Oct 21, 2015 05:37 PM
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The Pulsar 200NS which came out in 2012 was billed by Bajaj as the best pulsar yet. The NS200, with it's impressive styling immediately developed a cult following and it still remains the best Pulsar with it's engine being it's prime highlight. The excellent Triple Spark, liquid-cooled 200cc engine and linear power delivery made the engine very popular and Bajaj took a step further by adding EFI and ABS and a winner was definitely in the making.
Looks While the RS200 shares the same body as the NS200, it has undergone a radical redesign. The result is an alien looking bike - something nobody had seen before. The look is not completely original though - its a design heavily inspired from the Energica Ego electric superbike, which very few people have heart of. Only hard-core bike enthusiasts would probably know the facts. Facts aparts, the looks are definitely a head turner - you'd turn your head saying either "wow!" or "yuck!" - but the fact remains that you cannot ignore it for just another ordinary bike. The alien looking front with the twin projector headlamps, the quirky rear with it's bull-horn shaped taillamps, or the flowing side profile - it draws attention in plenty.
Performance, comparison with CBR250R The RS200 takes the 200cc, triple spark engine from the NS200 and refines it a step further by adding Electronic Fuel Injection - resulting in a more responsive feedback from an already responsive engine. It also feels just a bit more smoother than the NS200, though it could be attributed to being a newer machine. However, the extra fairing and ABS do add to the weight and the resulting bike is actually 6kgs heavier than the CBR250! This does show up on the performance, and while the engine is refined and responsive, it's not as lively. Like the CBR, the RS is also more suited towards touring than sports. If you are really into sports, you'd be better off choosing a KTM. The seating position is also unchanged from the NS200 - it's more upright than the CBR and relaxed, better suited towards touring. 0-100 sprint isn't very impressive either, it takes around 10 secs to reach 100 from standstill. Power and torque feel adequate and it can maintain a cruising speed of 110 kph without issues as compared to the CBR which can maintain a cruising speed of 120 kph. Top speed is claimed to be 150+ kph, I have not pushed it beyond 125 kph though as it was not my own bike. Braking on the ABS model seems spot on and on par with the CBR250. The headlights are definitely more impressive and brighter. FE is approx 35kmpl in city which is on par with the NS200's mileage figures as the advantage of EFI gets balanced out with the extra body weight.
Conclusion Save for the quirky design, Bajaj have a gem of an engine on their hands. Instead of marketing it as a Racing Sport(RS), they should have marketed this bike as a tourer. The full fairing, relaxed riding position, excellent headlamps, ABS and the stability from the added weight make this bike a gem of a tourer, at a price point which is almost 75000 cheaper than the CBR250ABS. If you are into extensive touring and can live with the unusual style, this is your bike! Would I exchange my CBR with a RS200? Excuse me please!
