Bajaj Pulsar NS160

The NS160 is muscular, aggressive and holds the spirit of true street bike. Up front, there is a sharp and audacious headlamp cluster and a peculiar visor. Moving on, there is a sculpted fuel tank with Pulsar insignia on it that grants the bike a very upmarket feel. The tank shrouds have ‘160’ imprinted on it, which is quite appealing. 

The dual-tone colour scheme suits the muscular hard looks of the Pulsar NS160. The instrument cluster is similar to what you’ve seen on the Pulsar NS200. It is partly digital and partly analogue. The speed is represented in a digital format while there this is a big analogue tachometer in the centre of the cluster. The bike also gets a gear shift light allowing the rider to switch gears at the right time. The cuts, edges and finish levels are nicely done. The overall stance of the bike is bold and signifies pace, thrill and strength. The seating position is just right for the rider to enjoy city commutes. However, touring on this bike can be a little tiring. 

Out of the three colour options, Fossil Grey looks most appealing. The subtle colour tone makes the bike look calm while its sharp front and edges make it for aggressive looks. Dimensionally, it measures 2012mm long, 803.5mm wide and 1060mm high. Ground clearance stands at 176mm and wheelbase is around 1363mm. 

Under the skin, it has a single cylinder oil cooled DTS-i 160.3cc engine that is capable of churning out a max power output of 15.5PS at 8,500rpm and a peak torque of 14.6Nm at 6,500rpm. It comes with a claimed mileage of 40.6kmpl. Mated to a five-speed gearbox, the bike can hit the top speed of 120kmph. The engine is refined than before. Oodles of torque in the low and mid-range make it easy to manage. The vibrations are well contained. However, as the revs climb to 7,500rpm, vibrations can be felt on the handlebar and the seat. The true performance can be experienced between 80 and 90kmph.

Built on the Perimeter Beam Section frame, the NS160 rides on telescopic front forks with anti-friction bush and Nitrox Mono shock absorbers with Canister at the rear. The front fork tubes are thinner than that of NS200. The combination of chassis and suspension assembly arms the rider with great confidence around the corners and on the straight line. The set up is tuned for both sporty experiences and daily commutes. Avoiding bumps is not an issue as the bike’s suspension is perfectly set to handle them. On the braking front, there is 240mm disc at the front and 130mm drum at the rear which in combination lends supreme braking force to the Pulsar NS160. The lack of rear disc option and ABS make you disappointed as a rider. There are 17-inch alloy wheels on which front wraps around 80/100 tubeless tyre and the rear is covered by 110/80 tubeless tyre. 

The safety of the rider and the pillion is taken care of by the efficient braking mechanism. The front disc provides adequate braking force so that the bike can be stopped at once.