Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 : Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 on road price in India ranges from 110K to 120K and the price once again depends upon the location of the purchase.
It is not surprising that this street-slammed hooliganised roadster has become pretty much the default choice for anyone looking for a lively daily ride that offers visual thrills as well as real-life usable functionality without requiring you to sell both of your kidneys.
POST YOUR COMMENTS The latest updates have made the NS160 looks better and equipped with more features and continue to provide one of the best values for its money in the 150-160 cc category.
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Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Design: Street Fighter DNA with a Touch of Premium
” The Pulsar NS 160 makes no bones about it — this bike is about performance and that is exactly what its racy styling suggests, as it is in a class of its own: a distinct, full-fairing and muscular machine” reminiscent of the original NS – in an all-new and aggressive design.
Sharply sculpted knee recesses in the tank enable the rider to tuck in tight when tracking the bike at those cheeky trackday moments, and the belly pan provides a visual mass lower down, giving a planted dynamic appearance to this fully focussed lightweight sports bike, no matter your ability.
At the front the design is dominated by a wolf-inspired headlamp assembly that houses LED position lamps above the main headlamp, which is a halogen unit; together this offers a unique lighting signature when riding in both day and night conditions.
The unique headlight shape is carried through into the compact flyscreen designed to keep you out of the wind when cruising at more relaxed velocities, yet providing stability in the hairy stuff.
“The basic NS identity is retained, while subtle changes have made the NS more upmarket and appealing,” said a member of the Bajaj design team.
“Design elements such as the split seat with contrast stitching, machined finish on the engine components and the signature twin-spar perimeter frame continue to make the NS stand out from the competition.
The back end is a sportsbike-style sharp tail which gets an LED tail light/carrier and clear lens indicators that carry on the modern, technical design language.
The stubby upswept exhaust contributes to the balance of the bike while working to make sure the motor is Euro5 compliant without ruining the sporty lines.
The split grab rail keeps usability and simple lines of the NS design language intact.
Color choices are kept narrow to accentuate the bike’s aggressive form and the bold Metallic Pearl White highlights frame and body panel shapes.
There are two other colourways to choose from, Satin Red and Pewter Grey, both with subtle, matched graphics that complement rather than dominate the base design.
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Performance Credentials: The Thrill is Accessible
Under the skin, the NS 160 gets a 160.3cc oil-cooled, 4-valve, DTS-i engine, which produces 17.2 PS at 9000 rpm and 14.6 Nm of torque at 7250 rpm.
These numbers may not sound enormous on paper, but they equate to enviably eager real-world performance after a few canny engineering calls.
The four-valve arrangement used by the motor then enables the engine to inhale more efficiently than the usual pair of valves seen on most engines found at this end of the price spectrum, which translates into a more eager high-rpm performance, without sacrificing low-rev tractability.
The use of an oil-cooling system finds the middle ground between the efficient yet simple and inexpensive properties of air cooling, and the enhanced thermal stability offered with liquid cooling during prolonged higher-speed use.
Comments motorcycle journalist Rahul Menon: “The engine character of the NS 160 is what an urban sport rider actually needs.
“There’s a good fistful of bottom end for all the city cut and thrust, and the mid-range grunt to punt the Gixxer thou’ forward with relaxed authority and enthusiastic revs when you head out on the highways or feel the urge to get medieval on a twisty back road.
It’s accessible for beginners, while advanced riders will find it challenging.
The gearbox has select gears moulded with well-chosen ratios for the acceleration and also the cruising speeds of the NS to be very easy on highways with the bike being at home doing 90-100 km/h without any strain.
Clutch pull is light enough for easy riding around town, but with just enough feel for spirited riding when the mood hits.
even though the NS 160 carries some sporting aspirations with it, fuel efficiency is still a crucial factor and the bike is capable of returning around 45-48kpl under normal riding conditions.
This takes that real-world distance between fills to something like 450-480 km with a 12l fuel tank, which is a crucial consideration for those who use their bike as a daily driver.
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Chassis Dynamics: Unexpected Competence
The most striking thing about the NS 160 however could very well be its delay-fee handling focused chassis.
The perimeter frame, not common in this class, gives excellent torsional rigidity more bound for more pricier motorcycles.
That rigid frame structure ensures solid cornering and a well-composed nature at highway speeds.
Suspension up front is taken care of by telescopic forks with 130mm travel, while the rear gets a monoshock with 130mm travel and preload adjustability.
It’s a well-measured compromise between ride comfort and handling accuracy, easily dealing with common urban obstacles yet preventing itself from becoming unsettled when you’re pushing on.
Braking duties are taken care of by a 260mm front disc with a single-piston caliper and a 230mm rear disc, which also gets single-channel ABS on the front wheel.
That braking set-up delivers confidence-inspiring stopping power with good lever feel, although a number of riders would likely have appreciated the greater safety net of dual-channel ABS as found on higher-priced options.
The 17-inch alloy wheels are wrapped with tubeless 100/80 front and 130/70 rear tyres delivering a predictable grip on different tarmacs.
The handling balance in general is fantastic, with the NS feeling equally at home in the cut and thrust of a city commute as it does in the flowing corners of the countryside.
“What makes the NS different from most of its rivals is the whole package is so ‘together,’” explained Vikram Singh, a seasoned rider and instructor.
“There is not one element that outshines another, everything works well as a whole the chassis, brakes and engine. This equilibrium begets comfort, which leads directly to having more fun on the trail.”
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Feature: Realistic Modernity
Although it’s not jampacked with electronic nannies, the NS 160 features a well-curated list of features that add both functionality and a sense of value.
The semi- digital instrument cluster gets an analog tachometer while the screen gives you speed, fuel level, odometer readings, trip meters and surprisingly a gear position indicator that is almost always missing on bikes in this segment.
In the Lights The new lights are a mix of modern LEDs for the position lamps and tail light as well as cost-effective halogen elements for the main headlight beam.
This is an approach that provides better visibility and unique aesthetics while not driving the cost of the components high to the point that it would have an effect in the final sale price.
There are also some practical touches, such as the USB charging port under the seat that is useful for long rides and to avoid a dead battery.
The fuel tank shaping provides good knee recesses on the sides and can position the rider into a more aggressive attack mode or relaxed during cruising.
“the NS is all about delivering what young riders want,” observed market analyst Priya Sharma.
“It directs resources into styling, performance, and handling with just enough modern touches to be exactly what we expect, and not so automagical electronics expensive it would price it in a higher bracket.”
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Positioning in the Market and Value Proposition
Priced ex-showroom between about Rs. 1.22 to Rs. 1.30 lakh, depending on the color variant you pick, and depending on which part of India you find yourself in, the NS 160 holds its ground as a strategically placed motorcycle in Bajaj’s arsenal.
It is positioned above the commuting focussed Pulsar 150s and is priced below the NS 200 and RS 200 siblings.
This positioning makes it a great power option for a variety of different demographic types: young riders who want their first sports motorcycle, parents who are looking to trade up from cheaper but more basic 125-150cc bikes, and riders who are wanting to step down from larger, more expensive motorcycles but reduce the running costs without compromising the thrill of riding on two wheels.
The NS 160 does have a distinct character compared to its competitors, such as the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V,
Honda X-Blade, Suzuki Gixxer, it’s the perimeter frame, the looks and balanced performance which does make it stand out from the crowd.
All of them have their advantages but the NS is probably the most balanced package at the given price.
“The success of the NS 160 is in the way it manages these two conflicting priorities so well,” said motorcycle market analyst Arjun Mehta.
It’s sporty and at the same time practical, visually exciting yet not gaudy, performance-oriented while being virtually affordable to maintain.
Finding that balance is a lot harder than making a motorcycle that’s excellent in one dimension.”
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Experience of Ownership: More Than Just the Cost of Purchase
Apart from the on-cost, the NS 160 has many pluses which intensify its long term value.
The reliable Pulsar platform enjoys ample network penetration in terms of service and spares availability with Bajaj’s reach across major cities and smaller towns.
The maintenance is also affordable with intervals every 5,000 km (routine) and 10,000 km (full maintenance).
The majority of regular maintenance items are easy enough for the mechanically inclined owner to do on his own but the perimeter frame does make some of them a bit more involved than on simpler chassis.
Insurance premiums also get the advantage of Bajaj’s strong volume share and the bike’s modest power output, generally commanding lower cost of premium as opposed to similar options with a larger capacity.
Resale is solid because there’s been a strong brand affixed to the car, and there’s steady demand for Pulsar nameplate in the second-hand market.
All of this, along with the appealing and unique design of the motorcycle, makes the package more than exciting enough for all those riders who do not want to settle for average performance but also cannot afford to compromise much – a balance the NS 160 gets it right perhaps even more than any other model in the segment.
