Bajaj Pulsar NS160

Bajaj Pulsar NS160 Expert Verdict

Bajaj Pulsar NS160 Detailed Review

• Pulsar NS160 Looks and Design 10 /10

  The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 naked sports bike has become a testament to the entry-level sports bike segment in India due to its design and styling. The looks and design of the NS 160 share its DNA with its sibling the Bajaj Pulsar NS200. The aggressive muscular styling gives the bike a bold and fresh look. The halogen headlamp unit with pilot lamps and an analogue-digital instrument panel. The bike sports new graphics on the fuel tank and a front visor. The Pulsar insignia is imprinted on the sculpted tank with ‘160’ written in bold, giving it a streetfighter look. The plastic bodywork is of decent quality with wheels made of alloy and tubeless tyres. The overall design is made to appeal to young audience who cater to buy a fast city sports motorcycle that is also fuel efficient. 

  The bike allows the rider a better riding posture than its biggest competitor, the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. The position of the rider communicates speed, strength, agility and excitement. The rear-set footpegs and clip-on handlebars manifest better riding speed and stance. The placing of the handlebar is higher up and further away making it easier to access. The seat is a bit firm but has an extra layer of opium cushioning which is better suited for bigger rides and long-distance touring.

  Summary

  The overall look of the Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 is sporty and chic along with achieving peak comfortability.

• Pulsar NS160 Dimensions 9 /10

  The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 sports bike has very sleek and slim dimensions. Due to the slim and butch design, the Pulsar NS160 is capable of flicking through tight traffic easily. This makes potential customers love the NS160 due to its enhanced handling. The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is 2012 mm long, 803.5 mm wide and 1060 mm high. The ground clearance is 176 mm and the wheelbase is 1363 mm. The bike has a kerb weight of 151 kg, making it the heaviest bike in its range. However, the bike offers sheer swiftness and stable composure and balance despite its muscular appearance. The perimeter frame offers good agility while changing directions, abrupt steering, switching of lanes and amping up your speed levels on twisty roads. The bike offers a sweet driving range of 470 km in the 12 litres fuel tank capacity, roughly calculated.

  Summary

  The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 procures easy handling on all different types of rides with these optimal dimensions.

• Pulsar NS160 Engine Performance and Mileage 10 /10

  Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is loved for its engine performance and dynamic capabilities. The handling of NS160 is one of the best in the segment. The power-packed engine is full of grunt as it makes the rider feel confident even at high speed. The Pulsar NS160 comes equipped with a 160.3 cc single-cylinder, four-valve head, the oil-cooling engine is the spitting image of the Pulsar AS 150 which the company stopped manufacturing in 2019. The 5-speed transmission motor churns out a maximum torque of 14.6Nm at 6500 rpm and a maximum power of 15.5PS at 8500 rpm. The maximum torque output is unchanged whereas the maximum power is increased by 1.7 ps in comparison to the BS4 Pulsar NS160. The bike provides a mileage of 42 kmpl irrespective of the fact that it comes with a small motor. 

   

  The bike gives premium delivery on steep roads and offers a good revving range. The engine is relaxed at slower speeds although you can make out some hoarse notes past the 56,000 rpm. While speeding the motor shows a hint of more eagerness and you can feel the bike flying on. In order to overtake other vehicles, the biker needs to plan in advance to avoid wringing the throttle harshly. The vibrating doesn’t resonate at loud decibels and is not annoying but adds a little stress on the engine. The clutch is light but while shifting gears, there is a chance of getting stuck at neutral. 

  Summary

  The Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 offers an engaging performance, especially for the first and second gears but the minor buzzing is observed at higher speeds.

• Pulsar NS160 Tyres and Brakes 9 /10

  The tyres and brake setup of the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 make it one of the best handling bikes in its segment. The braking is strong and even after repeated usage, the brake bite remains strong. The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels have 90/90-section front and 120/80-section rear tyres. The perimeter framed motorcycle is handled by telescopic forks and monoshock suspension at the front as well. The braking system includes a single 260 mm front petal disc and a 230 mm rear disc accompanied by a single-channel anti-braking locking system. A 130mm drum unit has also been installed at the rear end of the bike. The bike is equipped for breezy riding on uneven and rougher roads with confidence. 

  Summary

  Daily commutes and rounding corners on developed and under-developed roads is not an issue for the Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 due to the strong edge its tyres and the braking unit provides.

• Pulsar NS160 Features 8 /10

  The Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 offers a multitude of features such as the analogue-digital instrument cluster, an analogue tachometer, digital speed and fuel gauge, daytime running lights, digital odometer, digital speedometer, digital clock, and digital trip meter. The bike has a single-channel ABS which has proved to improve the handling and braking aspects of the bike. An additional gear shift has been installed on top of the tachometer on the right-hand side of the analogue-digital console and on the left-hand side sits the taillights. The NS 160 also comes with high technology and high-performance modern monoshock suspension. This advanced suspension technology guarantees increased stiffness, reduced flex frame, superior comfort and ready balance. The overall list of features is decent and the dual-color contrasting paint shades make the NS160 even more desirable. The semi-digital instrument cluster has been designed to lure the young buyers who love old-school analog dials. 

  Summary

  The Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 adheres to the norms of the multitude of features all Pulsar bikes have to offer but offers them at a slightly elevated price.