Bajaj Pulsar 200NS
Inspired by the work of one of the best customizers in the world from a far, far away country, take a cheap small-capacity car, and, along the way, learning the necessary techniques, make a chic custom - here it is, customization in its purest form. Anyone can make a beautiful Ducati - all you have to do is walk into a dealer with a credit card in your pocket.
But to capture the very essence of customization, making a motorcycle with your own hands from what you can afford at the moment, and embodying yourself, your creativity and your preferences in it - this is what is more valuable than a plump wallet and factory custom kits. A master from the Indian city of Hyderabad, known under the brand IRONic, chose this difficult creative path, and thanks to COVID-19, which gave him a lot of free time, he took his completely stock Bajaj Pulsar 200NS and created a real work of art out of it.
Motorcycle BAJAJ Pulsar RS 200
This motorcycle was created for those who never give up , for those who leave marks at every turn and do not stop at the next obstacle. The entire Pulsar family is built on its own line, but the current generation has gone further in its development than any previously released Pulsar. This motorcycle is designed to take performance to a whole new level. Twist the throttle and feel the never-ending rush of adrenaline as you drive the fastest Pulsar ever! An innovative three-plug ignition system , four-valve cylinder head (SOHC), liquid cooling, single-cylinder engine producing 24.5 l/s at 9500 rpm and 18.6 Nm of torque at 8000 rpm make this bike simply fly. maximum speed But that's not all: the CDI injection system precisely regulates the fuel supply, while ensuring efficient combustion. The 6-speed transmission makes the Pulsar RS 200 accelerate much easier with precise and quick gear changes. Racing in extreme heat? Its liquid cooling will satisfy your need for speed. Unsurprisingly, the specifications of this motorcycle make it the fastest Pulsar. Stylish alloy wheels and tubeless tires. With the Pulsar RS200, everything is under your control. There is no doubt that all attention will be focused on you. The Pulsar RS200 packs blazing style into every inch of its muscular appearance. The aerodynamic style fairing gives the bike a monstrous and terrifying appearance, which others will involuntarily want to pay attention to again. Look at its crystal LED tail lights - LED lamps that not only improve visibility on the road but are also very attractive, turning others into instant RS200 fans. The boisterous exhaust is complemented by the ExhausTEC system , which together increases the overall performance of the engine. The sports handlebar complements the racing look of the motorcycle, allowing the rider to achieve an optimal riding position. At the same time, this motorcycle is aimed at a wide audience. With the Pulsar RS200, a biker's riding is absolutely safe on any road. So what makes the Pulsar RS200 the safest in the Pulsar range while also being the fastest? Firstly, it is equipped with front and rear lightweight petal brake discs and a master cylinder made by ByBre (a division of Brembo), which ensure optimal braking. Braking power on the front axle is handled by a 300mm petal brake disc, while a 230mm disc with a diameter of 230mm is responsible for the rear axle. Single-channel ABS provides exceptional braking performance, giving the rider unprecedented control over the bike. Petal disc brakes are complemented by ABS; this is perhaps the most advanced braking mechanism in its class. And headlights with two lenses will not force you to slow down even on the darkest sections of the road. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail - as long as the rider is comfortable while moving around the city or over long distances, even such a small thing as rubberized pads on the footrests for the rear passenger. The tubular steel diagonal frame is designed to provide the most comfortable riding position for the rider while maintaining a fast, balanced appearance. The rigidity of the Bajaj RS200 frame not only allows the bike to corner accurately, but also slows down efficiently and safely from high speeds. The front suspension includes 37mm telescopic forks at the front and Nitrox suspension at the rear with 7-position adjustable rear monoshock so that any Bajaj RS200 rider can find the optimum performance for themselves.
Hi all! Today I closed the season on my Pulsar, and I can finally tell you something interesting about it. There is vanishingly little information in Russian about this motorcycle. There are a couple of “nothing” reviews from journalists, but these reviews do not give an idea about the technology, operating features, etc. Well, I collected a lot of impressions this season, some of which I shared in my previous posts, and a lot of information about this motorcycle as a whole: what it consists of and who is to blame for it.
The review will be divided into two parts: technical and impressions. Let's begin!
Technical part
One 200cc cylinder, six gears. The maximum torque of 18.6 NM is achieved at 8000 rpm. Maximum power - 24.5 PS - is achieved at 9750 rpm. The weight of the motorcycle (curb) is 165 kg. The weight of my motorcycle, thanks to the trunk and panniers, is about 180 kg. Such an engine with such a mass allows the motorcycle to accelerate to 100 km/h (according to the speedometer) in ~9.5-10 seconds and reach a maximum speed (according to the speedometer) of 140.8 km/h (according to official specifications)
What does "according to the speedometer" mean?
On all vehicles, the speedometer has some error, and this error is always positive. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to determine how large this error will be. For example, a Chinese 150 cc scooter with a speedometer reading of 140 km/h actually travels 100 km/h.
So what is the error of the Pulsar RS200?
This has been the subject of much debate on the Internet.
The general opinion is this: if the Pulsar has 140 on the speedometer, it means it is going 100-110. But I can responsibly declare: nothing like that. I did test runs with two different GPS speedometers: one in the tracker, the other in the Sony AS300 action camera. Speedometer error does not exceed 10 km/h
At a speed of 139 km/h according to the speedometer, GPS trackers registered a speed of 129.2 km/h.
A speed of 91 km/h (this is 100 km/h according to the speedometer) was achieved in ~10 seconds
The actual 100 km/h is achieved in 12 seconds
All measurements were carried out on a motorcycle with a trunk and panniers. The motorcycle is “stock”, and with a lower and lighter rider, it will accelerate even a little faster.
To make it clear what kind of trunk and panniers we are talking about, I will attach a photo of my motorcycle in full body kit.
Ground clearance
The ground clearance of the motorcycle is 157 mm. This is enough to drive on dead roads, dirt roads, forest paths, and drive off low curbs, but a high curb already becomes an impregnable obstacle: it will be scraped by the exhaust pipe.
Lighting engineering
The Pulsar has two halogen lenses.
They shine well , but the low beams do not have a “bird” to illuminate road signs on the right side of the road. I'll think about what to do about it.
The remaining light sources (dimensions, turn signals, brake lights) are LED, bright and noticeable.
Fuel consumption
In vegetable mode, you can invest 2.5 liters in the city.
If you spin the motorcycle, the consumption will be about 3.5 liters. If you drive 120-130 km/h on the highway for a long time, the consumption will be 3.8-3.9 per hundred, if you drive 90-100, then 2.7 liters. The tank is guaranteed to last for 300 km in any case. I only refueled with 95 at branded gas stations.
What does the Pulsar RS200 consist of?
The Bajaj Pulsar RS200 differs significantly from Chinese motorcycles in the overall build quality and components used.
The metal of the frame and the fastening of the body kit to the frame are of normal thickness, does not bend, does not move. The Chinese have big problems with this.
The engine is from a KTM Duke 200 , the head with valves has been reworked by BAJAJ engineers. They removed one camshaft (out of two) and for some reason stuck in three spark plugs. They talk about increasing power, in fact Duke 200 with one spark plug has half a horse more. Three spark plugs, in theory, can allow you to drive on fuel of any quality.
Injector - Bosch The same system (same ECU, same injectors and sensors) is also used in the KTM Duke 125, 200, 390.
Spark plugs - Bosch
ABS – Bosch ABS light: single-channel ABS for small motorcycles.
Headlight bulbs – OSRAM H9 and H11
Rear Monoshock – Endurance Mono Gas Filled Shock Absorber
Endurance products are also used by such motorcycle manufacturers as: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, India Yamaha Motor, KTM Power Sports AG, Piaggio, Suzuki Motorcycle India, Harley-Davidson India, as well as such car manufacturers as: Alfa Romeo, Daimler AG, FIAT Chrysler, Jeep, Lancia
Front Shock Absorber – Endurance
Wheel rims - ZCW ZCW is a Chinese manufacturer of rims. Their wheels are installed on cars from such manufacturers as BMW, Fiat, Ford, and many others; ZCW wheels are also installed on BMW motorcycles.
I would also like to say a few words about wiring . In Chinese motorcycles, the wiring is a wire of the smallest possible cross-section, the harnesses are wound with electrical tape, one fuse for the entire motorcycle, connectors for connecting turn signals, dimensions, stops - the cheapest knife terminals.
Here everything is different. Wiring made from normal wires, bundles in fabric braiding, secured with ties wherever needed
Fuse blocks - one fuse for each circuit
Moreover, spare fuses are located in special places in the same blocks.
Knife terminals are not used, but instead are secure snap connectors
Note: the mess of wires here is due to the alarm system and extras. equipment.
The battery is Indian-made Exide, not a Chinese noname. During the season I did not lose a single gram of capacity.
Brakes – BYBRE ByBre (acronym “By Brembo”) is a brand specializing in the production of brake systems for scooters and motorcycles of small and medium engine capacity (up to 600 cc) for the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and other countries Southeast Asia (ASEAN). Installed on KTM Duke 125, 200, 390, BMW R310GS
They work damn well. Seriously, not a single Chinese brakes anywhere near as good as the Pulsar.
Tires – MRF Zapper-s MRF is little known in European markets, in India these tires are considered the best local tires. They hold the road surprisingly well, even at +5. The Pulsar 200NS had Eurogrip tires, which were nicknamed Euroslip for their outstanding performance (sarcasm).
The fuse blocks , by the way, are completely identical to those in the KTM Duke 200.
The crankcase, crankcase covers, cylinder and cylinder head, as well as brake rotors and clip-ons, or some of these, are probably also made by Endurance .
Well, it’s also nice to see that the motorcycle has passed the quality control department
Maintenance
I do my motorcycle maintenance at the official Bajaj service center in my city.
The oil I use is Motul 7100 20w50. In fact, such an expensive oil is of no use here, you can pour 5100, but the Indians on their forums claim that the gearbox works best with this, so... The oil change interval is 5000 km. The engine has a coarse filter (mesh) and a fine filter. Even during the first oil change at 500 km, there were no special chips or debris in the oil.
Impression
Dry technical information is of no interest to anyone. Therefore, part of the post is devoted to my impressions of the motorcycle.
Dynamics
The dynamics of Pulsar are quite good. All Chinese 200s can be ignored altogether. The motorcycle accelerates very quickly, faster than most cars and comparable to, for example, the Honda CB400SS (Geon Bullet 400). But there is one caveat. The engine comes to life only at 7,500 rpm, and starts screaming like crazy from 9,500. That is, dynamic and comfortable driving is possible in a narrow rpm range, and for simply dynamic driving, the engine can be turned up to 10,500 without problems, but this is already unpleasant to the ear.
There are practically no vibrations throughout the entire rev range; long-term driving without problems and without violence is possible at 9300-9500. Up to 7500 rpm the motorcycle is a vegetable. What follows from all this is this: you will constantly fiddle with the gears up and down. Example: you are driving behind someone 90 in 6th gear, you wanted to overtake - you dropped the gear to 4, accelerated to 100-105, shifted to 5, accelerated to 115 - shifted to 6. The first three gears are short, if you want to start dynamically from traffic lights - you will constantly hit the cutoff point. This is the only thing that doesn’t suit me about the motorcycle in terms of operation. The dynamics and maximum speed were enough for me always and everywhere.
Comfort
Clip -ons are not the best friend of long trips.
The clip-ons make my wrists hurt after a few hours in the saddle. The maximum I drove in a day was 850 km, it didn’t feel terrible, but if the steering wheel had been straight it would have been easier. The saddle is surprisingly comfortable, although a little hard. After a few hours, my butt hurts, but less than my wrists. Again, you can ride the Pulsar RS200 in a standing position and thereby give your butt and knees a rest.
By the way, my knees People with shorter height than me (192 cm) will find it much easier. Every 200 kilometers you need to stretch your knees. But it is not necessary to stop and get off the motorcycle for this.
Wind protection is insufficient: even if you lie on the tank, your head will be tossed with air. But it exists, unlike naked kids, and you can feel it.
Dirt protection at the highest level. You can safely drive on the wettest, deadest and dirtiest road and be clean and not look like a pig. The motorcycle also remains clean.
Stability and handling are very good. The motorcycle moves in the wind, of course, but less than the Geon Bullet 400, for example. At the same time, the motorcycle holds the road and handles very, very well. There is no point in comparing with Chinese motorcycles, this is technology on a different level.
The suspension is a bit harsh. When loading a kilogram 20 above the maximum, it begins to break through, and the maximum is 130 kg. Those. if you weigh 90, you can take a passenger weighing 40 kg and that’s it. In fact, with a gear weight of 95 kg, I carried a passenger weighing up to 60 kg and did not experience any inconvenience. By the way, the passenger did not have much effect on the dynamics.
Breakdowns
Buyers of cheap equipment from little-known brands worry that it will break down and malfunction.
I also had doubts when choosing a new motorcycle and almost bought the Geon Grandtour 400. How glad I am that I chose the Pulsar! Over 6,300 kilometers of driving in different weather conditions and on roads of varying quality, the following happened:
- Nothing's broken
- Nothing came loose
- Nothing ever went wrong
I (or not me, the question is open) ruined the thread on the plastic fastening.
Restored with a threaded insert. I found a scratch on the glass of the oil level check window.
Today I got a new window installed for free.
And during break-in, oil leaked slightly from under the engine cover.
All.
Are you thinking about changing your motorcycle? Of course have. I wouldn't mind a Honda NC700X with an automatic. I’m not considering other options yet, but I’m not counting on Honda in the next couple of years either. The Dominar 400 does not appeal to me: naked, which means no wind protection, acceleration to 100 in 8.2 versus 9.8 of mine - replacement makes no sense. They also removed the hugger, you fools, but it caught all the dirt from the rear wheel.
That seems to be all. If suddenly something is missing in the post, tell me, I will add to the post or answer in the comment. Thank you for reading.
Bajaj Pulsar 200NS
In his workshop, the self-taught blacksmith creates incredible sculptures, functional art and stunning handcrafted knives. But he decided to learn how to work with aluminum - forming, welding - and in the meantime turn his motorcycle into something new.
The custom Bajaj Pulsar 200NS project took about two and a half years, I periodically worked on it in my free time from my main job and sculptural projects. I was able to finish it when a total lockdown was announced in the country - in March last year, and besides working on a motorcycle, I found no other activities.
Bajaj Pulsar 200NS
Being a big fan of the master Shinya Kimura, IRONic brought obvious references to his work into their project. In addition, his brother, designer HAMerRED, helped the master with the initial design concept. But as a basis, IRONic chose one of the most unknown motorcycles in the world of customization (ironically, produced by one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world), the Bajaj Pulsar 200NS. Given its stake in KTM (which owns Husqvarna and GasGas), the number of motorcycles Bajaj produces exceeds Honda and India's Hero MotoCorp. The pressed steel frame and single-cylinder engine make the Pulsar a fairly basic model, but with a price tag of around $2,000 new, reasonable and consistent quality and reliability, it's a sought after everyday bike.
However, IRONic had other plans: his Bajaj was to be much more than an everyday city transporter. But it's easy to say, but hard to do:
Mainly because I'm a lousy welder, and secondly because I'm a lousy molder. At the beginning, I almost didn’t know how to work with aluminum,” the master laughs.
It’s easy to talk about yourself in such a tone when there is something to compare with - after all, he works with steel skillfully and professionally. But he also had to learn such a complex material as aluminum - welding, forming, and more.
