2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS 200 Review: Comeback Kid!

The Bajaj Pulsar NS200 is no less a legend in the Pulsar family. Sharp styling, sporty handling and free-revving performance made it an almost instant hit when it was first launched in 2012. Over the years, the NS200 kick-started a strong fan following, achieving almost legendary status as a performance-oriented and sharp handling Pulsar. 

Also Read: What Has Changed On The 2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS200?

Also Read: 2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS200 Launchedl Priced At Rs. 1.47 Lakh

In fact, barring a two-year absence when Bajaj discontinued the model, the NS200 once again was re-launched with minor cosmetic updates in 2017. Now, in 2023, the Pulsar NS200 gets its most significant update, with the introduction of upside down (USD) front forks, new lighter wheels, new brakes with standard dual-channel ABS. 

The 2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS200 retains the same overall silhouette and design from before. Not necessarily a bad thing, but fresher styling and details could have given it added appeal.

Design & Features

The overall silhouette and design of the updated NS200 remains more or less same as before. There’s that muscular and sharp bodywork, with cuts and creases which seem to have aged well, making it look quite contemporary. You may not have heads turning on the street, but the NS200 is still well-proportioned, and has that sporty and muscular stance. If only there was LED lighting to go with the update, it would have definitely made it more desirable and contemporary.

The part-analogue, part digital instrument console now gets gear position indicator, as well as distance to empty and instantaneous fuel consumption readings. A more modern console would have definitely helped the NS200's case with Gen Z customers.

The instrument console now gets updated to include a gear position indicator, distance to empty readings and instantaneous fuel consumption figures. But there’s still no new-age connectivity features; no Bluetooth and you can’t pair your phone to access call information or access navigation. Purists though will love the analogue rev needle, and the gear position indicator is a welcome addition, as is the distance-to-empty readout.

The quality of paint, and the mirror finish on the decals look nice.

The paint quality seems to have improved a lot, and the branding logos on the fuel tank do exude a level of quality and finish that is pretty much right up there with the best. 

The new alloys are shared with the Pulsar 250, as are the Grimeca brake calipers. Dual-channel ABS is now standard, a very welcome feature.

The NS200 is available in two colour options, which include the Ebony Black and Pearl Metallic White shades. The white wheels from the last generation NS200 have been replaced with gunmetal finished lighter alloys shared with the Pulsar 250s. Overall, 3 kg weight has been shaved off, 2 kg from the USD forks and 500 g each from the wheels. The brakes are now Grimeca, shared with the Pulsar 250, replacing the ByBre hardware, and with a 300 mm front disc and standard dual-channel ABS .

The engine is free-revving and lively, and will bounce off the rev limiter in every gear. The NS200 loves being revved and is an eager beaver as far as performance is concerned.

Engine & Performance

The NS200 carries forward the same engine as before with the exact same output. The 199 cc, single-cylinder, four-valve, liquid-cooled engine puts out 24 bhp at 9,750 rpm and 18.7 Nm of peak torque at 8,000 rpm. The engine is now OBD-2 (onboard diagnostics) compliant and still has that familiar free-revving nature. It’s eager to hit the rev limiter and when you accelerate through the six-speed gearbox, it will spin close to 10,000 rpm in every gear. 

There's some minor buzz from the engine at higher revs, and you will feel the buzz in the pegs and handlebar, but nothing very alarming or disappointing.

Overall refinement levels seem to have improved, even though there’s some light buzz felt at higher revs, which you will feel on the pegs and the handlebar, but not very alarming to put you off. What you will definitely enjoy though is hitting the rev limiter in every gear, and you can do that all day long, without any sign of protest from the engine. 

Where the NS200 absolutely shines is in its dynamics. It's sure-footed, with precise and direct steering, and the USD fork gives a solid planted front-end feel.

Ride & Handling

The suspension is firm, but the dynamics are sorted and precise, without affecting ride quality. The steel perimeter frame offers a level of handling, that’s still probably the best amongst all the 10 Pulsar models available on sale right now. On a right go-kart track during our first ride, the NS200 is eager to dip in and out of corners. Despite no room for higher speeds and with a tight series of left right corners, the NS200 remains planted and offers very good flickability. 

On the road too, the NS200 loves a twisty road, and offers a sense of balance and composure that is very impressive!

The upside-down forks have made the steering precise and direct and front end feel is outstanding. A bigger track, perhaps like the test track at Bajaj’s Chakan facility could have certainly demonstrated the front end capability far better. 

With its steel perimeter frame and revvy engine, the NS200 still retains its friendly and entertaining personality.

Out on the road too, the NS 200 loves to be hustled around corners, and if it’s a twisty road you enjoy riding on, the NS 200 will not disappoint you. The entertaining and friendly personality is very much intact, and despite being a decade old, the NS200 with its steel perimeter frame and revvy engine is still a delight. The bike retains composure even when leaned over, and steering is precise and direct, all qualities which make for a dynamically impressive product.

The 2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS200 is priced at Rs. 1,47,347 (Ex-showroom, Delhi).

Prices & Competition

The 2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS200 is priced at Rs. 1,47,347 (Ex-showroom) and will rival the likes of the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, as well as the Hero XPulse 200T 4V, both of which get more premium features like LED headlights, and Bluetooth connectivity, along with full-digital instrument consoles. It will also go up against the Hero Xtreme 200S, and the Suzuki Gixxer 250. But there will be rivals closer home, and within the Pulsar family, which now has a total of 10 models ranging from 125 cc to 250 cc.

Also Read: Bajaj Pulsar P150 Review

Verdict

The Bajaj Pulsar NS 200 always had a free-revving engine which was entertaining, and sharp dynamics which are very impressive. On the updated NS 200, those qualities haven’t changed. It’s still an enjoyable bike with an eager engine and planted dynamics. With the updates, particularly the upside down (USD) front forks, the NS 200 has become even better in the handling and dynamics department. In all, it’s still got very good performance and handling to make it a good choice, despite its decade-old age. 

With USD front forks, updated brakes with standard dual-channel ABS, and new colours with high-quality paint, the Pulsar NS200 has got fresh appeal, and is still a very good bike, if you look beyond the new-age features, or lack thereof.

The problem for Bajaj though is one of sibling rivalry. If you walk into a Bajaj showroom, you will also see the two Pulsar 250s, both of which are just Rs. 2,000 more expensive than the NS 200, with more engine displacement, as well as marginally more torque, at least on paper. Then, there’s the question of features. Despite the updated instrument console, there still isn’t Bluetooth connectivity to pair your phone with, no LED lighting, or any changes in the styling.

Also Read: Bajaj Pulsar N250, F250 Review 

The Bajaj Pulsar NS200 may be a decade old, but it's still got a few tricks up its sleeve which makes it one of the best bikes in its segment. 

But if you like your motorcycles simple and pure, with a good engine, great dynamics and sorted mechanicals, the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 could still make the cut for you! At the end of the day, it’s still a great bike, which just got even better!

(Photography: Apoorv Choudhary)

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