Bajaj Pulsar N250 : Our observations after a day of riding

The Bajaj Pulsar N250 is a wonderful sport commuter package for the biker who wants a machine which can offer both practicality and fun. The N250 is happiest dealing with a mix of city and highway usage say in the ratio of 80-20.

Riding the Bajaj Pulsar N250

The Pulsar N250 is powered by an air & oil-cooled 249cc single-cylinder engine putting out 24.2 BHP @ 8,750 rpm and 21.5 Nm @ 6,500 rpm. The compression ratio is a relaxed 10.3:1.

The 2-valve engine has fantastic low-end and mid-range usability in the urban environment. First gear is short, while second is relatively tall. However, this doesn't affect acceleration from low speeds thanks to the brilliant low-end tractability of the engine. Third and fourth gears are short, while fifth gear is configured relatively tall to cater to highway cruising. A sixth gear is missed sorely as it could have aided highway cruising at lower revs.

The engine tends to run out of steam at higher revs in general, but by and large, the N250 can take on even highway duty with ease and easily hold good speeds all day long thanks to the excellent refinement levels of the engine. For comparison, I also ride a Yamaha FZ25 for city commuting, and I can say for sure that the Pulsar N250's refinement levels are a notch higher than even the FZ25's over a wide range of rpms.

The clutch is super-light and is extremely easy to use, aiding those frequent moments when one has to navigate through traffic jams in city rush hour commutes. The gear lever is very nice to use; The shifts are precise and slick, requiring minimal effort and it is very easy to find neutral.

Refinement & NVH

Refinement levels for this bike are best-in-class, and I say this after riding bikes such as the Yamaha FZ25, TVS Apache RTR 200 and the Suzuki Gixxer 250. The exhaust note has a deep bass undertone to it, which continues throughout the lower and mid-range of the rpm spectrum. Acceleration is very smooth and cruising at any speed under say 100 km/h is very refined. Bajaj claims to have added an offset crank and a counter-balancer to keep vibrations at bay.

NVH levels are very low and the N250 feels like a well-put-together bike for the most part. What remains to be seen is how this bike ages. Bajaj bikes and Pulsars in general don't have a good reputation when it comes to retaining refinement levels as they age. We hope Bajaj has taken steps to improve the N250 in this regard.

Suspension & Handling

The N250's suspension duties are now handled by a 37 mm upside-down fork in the front and a monoshock, which is adjustable for preload at the rear. Both the front and rear suspensions are softly sprung, focussed towards providing a plush ride on city roads rather than outright cornering dynamics. In that regard, Bajaj has probably fallen short of making full use the newly introduced USD fork suspension for enhancing the dynamics.

That said, the suspension works very well in the urban concrete jungle, absorbing all the bumps with ease and ensuring riding comfort during commutes. On the highway, the bike does not feel as well planted and is, in fact, borderline nervous when pushed towards spirited riding territory. This is not to say the bike is not enjoyable. For the vast majority of the customer base of this motorcycle, highways and ghat sections are probably going to constitute a very small percentage of their usage. For city usage, the bike's suspension setup is executed very well and will keep owners happy.

The bike is heavier than its closest competitors, at ~164 kg (wet weight). At parking speeds or standstill, the extra weight is perceptible, but on the move, the bike feels sufficiently agile.

The ground clearance stands at a healthy 165 mm. This coupled with the short wheelbase means that the N250 should have no trouble clearing almost all speed-breakers, undulations and potholes on Indian roads, even the rural ones.

Braking

Braking is one of those aspects where Bajaj could have done a better job on the N250. At the front, the bike is equipped with a 300 mm disc brake, while the rear features a 230 mm disc. The N250 gets dual channel ABS with ABS ride modes to control the level of ABS intrusion based on the underlying terrain. The Grimeca branding is visible on the calipers and even the brake fluid reservoirs of the front and rear brakes.

The front brakes are okay for city commuting, but they lack sufficient bite force for spirited riding. The lack of feedback and a somewhat wooden feel take away the confidence of braking at higher speeds. The rear brake is very weak and next to useless - feels just like a footrest!

Closing Thoughts

Overall, the Pulsar N250 is a wonderful sport commuter package for the biker who wants a machine which can offer both practicality and fun. The N250 is happiest dealing with a mix of city and highway usage say in the ratio of 80-20. In urban confines the N250 shines with its mature and effortless riding experience, going about its duty happily while the owner attends to his/her errands and commutes. The refinement levels, practicality and tractable engine with the feather-light clutch and precise gear shifts offer a surprisingly high level of no-nonsense city riding pleasure. Ask this bike to step up to the job of highway trips, and it will do so gladly but with a few caveats such as the compromised dynamics, below-par braking and a lethargic power delivery at higher speeds.

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