Bajaj Pulsar NS200

The design hasn’t changed at all in the last nine years. Still, the NS manages to stand out from the crowd.

The red paint scheme and graphics lend freshness to the bike. The mix of colours, especially the slather of white on the frame and wheels, make the bike pop in our opinion. 

You have four new colours to choose from: grey, red, blue, and white

Thankfully, the NS hasn’t lost out on its brashness. It’s still quick, lively, and exciting!

The 1PS advantage over the outgoing model is noticeable in our acceleration runs; it’s almost a second quicker than the BS4 bike we had tested earlier.  

That said, the bike lacks bottom-end and mid-range punch, which means you really need to work the gearbox to keep the motor in its sweet spot.

There’s a good surge of torque kicking in post 7000rpm, after which the bike accelerates pretty hard. 

The inclusion of fuel-injection has improved fuel efficiency considerably. However, there isn’t much of a change on the refinement front.

The NS200 gained 2kg during its BS6 transition, but that hasn't made much of a difference in the way the bike handles. 

The wide handlebars make the bike feel light on its feet, be it while carving corners or weaving through traffic. 

In terms of suspension, the front soaks in most of the bumps, but the firm rear shock fails to flatten nastier bumps and potholes.

Brakes have a good initial bite, but lack feel and progression through the lever. As a result, the front-end feels a bit jittery and fails to inspire confidence while braking hard. 

The NS200 with its single-channel ABS setup tends to lock up the rear quite easily during hard braking. It in turn leads to the rear stepping out making it a bit unnerving for new or novice riders.

The Pulsar NS200 almost feels archaic compared to its rivals. 

There is no LED light, no dual-channel ABS, and not even a full digital-console -- features that are commonly found on motorcycles in this segment. 

In comparison, the 2021 RTR 200 offers adjustable brake and clutch levers, adjustable suspension, and ride modes. Check out our full review here.