CHASSIS & SUSPENSION: Superb double cradle chassis with finely matched suspenders continues the feel good theme.
One thing acknowledged in biking circles in India is the fine handling characteristics of Bajaj motorcycles. Beginning from the KB100 days, good handling, directional stability and braking have always been Bajaj hallmarks. The Pulsar continues on these lines. No, that is not correct, it in fact goes on to set a whole new standard - for the better - in handling and dynamic behaviour. The heart of this is the double down tube chassis which doesn't have a single sheet metal component on it even at the swing arm pivot points. The forces are all distributed admirably and as is visible from the triangulated frame running from the headstock to the single spine, this yet again splays into twin tubes which meet the down tubes running from below the headstock and under the engine. Further, the mounting points for the engine are all rubber mounted (it is in fact only the second built-in-India motorcycle after the short lived Enfield Fury 175 to sport such an important detail), making for the vibes to be cut off even at this source.

The suspension is fairly conventional in the form of Ceriani type telescopic forks in the front and five-way adjustable shock absorbers at the rear. The Pulsar team worked on perfecting the rake and trail within the designed wheelbase and they have come up with a great set-up which should please both the regular commuter as also the sportily inclined. One must also credit the weight distribution - almost 45:55 which makes for a great handler but more of that later. The Pulsar breaks ground in that it will be offered with a front disc brake set-up as OE - on both versions - from day one. No optional extra or such. That is fantastic thought and the right direction for bikes to adopt. A 240mm dia disc brake with Brembo design 29mm calipers does duty on the front wheel while at the rear one finds a 130mm drum doing the business. Both Pulsars sport a 2.75x18 tyre upfront but while the 150 sports a regular 3.00x18 tyre on its rear wheel, the more powerful 180 wears a 100/90x18 tyre. It is good to see the importance accorded to the footwear because in so many cases the Performance and handling have been destroyed by going much too conservative on tyre size and profile.

HANDLING & BRAKING: Back roads scratcher par excellence!
With a style that seduces you to Performance which brings out the sadist in youand a riding position which takes you over the moon, the Pulsars better be great handlers or everything would collapse in the first encounter with slow and medium speed corners. Thankfully, that is not the case and while everyone might want me to suggest that credit be given to the double cradle chassis frame, the optimum weight distribution, the perfect rake and trail allied to the wheelbase, the fact remains that this is nothing compared to what is not on the bike which helped turn the Pulsar into a terrific handler. That vital ingredient which one may never get to experience but which endows the Pulsar with such sharp and surefooted manner is the set of twisties on the superb test track Bajaj Auto have laid down at their Chakan plant. The Pulsar team who are avid bikers, led by both Abraham Joseph and Shrikant Bhatt who is in charge of vehicle testing, hammered away lap after lap for more than a year and a half on umpteen prototypes to get the bike to handle and steer the way she ought to.

We ran the Pulsars to Sinhagad and back and also to Mahableshwar and back and boy were we grinning away beneath our helmet visors! In terms of flickability, no other Indian bike holds a candle to any of the two Pulsars and as regards turn-in, the surefootedness while banked over is something to be enjoyed. The Victor, a commuter machine at best with a brilliant chassis set-up is good but it has just a modicum of Performance. I raved about the way she handled, especially the part about the weave at high speed. Try doing the same at even higher speeds on the Pulsar and it will shock you with its near neutral ability. One can just keep on riding all day long, marvelling at what the bike can do in every conceivable manner and some more, delighting you with its manners mostly and at times making you aware that you were on a Pulsar and not some other machine as she tracks and bites and steers you out of a tricky situation. If ever there was a bike designed by bikers for bikers in India, this is it. The best thing one can do is for you to go out on your favourite machine from any other manufacturer, take it through your favourite set of roads and then repeat the same exercise on the Pulsar. The experience will be an eye-opener. Do it the other way round and I can already see the disappointment writ large on your face.

The Pulsar has slayed the ghost of the RX100 which refused to let go and finally banished it to the nether kingdom. Part of the riding experience has to be the throttle response and the crackling power delivery along with the muffled exhaust beat which sounds superb on full chat. But I would like a bit of throat please, if you can, Joseph and company. The rock solid handling and the phenomenal grip from the MRF Nylogrips will have many in biker heaven and add to that fantastic poise under braking which will not pull out the woollies in your tummy. Both Aspi and I tried to induce the Pulsars' rear ends to slide out under braking but even on the few occasions they tried to oblige the slide was slow in coming and easily correctable. The brake set-up of front disc and rear drum is spot on and most confidence inspiring. On the high speed run down from Mahableshwar to Wai, the brakes were used somewhat more than necessary but there was hardly any fade or drop in bite.

CHASSIS :
SUSPENSION:
HANDLING:
BRAKING: