The 2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS160 has always been one of the better motorcycle options to buy in the 160 cc segment. And this time, it gets the most significant updates, making room for more features and kit which aid in performance and handling. So, what the are the updates and how do they make the motorcycle better? We tell you about it in this crisp but comprehensive review.
Also Read: 2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS160 Review
The biggest update is the upside down fork, with the inner tube having a diameter of 37 mm and outer tube having a diameter of 48 mm. Then there's dual-channel ABS which is now a standard fitment, with callipers from Grimeca, replacing the earlier ByBre units. The front disc grows in size too and is now a 300 mm unit. The rear disc is a 230 mm unit.
The upside down forks definitely make the motorcycle a better handling machine, not that it wasn’t earlier. The NS160 is the only motorcycle in the segment to get upside down forks and dual-channel ABS as standard.
The motorcycle now feels confident and tauter in corners and the feel from the front end is better. Riding the motorcycle is now a more engaging affair.
The ride quality is firm but not to the point of being uncomfortable. It is taut and can manage undulations on the road with ease and still be stable in corners and while filtering through traffic.
The motorcycle also gets new alloy wheels, from the Pulsar 250 range, which have a nice design and are lighter as well.
The engine on the motorcycle continues to be the same as before. A 160 cc single-cylinder, oil-cooled unit which makes 17 bhp at 9,000 rpm and 14.6 Nm at 7,250 rpm. The engine is high-revving and offers an entertaining performance. It is now OBD-2 (on-board diagnostics-2) compliant as well.
The engine is mostly smooth, with a few vibrations coming in between 7,000 – 8,000 rpm. The gearshifts are smooth too and the 5-speed gearbox is slick.
Bajaj says that 85 per cent of the power and torque output comes after the engine speed crosses 5,000 rpm. So, the bottom end is weak, but the mid-range and top-end is solid and entertaining.
The overall design is the same as before, and we feel that the motorcycle could have benefitted with the addition of an LED headlight and few other styling changes.
The instrument console stays the same as before, but now gets added features like a gear position indicator, distance to empty, instantaneous fuel consumption and so on.
The motorcycle is priced at Rs. 1.35 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up against the likes of the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and the Hero Xtreme 160R in the segment. The Pulsar NS160 is more expensive than its rivals, but it gets the kit to justify that price as well, in the USD fork and dual-channel ABS. It continues to remain one of the most entertaining motorcycles in the segment.
