[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Rahulkool

Hey doc, how was the engine refinement compared to duke ? Exhaust note was same ?

Considering the bike is 10000 kms old and has over 5000 kms without an oil change, especially including a long 3500+ kms ride with a lot of off roading thrown in during that, I would say the engine is pretty smooth.

As a longstanding Bulleteer, for me "engine refinement" has a whole different meaning to most but yes, the engine is smooth, though there were vibes in the pegs, hands, and thighs (over the tank recss area) - but again, the bike has to be serviced and tightened up still.

The gears were good. I used to ride a classic Pulsar 180 ten years ago. Bajaj has learned how to make gearboxes since then.

The exhaust note is very subjective. It is smooth, and rises gradually. I did not like it. I like the angry rough and sharper note of the Duke much more - like a four stroke on chambers. The testers do not agree. All of them liked the note of the NS more. More "big bike" acording to them. Well, different strokes I say!

[twinblades]

I walked into Khivraj Motors in Indiranagar Bangalore as they told me they had 3 colours in the showroom( all except Yellow). When i got there it turned out that they had the only the Yellow colour, i wasn't complaining. Boy the bike is so impressive in the real life. Waiting for the Test drive but I am pretty sure I will be very happy with the Pulsar NS. Been riding my CBZ for nearly 12 years and suddenly the KTM and Pulsar made me feel 18 again. Test drive is going to make me decide against the Pulsar or not. KTM was very impressive.

[ashwin.terminat]

Just saw the Blue colour 200NS on Kasturba Road today. Mighty impressed! The front brakes are HUGE! No test ride yet though.

On road price: Rs. 1,00,481

[balenopower]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Finally got the chance to swing a leg over one of the test mules last night. Short 5 odd km ride. Bike is around 10000 km old and oil was at around 5000+ kms. Those who compare this bike to the Duke and gleefully rub their hands at the 30K "premium" saved have either never ridden the Duke to anywhere close to its true potential, do not have/want to spend the extra 30K and are rationalizing based on on-paper numbers, or are simply fanboys not open to the obvious truth.

Which is that these two bikes are chalk and cheese. Yes, the NS "may" be the best Pulsar ever built. But to be fair and less than brutal, lets leave it at that.

The pull is nowhere close. The handling is nowhere close. The grip levels are nowhere close. The suspension is nowhere close, be it the non-compliant front or the jumpy rear.

But by far the scariest thing was the front end which obviously had something seriously wrong. First corner lean in and it became clear something was not right. The handle and rest of the bike were obviously out of sync. The bike has never been dropped, never been abused.

Just thought I'd share this with you.

That is pretty much the opposite of how i found the bike. Interestingly, Bajaj has claimed the NS to be over a second faster than the Duke at its Chakan test track which if you might have seen has a nice blend of technical corners and straights. The Twin Spar frame on the NS simply makes this Pulsar a force to reckon with as i found on my way to Lavasa. The major problem with the NS are the TVS EUROGRIP tyres that provide sufficient grip but are extremely vague in their feedback and feel, which takes away a lot of vital information about what is going on between the tyres and the road. but with enough saddle time, it gets mildly better to extract some feedback from the tyres. Im certainly not a Pulsar Fan boy but my version of the obvious truth certainly differs from yours.
Cheers!

[shamanth]

Haven't test ridden, but sat on the bike in Khivraj kasturba, Bangalore. Me being 5'8'' could not fully keep my feet down. I also will test ride and decide on Duke or NS, i think from tomorrow test rides are available in Bangalore.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by balenopower

That is pretty much the opposite of how i found the bike.

Cool bro . Opinions are subjective. And the machines would/could have been different as well. How much of the Duke and the NS have you ridden incidentally?

For me the NS was a brief sprint -but the front end issue, the feel of the bike while pulling, and the composure and grip while leaning it into a corner fast do not need many countless kilometers. Though if you've done Lavasa on it, that's a good test all around.

Interestingly, Bajaj has claimed the NS to be over a second faster than the Duke at its Chakan test track which if you might have seen has a nice blend of technical corners and straights.

Yup, I've ridden their test track. Can't comment on what Bajaj claims, or anyone else. To be honest, when it comes to bikes, I would put a lot more stock in my own experience and that of real world experienced riders than what companies and biker mags and/or websites have to say. A commercial angle always muddies the waters, though I admit it may not always necessarily be so.

The Twin Spar frame on the NS simply makes this Pulsar a force to reckon with as i found on my way to Lavasa. The major problem with the NS are the TVS EUROGRIP tyres that provide sufficient grip but are extremely vague in their feedback and feel, which takes away a lot of vital information about what is going on between the tyres and the road. but with enough saddle time, it gets mildly better to extract some feedback from the tyres. Im certainly not a Pulsar Fan boy but my version of the obvious truth certainly differs from yours.
Cheers!

The tyres are an issue that many of the testers have also commented on. Especially those who have sampled the Duke's rubber. And this includes a well known rider who tests for one of the mags as well

Another issue, since we are on the subject, is the feeling of interrupted weightlessness (skipping) of the back end as you go into a corner. And no, it has nothing to do with the rear tyre mini-stoppieing on hard front braking like the MotoGP guys

Finally, and this is now open source so can be shared here - two of the test mules on stock set-up and carburetion failed to climb Chang La. They managed only after leaning out their jetting and re-attempting the climb.

Nice to swap notes with another non-fanboy!

Cheers, Doc

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by balenopower

The major problem with the NS are the TVS EUROGRIP tyres that provide sufficient grip but are extremely vague in their feedback and feel, which takes away a lot of vital information about what is going on between the tyres and the road. but with enough saddle time, it gets mildly better to extract some feedback from the tyres.

That's an easy fix isn't? Are the KTM's tires available in the market yet?

Keep in mind the KTM also uses more sophisticated USD front forks.

[ebonho]

P.S. I have been corrected by someone who just read my post above.

I quote:

One NS climbed Chang la without needing any tuning but it was a crawl.

The other that failed & had to be leaned out, was with pillion.

[balenopower]

Cool bro . Opinions are subjective. And the machines would/could have been different as well. How much of the Duke and the NS have you ridden incidentally?

Had the NS for a week with me and this was the post production machine and same for the Duke so i did put on a couple of hundred km on both teh machines.


Another issue, since we are on the subject, is the feeling of interrupted weightlessness (skipping) of the back end as you go into a corner. And no, it has nothing to do with the rear tyre mini-stoppieing on hard front braking like the MotoGP guys

Again the bike which i got had no such issues, apart from the tyres i found the braking and turning in spot on. It takes a lot less effort in the Duke on switchbacks thanks to its lighter weight but that's about it.


Finally, and this is now open source so can be shared here - two of the test mules on stock set-up and carburetion failed to climb Chang La. They managed only after leaning out their jetting and re-attempting the climb.

A friend is on his way to the very same mountains next week on his Duke. Hope the Duke fairs better.

[balenopower]

Originally Posted by Mpower

That's an easy fix isn't? Are the KTM's tires available in the market yet?

Keep in mind the KTM also uses more sophisticated USD front forks.

Yes the MRF revz from the KTM will make a load of difference on the NS

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by balenopower

A friend is on his way to the very same mountains next week on his Duke. Hope the Duke fairs better.

We'll wait to hear about how your friend made out, but I know of at least a handful of Dukes if not more that have already made it to Leh and back pretty effortlessly (2-3 gear max) on their own steam. With full luggage load. And stock tyres.

I rate climbing ability and pulling up a gradient under load very high on my list of must haves from all my vehicles - be it car or bike.

[fiesta_21]

Took the bike for a test drive today .Very much impressed with the bike ! The bike has GREAT acceleration , it just wont stop accelerating till the 10500 rpm mark ! I now understand what they mean by saying the power is spread throughout the RPM band. The brakes were very good too. The only thing I was a bit disappointed was about the suspension , even when I rode through a small pot hole I could feel it maybe changing the suspension settings may help. Overall very satisfied with the bike . The service guy said that it would surely give a mileage of 30kmpl however hard you ride also considering road conditions . I personally thing it would give 40+ if rode economically and in good roads !

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Finally, and this is now open source so can be shared here - two of the test mules on stock set-up and carburetion failed to climb Chang La. They managed only after leaning out their jetting and re-attempting the climb.

Hi,
I would think that this is expected of any carburettor (set up for sea level). And no big deal really.

Regards
Sutripta

PS:- No, i haven't swung a leg over the NS200. In fact haven't even seen one!

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Hi,
I would think that this is expected of any carburettor (set up for sea level). And no big deal really.

Regards
Sutripta

PS:- No, i haven't swung a leg over the NS200. In fact haven't even seen one!

Agreed Sutripta. But when a carbed Kinetic and a carbed Fiero can do it, when a carbed first generation Pulsar 150 can do it, without getting older generation Bullets and Yezdis into the equation, one would expect the latest Pulsar to do it with ease.

Not to mention that a CV carb is much more adept at adjusting to altitude changes than the older generation slide carbs.

Of the other bikes, Karizmas are especially notorious for this running out of breath at altitude. Hope the production versions of the NS do not join this club.

[doctorque]

As being discussed, just thought i would also include my bit. 99% plus NS bikes, like all others will not make it to Leh or Extreme altitudes. So its reason only for the minutest community to take notice of this aspect of NS's performance.

Also, NS's behavior at the highest altitudes cannot be concluded as yet as the production versions are different and we will have to wait and watch this space.

After seeing (and riding) the diverse and far under powered machines around the highest motorable road, i feel Khardungla should be a cake walk for the NS.

Please note that the mentioned opinion is personal and comes from the little bit of experience i have.