STYLE
& BUILD: Hello good looking, seems you have had
a fine workout at the gym as well!
Breaking away from the traditional mould was a difficult
exercise for Indian motorcycles till Hero Honda made the
first move with the CBZ and Bajaj Auto stepped in with an
entirely new approach with the Eliminator. The latter has
now moved ahead of the rest with an even better executed
and far more contemporary design which blends retro and
naked bike cues without ever forgetting the excitement bit
front to rear. The clay mock-up I had seen more than two years ago and the production bikes now available in your
neighbourhood Bajaj dealership may have many detail differences
but the forward thrust of the design is now finely accentuated
and in a smallish bike (with a 1265mm wheelbase) the proportions
have been absolutely spot on. There are no jarring aspects
on the bike when viewed in any angle but the best thing
to do is to take it all in the flesh and continue to walk
around it, soaking up the details, running a hand over the
various body and mechanical elements, straddling the bike
(position is everything on a bike, I hope you remember me
saying this very often) and imagining doing a ton out on
the open roads! The positive thing is that even when standing
still the bike conveys a sense of dynamism and better still
your dreams about doing a ton (an automotive phrase relating
to zooming at speeds of over 100kmph) will be realised effortlessly!
A bit about the style theme and who got the project off
the ground. Rajiv had Bajaj Auto link up with various engineering
and design consultancies the world over but for the Pulsar
he turned to Tokyo
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Laying
on Style
The Pulsar project began with the noted Japanese design
consultancy Tokyo R&D setting the ball rolling
with the initial concept sketches. Over 40 different
approaches were forwarded before Raji Bajaj who drove
the design team zeroed in on the concept you see here.
The idea earlier was to do a 125 & 150 pair but
saner thought prevailed and the compny decided to
be bit more adventurous in both engine capacity(to
derive better Performance and also be in sync with evolving needs) and styling.
The B/W sketches show how the Bajaj styling team went
on to refine the Tokyo R&D ideas. One other important
aspect which we can elaborate on is that barring the
initial design renderings, everything was done on
computers, making it one of the first truly paperless
projects executed in the Indian automotive industry. |
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R&D for the look he wanted his concept to sport. Tokyo
R&D came up with over 40 different design proposals
from the simple to the all-out radical and the process of
whittling it down to a final seven took almost the better
part of three months. From these seven Rajiv gave his clear
directions to the design selected. Also as you can see from
the original design sketches featured elsewhere in this
story (refer box titled 'Laying on
the style'), the initial Tokyo R&D provided base
was totally reworked by the Bajaj Auto R&D team with
inputs from Rajiv and his boys. The man who worked on achieving
the final look was Ravi Darad who worked on all the tape
drawings, clay mock-ups and early layouts in the metal.
Zeroing in on the Pulsar, it dawns on one that it is not
just about actual styling alone, but the tight packaging
of the design also stands out vividly. The focal point of
any bike is the petrol tank and the mass of engine nestling
underneath.
View the Pulsar in profile and see whether any daylight
streaks through, not that it is any criteria but the design
also had to work to a set wheelbase size and the proportions
dictated therein had to translate into a good looking form.
Unlike many manufacturers who keep the stylists and engine
designers light years apart, for the Pulsar project the
stylists also worked on the exterior architecture of the
engine, giving it a most appealing mechanical look in the
process. The subtle interplay between the painted bodywork,
chrome embellishments and various mechanical elements finished
in silver grey works superbly on all the four shades the
Pulsar is offered in: red, blue, black and silver. The Pulsar
displays a thrustful forward stance much like most modern
bikes with an emphasis of weight and mass on the front wheel.
The large 18-litre petrol tank superbly crafted with character
endowing creases running the length on its two sides so
as to offer an ideal recess for the rider's knees is a work
of art. The flush fitting aircraft type fuel filler cap
is a great detail and absolutely idiot proof. The sculpted
saddle wraps around the lower recesses of the tank and works
its way to the rear where it ends in a very aesthetically
pleasing manner on the tapered tail. The infinity styled
side panels along with the finely toned muscular look of
the tail panel extensions work in perfect harmony with the
shapely mass of the petrol tank. Also let us not forget
the sportily angled exhaust with the large end can, now
sporting a chromed heat shield which adds its own to the
overall look of the Pulsar. As does the massive 100/90-18
56P MRF Nylogrip tyre on the rear wheel of the Pulsar 180.
Doing a good looking bike is one thing and creating a near
perfect riding position on it is another. The ample use
of mannequins of various sizes was resorted to using the
'right posture verification model'. Abraham Joseph, the
project leader on the Pulsar, stated that not only were
the instrumented mannequins pressed into duty (on the Instrom
hydraulic actuator to simulate varying terrain encountered
in actual operation) but umpteen R&D personnel of varying
physical stature were also pressed into service as guinea
pigs to get the riding stance just right. Straddle the bike
and you will experience the brilliance in relationship of  the
handlebars, seat and footpeg first hand. And while we are
on the subject of design and style, the large round headlamp
with its opto-prism reflector, thestyled twin pods for the
speedo and rev counter (replete with the subtle but deliciously
pronounced leading lip) with the jet-black plastic panel
housing the telltale lamps and the fuel gauge plus the integral
top clamp with its machined look all add up to great detailing
which will only ramp up the visual delights for the rider's
senses.
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