Table of Contents
Overview
Indian riders are moving towards a brighter future with better products moving into the country everyday. Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is one of them as it may help many dreamers fulfill the dream of owning an aggressive design under this strict budget. Falling right under the lower tax slab motorcycle segment of GST, this Pulsar has the ability to send shivers across segment rivals.
The practical engine sends power within accessible range and thus, results in a ride quality that can beat most competitors on Indian roads. Fans of Pulsar NS series would even feel blessed as rising cost of fuel can be dodged with this new machine. Here are the required details about Pulsar NS160.
Design and Style
Placed right in the clothes of Pulsar NS200, finding a visible difference takes courage on the new Pulsar. If you are miles away from the automotive terms like discs and drums, chances still exist that you can make a right guess. NS160 has a different engine and hence, the kick can help you decide the model name for the NS motorcycle. The front comes with a familiar headlight, helping it claim the best design among other 160 cc motorcycles of India. No other brand carries such impressive tank shrouds as NS160. Bajaj has even used the dual tone shade scheme as Pulsar NS200 for a wider audience.
Sharing the same components would mean a better stance as one would get a typical 200cc body on a 160cc engine. Smaller tyres look odd on the face of Pulsar NS160 but that may not be a big problem as one could replace them anytime with the ones from NS200. The rear disc brake is replaced by a drum brake and that helps you flaunt the amazing alloy wheel design with much attitude. Price cut takes some things away but getting a good drum brake would even solve the same purpose as a small diameter disc brake.
The tail end of the motorcycle finished perfectly with Pulsar 135 LS inspired panels. The seats are better than before while aluminum number plate holder looks premium for its job. Summing up the design details, I would say that this is the best naked street fighter in its segment of the Indian market.
Dimensions and Weight
Bajaj Pulsar NS160 measures 2012 mm in length, 803.5 mm in width and 1060 mm in height. It carries a wheelbase of 1363 mm and claims a ground clearance of 176 mm. The motorcycle weighs 142 kg and carries a 12 liter fuel tank. These impressive dimensions help the NS160 claim a practical and everyday friendly ride experience.
Engine & Gearbox
Bajaj Pulsar NS160 uses a reworked version of AS150’s 149cc engine. The increase in displacement helps it claim a wider audience with practical riding dynamics. It gets improved torque at an accessible point while built of the engine never facilitated class leading power to the motorcycle. The 160.3cc, single cylinder engine is good for 15.5 PS at 8500 rpm and 14.6 Nm at 6500 rpm. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
Most bikes of this segment has lower torque value compared to NS160 while 142 kg of weight makes it heavier among all others with 160 cc engine. Still, a Pulsar would never stay back as they have performance DNA in their built. It would be an excellent sprinter but top speed may not go as high as expected by most Pulsar fans.
Limiting the power output was even necessary as most rivals are more mileage oriented. Pulsar 220F is the most happening performer under INR 1 lakh, second to none other than the street fighter NS200. The 150cc segment has been in existence since last few decades and 160 cc may help all of them upgrade for more power with non-considerable mileage downfall.
Braking and Suspension
Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is equipped with a 240 mm front disc brake for the Indian market. ABS is not a possibility in this segment for India and hence, would be exclusive to the Turkish market. The rear wheel comes with a 130 mm drum brake.
It shares the suspension with Pulsar NS200 as the same telescopic front and mono-shock rear combination is on use. Front wheel offers 130 mm of travel while rear gets 120 mm for the same. This makes it under equipped when compared to its rivals. The disc brake is smaller in size in comparison to Pulsar NS200 and rear even misses an optional disc for the purist. The front tyre measures 80/100-17 while rear uses 110/80-17 for excellent on-road grip.
Shades and Variants
Pulsar NS160 is offered in White, Red, and Blue as base shades and use Grey highlight on tanks and rear panel. It is not yet official as Bajaj may use the same shades as Pulsar NS200 to keep cost under check. NS160 is available in a single variant in India and the single-channel ABS variant might come at a later stage.
Price
Bajaj Pulsar NS160 carries a price tag of INR 78,368 and the on-road price in Delhi is INR 91,100. This makes it a very good rival to Yamaha FZS V2, Suzuki Gixxer, TVS Apache RTR 160 and Honda CB Hornet 160R. Pulsar AS150 was priced much lower to other bikes and still, getting sales out of this segment is not easy at all.
The recent sales report claimed a considerable share of Bajaj Pulsar and TVS Apache in the Indian sport bike segment. Majority of these come from DTS-i series and 160cc Apache as these have got unbreakable trust in the minds of Indian riders. Pulsar NS160 has the potential but only when its pricing can be considered the best among this segment.