Despite being an almost 400 cc motorcycle, the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z competes against much less powerful bikes.
Despite being an almost 400 cc motorcycle, the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z competes against much less powerful bikes.
Bajaj has hit it out of the park with its new flagship Pulsar. Launched as part of the NS series, the new Pulsar NS400Z at ₹1.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) is the most affordable 400 cc motorcycle available in the country. So much so, that engine-wise, the flagship Pulsar’s counterparts are dearer by almost ₹1-1.5 lakh (ex-showroom).
So, what are the bikes available at around the price of the new Pulsar NS400Z? We list them down for you.
The Yamaha R15 V4 is one of the most exciting 150 cc sport bikes. With a fairing design that trickles down from an icon, the R6, and paired with a very tractable engine that can rev up to 10,000 rpm and produce 18 bhp of peak power and 14.2 Nm – this Yammie is a complete package. If naked streetfighter motorcycles, like the Pulsar NS400Z, are not your cuppa, then the Yamaha R15 V4 at ₹1.87 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) can very well fit your bill and garage. However, you will be missing out on that extra performance courtesy of the extra displacement backed by four ride modes and switchable traction control that the Pulsar NS400Z offers as standard.
Just like the flagship Pulsar NS400Z, the Mavrick 440 is also Hero’s flagship offering. It was developed alongside the Harley-Davidson X440 by its respective manufacturer. Unlike the Pulsar NS400Z, the flagship Hero has a much calmer engine tune, and has a very relaxed rider triangle. Designed to look like a roadster, the Hero Mavrick 440 is a cruiser at best and is available with all the bells and whistles too – but that will set you back by ₹2.24lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Moreover, the Mavrick 440 also gives you the choice of options in the form of three different trim levels with the base model starting from ₹1.99 lakh (ex-showroom), onwards. Unlike the Pulsar NS400Z which is available in just one variant and three colour options only, all at the same price.
If the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z feels too conservative looking, then the KTM 200 Duke at ₹1.97 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) might just be the funk for you. Its liquid-cooled, DOHC, single-cylinder 199.5 cc engine might produce 11 bhp and 15.7 Nm less than the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z, at 24 bhp and 19.3 Nm — but at 159 kg, the KTM naked sport is 15 kg lighter (kerb weight) than the flagship Pulsar, and that leads to some quicker acceleration. So, for that extra ₹10,000 would the KTM 200 Duke be worth it, we think it might, if all you want is thrills.
With a starting ex-showroom price (Delhi) of ₹1.82 lakh, the Suzuki Gixxer 250 is almost ₹3,000 cheaper than the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z, but ₹48,000 more expensive than its obvious competitor the Bajaj Pulsar N250. While the Gixxer 250 is nowhere close to the flagship Pulsar in terms of a long feature list. With a very refined and tractable engine, it ends up being one of those nicer motorcycles to ride.
If looks are what you are after, then the new Hero Karizma XMR is one of the best-looking motorcycles. At ₹1,79,990 (ex-showroom, Delhi), it even undercuts the biggest Pulsar by ₹5,010. Feature-wise, there are a few niche additions like the standard adjustable windshield, along with a Bluetooth-compatible fully digital instrument cluster, with turn-by-turn navigation. But its 210 cc engine produces 25.15 bhp and 20.4 Nm, which are healthy figures too no doubt, but again are nowhere close to the performance edge of the Pulsar NS400Z.
And lastly, since we are in the age of EVs – the Ather 450 Apex at ₹1.95 lakh, is one solid alternative to the Pulsar NS400Z. It not only delivers on the performance front with a 0-60 kmph coming up in 2.9 seconds, but it also comes loaded with a plethora of features like onboard Google Maps, WhatsApp alert, and much more. Moreover, the running cost of the Ather 450 Apex will be far less than the most powerful Pulsar which uses a performance-oriented, KTM engine. So, if you want something exciting on two wheels, but don’t want to spend too much daily on it, the Ather 450 Apex will be your smart choice.
