Bajaj Pulsar NS200

The Bajaj Pulsar NS200 is one of the most popular contenders in the 200-250cc sports naked bike category. It received its first significant update in 2023 and it was the first-ever Bajaj product developed in collaboration with KTM. It offers great performance, appealing looks and likable handling which makes it a desirable motorcycle within the segment.

• The Bajaj Pulsar NS200 retains its streetfighter design which I find very appealing. However, Bajaj updated the Pulsar NS200 in 2024 with sportier body graphics, which makes it look more muscular than before

• Overall, the design has been the same for more than a decade but the NS still manages to look attractive enough

• It is now available in four colour schemes: Cocktail Wine Red – White, Glossy Ebony Black, Metallic Pearl White and  Pewter Grey – Blue. The colour which I find the most attractive is the Metallic Pearl White paint scheme

• The Bajaj Pulsar NS200 gets quite a lot of features when it comes to convenience. The LED headlight looks quite aggressive, though some might like it some may not like it

• It gets a digital instrument cluster which is quite easy to read and shows almost all necessary information

• The console supports Bluetooth connectivity and is easy to connect. It allows for turn-by-turn navigation which is a very useful feature and I found myself using it a lot

• The display also has a gear-position indicator, distance-to-empty, real-time mileage and average fuel economy

• Bajaj has also equipped the Pulsar NS200 with dual-channel ABS

• The Bajaj Pulsar NS200 gets a split-seat setup which is quite comfortable, though the bike gets raised clip-on handlebars, slightly rear set footpegs and a slightly leaned forward riding posture

• I found it quite comfortable for my 6-foot frame and I was able to spend long hours on the saddle very easily

• The seat is  firmer which meant I was uncomfortable on my short daily commutes but on the longer rides, it provided good amount of comfort

• With a low seat height of 807mm, getting on the Pulsar NS200 will not be an issue for shorter riders

• The pillion seat is quite narrow which is alright for shorter distance rides but on the longer journeys, pillions tend to feel uncomfortable

• Footpegs are also set quite high which meant the pillion behind me sat in an uncomfortable, knees-up posture

• The liquid cooled engine does a great job of keeping temperature levels low in peak traffic while not feeling too stressed

• The bike makes most of its power at higher RPM which means that I had to work the gearbox quite a bit to extract the engine’s power

• It lacks bottom and mid-range punch and it is less energetic than its rivals

• The engine is quite smooth and riding it in the city was pleasurable

• On the highway though, I found the Pulsar NS200 very enjoyable as the bike can easily maintain triple-digit speeds

• As I commute quite a bit on the highways daily, the bike is in its sweet spot and has a very minimal amount of vibration

• The Pulsar NS200 is a sporty bike overall with a well-tuned suspension and a light steering, which means that I was able to flick the bike from one corner to another very easily

• Riding in the city is also quite fun as the bike feels very light

• It gets a 300mm disc at the front and a 230mm disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS

• Though the brakes are good, the bike’s front end felt a bit jittery and failed to inspire confidence in me during hard braking

• It comes with an inverted telescopic fork and a preload-adjustable monoshock

• I found the suspension to be very balanced for my 85kg frame as the bike absorbs potholes and speed breakers effortlessly

• Even with a pillion, the bike’s suspension is tuned in such a way that it feels settled and does not lose its composure while going over bad roads

• If I was in the market for a 200cc sports naked motorcycle which has enough power to keep me occupied in the city and have enough performance  for my weekend rides, the Pulsar NS200 is a great fit 

• With revised styling, dual-channel ABS, digital instrument cluster and agile handling characteristics, the Pulsar NS200 is a great choice for beginners who are looking for an upgrade from a commuter motorcycle without having the need to empty their pockets

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• After spending quite some time with the Bajaj Pulsar NS200, I can confidently say that it is still a relevant motorcycle despite being over a decade old

• But still, if we compare it to its similarly priced rivals, the NS 200 has started to show its age and the rivals offer better performance, features and new design language