here. Grow a thick skin) too frustrating in the traffic
d) the only use of this bike is going to be from office to home and vice versa
e) you dont need a cbr, RC200, yoda yoda yoda. Statistically speaking, you'd happily live with a hero ignitor/yamaha gladiator/stunner whatever, without even realizing you're short on power
f) still if you want to, go get a pulsar 180/220
g) buy any bike you are comfortable with. I know of people who commute on a Fireblade and on a Busa. You can definitely do it on any of them.

**manas.neo** · 07-30-2015, 12:28 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Originally posted by HyperRetard View Post

Saw your post in team-bhp too.

Lets get a few things clear now, shall we.
a) You are now, as we call them, a 'cager'
b) long trips in the past or not, you aren't going to do any now
c) the sole purpose of this bike is that you find using your 4 and a half metre iron box(yep, thats what we call cages here. Grow a thick skin) too frustrating in the traffic
d) the only use of this bike is going to be from office to home and vice versa
e) you dont need a cbr, RC200, yoda yoda yoda. Statistically speaking, you'd happily live with a hero ignitor/yamaha gladiator/stunner whatever, without even realizing you're short on power
f) still if you want to, go get a pulsar 180/220
g) buy any bike you are comfortable with. I know of people who commute on a Fireblade and on a Busa. You can definitely do it on any of them.

Thanks HyperRetard

**yellowspunk** · 07-30-2015, 01:23 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

My choice them of all would be the P220, the latest generation bike is much smoother and torquey making it very nice to ride in city. The other bike's power and gearing are not suited for city.

Also consider that Benelli TNT25, 250cc, is on the way.

**manas.neo** · 07-31-2015, 11:15 AM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Originally posted by yellowspunk View Post

My choice them of all would be the P220, the latest generation bike is much smoother and torquey making it very nice to ride in city. The other bike's power and gearing are not suited for city.

Also consider that Benelli TNT25, 250cc, is on the way.

But do you think it'd make sense to buy a P220 at this point of time? Considering bajaj might stop selling them as they have introduced the AS200 which is somewhat a successor of the 220/220F. But no doubt it is an amazing bike.

**HyperRetard** · 07-31-2015, 11:56 AM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Originally posted by yellowspunk View Post

My choice them of all would be the P220, the latest generation bike is much smoother and torquey making it very nice to ride in city. The other bike's power and gearing are not suited for city.

Also consider that Benelli TNT25, 250cc, is on the way.

Really?

When? Where?

Edit: NVM. Found it.

**yellowspunk** · 07-31-2015, 01:27 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

For your requirement it fits. On the ORR you will change gear way too many times on any other bike.

There is no news of stopping the older gen pulsars. Even so I wouldn't worry about support, I still get my Kawasaki 4S champ serviced at bajaj. And knowing bajaj all their parts are interchangeable.

Of course if you want a change or bored, I would recommend the cbr. The rs200 makes power above 7k rpm and not so city friendly. Cbr at least makes power at 4k rpm but obviously maintenance will be costlier than pulsars.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

**joe_marvy** · 07-31-2015, 02:08 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

I was in the same dilemma 1 year before, but for me Pulsars were not on the list. CBR 205R was the closest target until I finally decided on RC 200. I was waiting for the updated CBR 300/250R or Yamaha R2/3 or KTM's RC launch. Finally KTM made their first move and I finalized my choice. In this 7 months of ownership I have not faced any issues and I use the bike majorly to commute between office and home (30 Kms daily) with 2-3 long rides so far.

You could have a test ride on Duke 200 to finalize your choices.

**manas.neo** · 07-31-2015, 03:19 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Originally posted by joe_marvy View Post

I was in the same dilemma 1 year before, but for me Pulsars were not on the list. CBR 205R was the closest target until I finally decided on RC 200. I was waiting for the updated CBR 300/250R or Yamaha R2/3 or KTM's RC launch. Finally KTM made their first move and I finalized my choice. In this 7 months of ownership I have not faced any issues and I use the bike majorly to commute between office and home (30 Kms daily) with 2-3 long rides so far.

You could have a test ride on Duke 200 to finalize your choices.

Hi Joe,

I already have tried the duke 200. How good is riding the RC200 everyday within the city? Is it too heavy on the fuel consumption as people say?

**joe_marvy** · 07-31-2015, 04:06 PM

Re: Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Originally posted by manas.neo View Post

Hi Joe,

I already have tried the duke 200. How good is riding the RC200 everyday within the city? Is it too heavy on the fuel consumption as people say?

Riding everyday inside tight city traffic is bit cumbersome compared to duke or other naked bikes, you will not be able to fill in small gaps like other bikers do, you cannot crawl between small gaps on a stagnated traffic and bit longer U-turns if you don't have enough space/speed to lean, but I got used to it and I don't like doing those in the first place. Personally I don't bother about the consumption figures but as per the meter reading I am getting around 35-40 KMPL.

Initially you may feel stressed, but once you understand how the bike reacts for your inputs you will be better than never!

Announcement

Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Honda CBR250R or KTM RC200 or Pulsar RS200

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment