2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 First Ride Review: A More Solid Naked Now

Until now, the story of the quarter-litre Bajaj Pulsars isn’t quite as fulfilling. The promise to offer something new and unique in a larger avatar than ever before didn't quite pay off, as the Chakan-based bike maker didn't really get as many takers for the 250s as it had hoped. So, in order to change the destiny of its Pulsar N250 naked, Bajaj has thrown in some fancy new bits to spruce up its overall appeal. And to its credit, the price has just gone up by ₹851. Does the naked make for a better purchase now?

More Confident Handling

On paper, the major highlight of the updates happens to be the inclusion of a USD fork. The actual difference maker to the riding experience, though, are the wider tyres. They lend a sense of composure and confidence that was sort of lacking on the older bike. The previous version had a bit of an eagerness in the handling department that many would have found it nervy. However, with the new wider rubber, the Pulsar now remains far more settled when you are switching lanes on the highway or filtering through traffic. You will have to put in a tad bit more effort at the bars to push it into the bends but payoff in terms of thrill is amplified.

Just As Pliant

And the tuning of the new 37 mm USD fork isn’t too different from the old telescopic unit. It is just as absorbent and pliant over broken roads, soaking in the bumps rather well. It is the monoshock that still is set up on the firmer side, causing a bit of a tossy sensation. It can throw the rider off the seat over the larger of the bumps and unsettles the bike slightly when encountered with a mid-corner bump.

Lovely Torquey Motor

The 249 cc engine has been about providing power to the masses in matters that really matter. So we are glad that the good calm torquey characteristics aren’t meddled with as it continues to put out 24.16 bhp and 21.5 Nm. It still remains fairly tractable in city conditions and is pretty refined on the highway while sustaining 110 kmph. What it does lack is that sense of zip or urgency that older Pulsars were known for but hey, there’s another big Pulsar on the horizon suited to cater to that need coming rather soon on May 3.

Sportily Upright

The seating posture on the N250 remains more or less upright. You have a hint of sportiness in the posture with the seat padding remaining just as firm and comforting as before. I would have liked a slightly wider handlebar as currently the leverage on offer is a bit less.

Needs Better Stopping Power

Braking still remains a weak point of this Pulsar as the initial stopping performance is lacking. Hence in immediate panic braking situations, shedding speed becomes a bit of a challenge. Thankfully, you can now tinker with the ABS intervention levels.

Tweaking The ABS

Instead of ride modes, Bajaj is offering three ABS modes, each with different levels of intervention. Rain supposedly has the maximum intervention, Road has adequate levels and Off-road being the least intrusive one. While you can toggle between Rain and Road at any speed, in order to engage Off-road mode, you will have to keep the bike under 20 kmph. The difference between the former two was not quite as apparent as we were riding in peak summers where the scope of finding any form of water on the road was next to impossible. 

However, the difference is apparent between Road and Off-road mode. Yes, there is an off-road ABS mode on a naked motorcycle, which does sound silly. However, that is the mode I and most experienced riders will prefer the most. It allows for a bit of slip at the rear, which does come in handy over rough road patches. More so, it is the only mode in which you can switch off the traction control and enjoy a more direct and unfiltered riding experience.

Traction Controlled, But Necessary?

Yes, the 2024 Pulsar N250 also gets traction control but it is a rather rudimentary version. It does help out in sticky situations but on most days and on familiar roads, experienced riders would rather prefer to switch it off. Also, at start-up, the previous ABS setting is remembered while the TC will come back on. The TC remains disengaged in case you stall the bike or just kill the motor using the kill switch, though.

Snazzy Looker

In addition to the Brooklyn Black shade, Bajaj is now offering the N250 in a Racing Red and Pearl Metallic White option as well. The latter two get a champagne gold finish for the USD fork, which to my eyes looks a bit tacky. Even the new graphics, especially on the red option, are a bit overdone. Thankfully, the black shade looks just as sinister and enticing with its all dark treatment.

Finally, Bajaj has also kitted the Pulsar with a full digital LCD dash that gets smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. While we could test the connectivity functionality on our short test ride, we did find the console to be crammed with a lot of data, which might not be easily readable on the go. Also, the ABS toggle button and the menu scrolling one are the same and that could cause a bit of a confusion in the initial stages of operation.

A Whole Lot Better

Bajaj’s efforts to make the Pulsar N250 a lot more appealing have worked well. While the USD fork is adding visual mass to the bike, the wider tyres and electronic aids are enhancing its overall ride feel. It remains a great city bike that can do highway runs in a fuss free manner. And considering that all of these updates are just coming in at ₹1,50,829 (ex-showroom Delhi), which makes the premium that you pay now less dearer than two cups of coffee at Starbucks, the 2024 bike definitely seems worth a consideration.