Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z

The Pulsar NS400Z is Bajaj’s most powerful, feature loaded and sharpest looking Pulsar yet. It shares its engine with the Dominar 400 and is wrapped in a sharp ‘NS’ streetfighter look with aggressive styling. Back in 2025, it received a major update where it got additional rider aids, better hardware and more power. However, with the whole GST 2.0 scene with bikes over 350cc engine capacity, Bajaj had to downsize its engine from 373.3cc to 350cc for 2026. 

We got a chance to ride the 350cc model and surprisingly it still felt very much like a Pulsar. The best part is that other than the engine, everything on the bike remains unchanged, and the brand has also made the 350cc ns400z a lot more affordable. Priced at Rs 1.81 lakh (ex-showroom), being Rs 14,000 cheaper than before.

Design  

For 2026, the styling of the NS400Z has been kept unchanged. It still looks quite similar to the smaller NS200 but there are a couple of distinguishing elements; it gets an LED projector headlight with Z-shaped DRLs, dynamic decals, panel extensions, larger radiator shrouds, an updated belly pan, bold carbon fibre accents and mirrors from the Dominar 400 that give it a slightly chunkier look and feel. Compared to the clip-ons on the NS200, the NS400Z gets a taller and wider handlebar, which I feel suits the character of a naked bike much better. 

Colours

The 350cc bike is still offered in the same colour schemes as before, including glossy racing red, brooklyn black, pewter grey, and pearl metallic white. The pewter grey colour option is my personal favourite as it stands apart with the yellow graphics and wheel rim stickers. While this design language is sleek, sharp, and appreciated by many, I would have liked to see something that properly set this NS400Z apart from all of the other bikes in the NS range.

Build Quality

Keeping the cost of the bike in mind, I have to say that the build quality is commendable. Bajaj has done a good job and the bike feels solid with good fitting of the panels and the overall quality of parts. The switchgear is not the most premium in the segment, but again, can not complain, considering the price point. 

Convenience Features

The Bajaj Pulsar ns400z gets a fully digital LCD instrument cluster with a dot matrix inset, and gets bluetooth feature via the Bajaj Ride Connect app. The digital console displays call/SMS alerts, turn-by-turn navigation, trip meters, a gear position indicator, fuel consumption data, and more.

You also get a ride by wire throttle which is basically an electronic throttle control offering great throttle response and gets four riding modes each altering the throttle map and ABS intrusion level. The four riding modes are: Rain, Road, Sport, and Off-road. The switchgear includes four-way buttons on the left side to navigate through various functions but these buttons are not very tactile and are a little difficult to press with gloves on. Additionally, it also gets a USB charging port, 5-step adjustable brake and clutch levers, hazard lights, and auto-cancelling indicators. The 2026 model continues to come equipped with a bidirectional quickshifter (also called sports shift t) as standard, which works quite well and makes the riding experience even more engaging. That said, the option to use the quickshifter is only available in the Sport mode.

Safety Features

The Pulsar NS400Z comes equipped with dual channel ABS (with abs ride modes) and switchable traction control. The traction control is tuned well and provides a good safety net for inexperienced riders making the NS400Z easy to ride even on rough roads. It can also be switched off in Sport and Off-road mode, which is a good thing for experienced riders. Depending on the ride-mode being used, the ABS is also calibrated differently, making it friendly across different surfaces and preventing wheel lock. For the price, Bajaj has delivered quite a comprehensive safety feature list, which overall results in a safer riding.

Rider Comfort

The seat height of the NS400Z stands at 805mm, making it 2mm lower than the seat on the NS200. The footpegs are rear set just like the NS200 for a sporty riding position. With my height of 5 '9, I was just about able to flat foot to the ground. What I really like about the bike is the wide and upright handlebar unit compared to the clip-on handlebars that we used to have on the NS200. This has made it a more upright riding position which is much better in the city and in the twisties. Additionally, the seat is well-padded so you can also enjoy slightly longer rides out on the highway.

Pillion Comfort

The rear seat is high-set and narrow, making it slightly difficult to mount and it becomes uncomfortable for long stints. The grab rails are functional but small and the footpegs are also set higher up. If a rider is planning regular pillion rides, a cushier aftermarket seat or backrest might help. The bike is mainly meant for solo riding but can accommodate a pillion for short rides.

Engine

To downsize the same 373.3cc liquid cooled engine (with advanced liquid cooling) efficiently, the brand reduced its stroke size, but kept the bore size unchanged, and also made some internal updates. As a result, the max power and torque figures from the single cylinder engine were reduced to 40.6PS at 9,000rpm and 33.2Nm at 7,500rpm. These figures are 2.4PS and 1.8Nm less than before, and both the peak power and max torque are now produced at slightly higher rpm. As a result, the midrange performance on the pulsar ns400z doesn't feel as strong as earlier, and even the top-end is slightly less exciting than before, but the smoother acceleration does feel good.

That said, the good part is that the bike will feel more or less similar to any new rider, and it is still quite exciting to ride. 

The bajaj pulsar shares its motor with the Dominar 400, but with a slightly different tune, and the NS400Z also gets a 46-tooth rear sprocket compared to a 45-tooth sprocket on the Dominar 400. Combine all this with the 174kg kerb weight, and it translates to peppy acceleration and overall engaging performance. 

City Performance

The NS400Z offers strong midrange grunt with powerful performance for city usage, and can easily be ridden at slow speeds and higher gears. Thanks to the slipper clutch, the clutch action is also super smooth, and this coupled with the sportshift, gives effortless gear shifting experience. 

Highway Performance

Out on the highway, it can sit at 100kmph in sixth gear just under the 5,500 rpm mark. Cruising at 120 kmph is possible, but a slight buzz on the handlebars and footpegs can be felt at that speed. Windblast becomes noticeable after 110kmph but that is expected from a naked streetfighter. Overall, for spirited highway rides and weekends in the twisties, the NS400Z is able deliver quite strong performance.

Mileage

As of now we don't have any mileage figures for the 350cc NS400Z, but the downsized engine is expected to deliver slightly better numbers than before. Other than this, the bike offers a modest 12-litre fuel tank capacity.

Handling

The bike handles city speeds easily but takes a little more effort to be tipped into corners when you compare it to something like the KTM 390 Duke. The bike runs on 17-inch alloy wheels at both ends, and for 2026, the bike continues to come with Apollo Alpha H1 tyres. This gives the NS400Z a good front end feel, rock solid stability at higher speeds and precise control. 

Brakes

With a 320mm disc brake at the front, it becomes the Pulsar with the largest disc brake ever and it is paired with a 230mm rear disc brake, together offering strong stopping power. This setup does a good job; all that is required from a rider is a little bit of effort on the front lever after which the bike comes to a halt at an instant. The 2026 update continues to come with front sintered brake pads, which provides maximum stopping power, and feels sharper.

Ride Quality

The inverted front forks and rear monoshock are tuned slightly on the firm side to retain sportiness, but they don’t compromise on comfort. The bike handles broken roads, potholes, and speed bumps with ease. I did feel some firmness over sharp bumps, but nothing harsh. Overall, it is a bike you can use for the daily commute and still enjoy weekend runs to the twisties without needing any suspension tweaks. Considering that the bike is making use of the same Dominar frame, it still feels like it has some heaviness to it. Bajaj has sharpened the Rake by 1.2 degrees on the NS400Z and this has translated to a shorter wheelbase of 1343mm. Other than this, the bike comes with 165mm ground clearance, which should be enough to tackle our Indian roads.

Verdict

Priced at Rs 1.81 lakh (ex-showroom), the 350cc NS400Z is Rs 14,000 more affordable than before, and still one of the most affordable sub 400cc performance motorcycles you can buy in India, even if we factor in its overall on-road price in various cities. Yes it now comes with a downsized engine, but the performance drop is decent, and the bike still feels exciting and lively to ride. Along with this, for the price the NS400Z also offers a decently long list of features, and also performance centric hardware. All of this makes the NS400Z a great bike to consider in the category, available with the best price to performance ratio.

Variants 

There is only one variant of the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z available with four colour options to choose from. 

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Competition

The NS400Z goes up against a couple of popular bikes but has the upper hand when it comes to pricing. The naked TVS Apache RTR 310 is loaded with more features but is less powerful and priced higher. The KTM 390 Duke is a sharper and faster motorcycle but it is significantly more expensive. The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex comes with a higher engine capacity that makes similar power as the Pulsar, but the higher torque makes it feel slightly quicker. It also comes with a TFT console and connected tech, but misses out on a switchable traction control system which the Pulsar gets. Other than this, there is also the 350cc Triumph Speed 400, which is a minimalistic looking, no-nonsense machine, offering just the right set of features along with a linear power delivery.

Price Analysis

With an ex-showroom price of Rs 1.81 lakh, this is the most affordable 400cc motorcycle available in India. At this price point, riders get sharp looks, a powerful engine, good handling abilities, and a rich set of features.