2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS160 and Pulsar NS200 Review: Which one should you pick and why?

New Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 and NS 200 Review: Bajaj Pulsar NS range of bikes have been sort of a revelation in the iconic 'Pulsar' family of motorcycles. The NS range sets itself apart from rest of the bikes in the family with its 'performance' as per the bikemaker. And only recently, the new Pulsar NS range got a rejig with the inclusion of several news features that claim to make the bikes even more performance oriented. I was also invited by Bajaj to put these claims to test at a local track, followed by a quick session around the twisties in the outskirts of Gurugram. Here's how it went.

What has changed?

There have been multiple additions on the new motorcycles in the form of a new front suspension which is now an Up-Side Down fork which replaces the tradational telescopic front fork. Apart from this, the bikes have also been updated with new colour schemes and graphics that make both of the products more aesthetically pleasing.

Moreover, the bikes have now become BS6- Stage 2-compliant just like every other motor vehicle if it needs to continue selling in the Indian market post April 1st, 2023.

That said, more major changes have been reserved for the smaller Pulsar N160 as it also gets bigger tyres, and a bigger front disc brake which now matches with the Pulsar NS200 motorcycle.

But that's not it, the company has also used an updated instrument console that though looks the same, but displays an added (and much-needed) functionality of gear position indicator.

If you consider, the most significant update on the bikes is the inclusion of the new USD fork that has been making the entry-level bikers lose their minds ever since it was first seen on the KTM 200 Duke.

To give you a quick recall, it was the introduction of the 200 Duke which later resulted in genesis of the Pulsar NS200, the quickest Pulsar of the time.

And now after over a decade of its first introduction it 'finally' gets the USDs.

Honestly, the suspension upgrade is definitely worth it. While I wish I was given the opportunity to ride the older Pulsar (with telescopic forks) side to side, but if my memory serves me right, the older NS had a 'top-end heavy' feel to it and wasn't as sharp (or friendly) around the corners as the new bike.

Don't expect it to match up with the KTMs yet, but from the upgrade has definitely reduced the difference.

While I was jealous of the Pune reviewers who got to ride around the beautifully laid out Chakan track, I got to groove around a relatively smaller go-cart-specific layout which didn't really do justice with what the new Pulsars were capable of. It was like carrying an AK47 to a paintball party.

Anyways, the bigger difference is found there on the new NS160 which now gets more braking power with a bigger 300 mm disc brake. Needless to say, the safety net of dual-channel ABS is there too, and for a reason.

However, what's missing is the switchable rear ABS functionality that lets the rider have some more fun.

Which is a better package NS200 or NS160?

Take the NS160 as a Pulsar that does everything better than the NS200 but with lesser juice from the engine. It is not only lighter than the NS200, but has the same grip levels and braking prowess.

However, the difference between power levels of both the bikes is quite evident (17.2 bhp and 24.5bhp). I rode the 160 first and then switched directly to the bigger 200, and it quite honestly has a better top-end.

As in the case of both the bikes, the engines have a relatively mild low end, but there is enough torque in mid and top-end. Also, both bikes rev all the way up to 10,000 rpm, but the punch on the 200 is just better and more satisfying.

Now that the NS160 has eveything that's there on the NS200, the only thing that's missing is the power, and that's where all the extra money comes in.

If you are someone that aspire to upgrade to the NS range and doesn't really bother if there are are 5 or 10 more horses under the saddle, then NS160 is the perfect fit for you.

But if you wish to really make every penny count and every bit of displacement/power and 'fun' matters to you, then I urge you to make the extra Rs 15,000 or so, and get the NS200.

While honestly, the new Pulsars are brilliant for what they promise to deliver on asphalt, but looking at the fact that the new NS160 now costs over Rs 1.50 lakh (on-road), and still has the same switch gear that looked good 10 years back (not now), just doesn't cut it for me.

Backlight switchgear is cool, but I think I've grown over the blue light, and touch and feel of this isn't what I expect on something that costs quite this much.

LED lighting on the headlamp or not, doesn't really make a difference to me personally, especially when the performance box is ticked. However, LED turn indicators could have been a welcoming upgrade.

The final word:

The new Pulsar NS range of models have definitely matured with the latest updates and are more prepared to take on the segment rivals.

They both tick all the right boxes when it comes to looks, performance and trust of the 'Humara Bajaj' brand, however, what's missing are tiny bits of the puzzle that are keeping the Pulsars from becoming the best out there.

Pulsar NS range has the potential to become the best of all worlds, and to some extent, they already are. But only if Bajaj polishes the tiny left out corner on the slate, will this allow these bikes to gain even more popularity.