Pulsar 200cc

Bajaj pulsur 200cc

By the time Dhoom-3 is produced atleast the producer will not have to import bikes. Cruise bikes are ready in India itself! Bajaj has launched the Pulsar 200cc and Hero Honda has come up with face lifted Karizma. Thanks to the India’s growth story, manufacturers have come up with modern bikes that can be comparable to any international bike. When you watch Dhoom 3 don’t get surprised if Hrithik is on the Karizma and Abishek is on the Pulsar 200cc.
Here is the detailed comparison of these two amazing bikes.

Engine and Transmission:

Pulsar 200cc features India’s first oil cooled engine which delivers a maximum power of 18Ps@8000rpm making it most powerful engine offered by Bajaj. It’s an air cooled single-cylinder with an alloy barrel and head as well as twin valves. Oil cooler placed just below the fuel tank helps in further cooling of engine lubricant and keep the large 198.8cc motor cool. Digital twin spark ignition (DTS-i) and torque expansion chamber — ExhausTEC ensures the pulsar to provide sufficient levels of torque at low engine rpm levels and is optimized to provide torque distribution in the mid and higher range rpm levels. Pulsar 200cc features a five speed gearbox with one down and four up pattern.

For the face lifted Karizma the engine remains the same. Karizma scores over the pulsar when comes to torque, the bigger engine provides a healthy 18.35Nm@6000rpm against the pulsar’s 17.17Nm. The progressive feel, multi-plate wet-type clutch and the smooth five-speed gearbox are again the same as in the previous version.

Pulsar 200cc clocks a top speed of 121kph against the 125kph offered by Karizma 223cc. Pulsar 200cc is not quicker as Karizma 223cc and it cruises to 60kph from rest in 4.73 seconds. The pulsar 200cc offers an impressive mileage of 38.3kpl in city and 42.4kpl in highway against the Karizma offers only 30kpl in city and a decent figure of 45kpl in highway. Performance figures are taken from autocar India.

Design:

When comes to cruiser bikes power and style is the deciding factor but with proven engines style occupies the centre stage. The two bikes derive their styling from their previous version and have added some interesting features. Pulsar 200cc derives its identity from 180 and 150. Bajaj’s new additions in Pulsar 200cc are
*Black paint theme carried over to the front fork legs, the rear shock absorbers, and the swing arm, in addition to the engine and six spoke alloy rims, for deadly looks.
* A lowered Headlamp/Fairing assembly along with a high tail-end, giving it an aggressive, ready to pounce stance.
* An all Stainless Steel silencer with an aluminium muffler can for genuine sporty looks and long life.
* Sleek, Twin row, Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) derived from the upgraded pulsar 180cc along the split grab rail perfectly compliments the new rear chiseled looks.

I have seen many Bikers love to alter their Pulsar 150cc, 180cc and other bikes with modern diffuser, more powerful horns, replacing rear tyres with bigger tyres, raising the rear suspension to give a racing look and exposing the drive train which demands higher price . For those relief comes in the form of pulsar 200cc Bajaj has offered some of these as standard features

* It’s the first bike in India to feature both front and rear tubeless tyres, which besides offering superior stability are safer than conventional tube types and in sync with the offerings abroad for similar applications. The rear tyre is the broadest in its category to ensure better road grip and stability. Another first is the use of split seats in pulsar 200cc for styling and comfort.

New Karizma strikes the Bajaj 200cc with the following additions

*an attractive new logo, which represents the bike’s cutting edge imagery of being racy.
*International styling graphics with a pronounced `R’ on the tank and an asymmetrical one on the visor in keeping with the latest international trend.
*New sporty under-cowl, which makes the bike look more powerful and mean.
*Matt-axis grey coat for the engine, which makes it look very rugged.
*The other notable features in the bike are the red-coloured springs in rear suspensions and stylish fender with new graphics
A special edition version of New Karizma, which has a set of racy-red mag wheels and a dual tone finish for exhaust pipe, makes it one of the most attractive bikes on Indian roads. Although the cosmetic changes made in the Karizma targets the youth it is not enough to meet the sporty Pulsar 200cc in design

Handling and Engineering:

Pulsar 200cc is lengthier than new Karizma but its wheelbase is shorter than new Karizma which means you have to be careful with the Pulsar 200cc while negotiating a turn. Both the bikes offer disc at the front and drum brake at the rear as a standard feature. With the MRF tubeless tyres at the front and the back Pulsar gives excellent traction control. Even though Karizma features a 276mm disc at the front a little larger than 260mm offered in pulsar, the massive 150kg Karizma comes to halt in 18.36m from 60kph as against 16.47m taken by pulsar 200cc from the same speed. Both the bikes offer a commanding position for riders. But with split seats and carefully placed foot rest the pillion in the pulsar 200cc gets better visibility. The split seats are not only meant for the sporty look, but also resides a modest lockable and cable released storage under it.

Special features:

In addition to the features mentioned in design section both these bikes have special features which increases their practicality

Pulsar 200cc also leaves its drive chain exposed with O’ ring sealed, which is pre-lubricated to help it stay reliable inspite of running open without protection is one such example. Similar to its sibling Pulsar 220cc-soon to be launched, the pulsar 200cc bike throws away the kick lever and makes you to crank the engine only with your thumb unlike the Karizma which offers both self and Kick mechanism for cranking. Both these bikes use best instruments and unheard features in any Indian bike. Both Pulsar 200cc and the new Karizma have Digital odo Meter, Digital Fuel Gauge and Digital Trip Meter. Pulsar 200cc features a digital console which uses only LEDs and intelligently varies its amber backlight intensity for viewing in either day or night. The new Karizma features a night vision in the digital console, which illuminates the console to bright neon yellow and makes the speedometer stand out in the dark, forming a stunning contrast. It also features powerful multi-reflector trapezoidal headlight with two pilot lamps for that added beam, an integrated clear-lens lamp tail light for better visibility at the rear. Real time clock is found only in the console of Karizma. Both these bikes use 15 litre reservoirs and bar end weights – which keeps off the vibration. Karizma has safety switch for clutch which actuates when the vehicle is started in gear.

What Karizma lacks:

For the features like self-canceling Indicators that switch off when the turn has been completed and the handlebar comes to a ‘straight ahead’ position with a pre-set automatic switch off function, even if the turn has not been undertaken, auto switchover feature – which comes into play incase one of the two Headlamp filaments stops functioning, backlit, non-contact type, soft-touch handlebar switches digital speedo meter – which throws away the conventional cable, additional digital trip meter and indicators for air filter condition, engine temperature, battery voltage and oil level -all of which contribute to enhancing rider info for trouble-free riding and for a low maintenance battery with a unique venting valv – which drastically reduces the electrolyte loss and therefore reducing frequency of routine maintenance the new Karizma has no answers to Bajaj Pulsar 200cc.

Pricing and availability:

The new Karizma will also continue to be priced at almost the same level as the previous version, with on-road prices for the regular variant working out to Rs 79,000-80,000. The special edition variant with red mag-wheels will be costlier by about Rs 1,000. Bajaj has launched 52 Probiking outlets – which will house only high performance bikes. Pulsar 200cc would be available at such Probiking showrooms at select locations across the country for an attractive price of Rs.65,497 (ex showroom, New Delhi).

Summing it up…

With proven engine and completely new unheard features Bajaj Pulsar 200cc outsmarts the new Karizma. Also, the better pricing makes the Bajaj pulsar 200cc a perfect bike for the highway. Whether you choose new Karizma or Pulsar 200cc one thing is sure i.e. you will find a perfect mate for the week-end outing