Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z road test, review

The launch of the Pulsar NS400Z at its competitive price made it rather impressive, mainly due to the exceptional balance of performance and affordability it offers. The question remains: Does the NS400Z possess the qualities needed to disrupt the market? Well we had the Pulsar for sometime at the peak of monsoon and despite the gruelling riding conditions I am happy to report the answer is a loud yes.

The Pulsar for the most part, is aesthetically pleasing and carries an overall silhouette similar to its lower capacity stablemates, including the unchanged fuel tank from the NS200, a strategic choice made to control expenses. Bajaj has made the tank extensions slightly longer, giving it a mildly different appearance.

In fact a lot of parts have been carried over from Bajaj’s existing motorcycles in an aim to make it as cost effective as possible. Though the front appears more distinctive, the rear design on the other hand looks like any other motorcycle in the NS lineup. Another notable eyesore is the exhaust, but over time I’ve made amends with its appearance and come to appreciate the sounds it creates, but more on that later.

It is worth mentioning that this specific motorcycle is a pre-production unit and there were signs of rust in certain areas like the swingarm and handlebar. However, Bajaj assures us that these issues will not make it to the production units. That being said, while this bike’s price undercuts some motorcycles with a lower capacity, it is worth mentioning that some of those motorcycles (particularly the Euro 250s) do feel more expensive in their quality and finish.

A notable addition on the NS400Z is the coloured LCD speedometer that includes a monochrome inset for additional information. The inset isn’t very easy to read and if you want to access any of the data from this display you’ll find yourself memorising button inputs to get to the required sub menus.

At first, I thought the bike did not have a distance-to-empty readout, but then discovered  it can be found hidden deep within the settings menu in the inset display. On the bright side Bajaj has enabled riders to preprogram two shortcut buttons allowing more direct access to your preferred information. All in all, despite being well equipped with electronic aids, the poor visibility of this inset display can make tinkering with the settings a little tedious. The rest of the speedometer is easier to read, but it also has a tightly packed layout.

Bajaj’s latest Pulsar has an ergonomic upright seating arrangement and a slightly firm saddle which as I discovered is fairly comfortable even on longer rides. Its suspension effectively absorbs most road imperfections, providing a smooth ride despite the seasonal road conditions.

My longest stint on the Pulsar was around 400km and the only discomfort I faced was thanks to the abundant amount of windblast. The lack of wind protection isn’t something one can protest against when buying a streetfighter and an aftermarket flyscreen should provide a partial fix. When riding with a pillion I found that the ground clearance is a little lacking over speed breakers. However, I faced no issues when riding solo, despite the best Mumbai’s monsoon-destroyed roads could throw up.

At low speeds the NS400Z’s steering feels heavy and not very quick on its feet but dial up the pace and it feels a lot more flickable and responsive, making it rather enjoyable on a twisty road. Though the Pulsar is certainly not as performance focussed as it’s Austrian cousin, it manages to strike a respectable balance between comfort and sharpness. At times I did find the NS a tad too soft around corners, but only when you ride aggressively and I’d suggest a more sporty motorcycle if that‘s what you’re after.

The brakes don’t have the same level of bite and feel as the KTMs, but the performance is not bad and more than sufficient for the application. It is worth noting that the front organic brake pad helps in cost saving, but upgrading to sintered pads would provide an even more effective braking experience.

Despite packing the older 373cc engine, this motor remains the highlight of the NS400Z, especially when you take into consideration its performance to price ratio. In feel, it has more of the Dominar’s calmer demeanour than the KTM’s aggression, but it is still a quick motorcycle. In fact, the engine isn’t all too gentle and it’s easy to pop a wheelie or two with little to no effort.

The NS400Z is also equipped with ride-by-wire technology, enabling Bajaj to introduce four riding modes (Rain, Road, Sport, Offroad). The added riding modes do tweak the experience ever so slightly, but even in its sportiest setting it isn’t anywhere close to as angry as a KTM. Given its competitive price and target audience, the Pulsar in hindsight seems well setup to be exciting yet approachable, especially for newer riders.

However, make no mistake this is a fast motorcycle and our numbers show it in the same ballpark as some of the fastest motorcycles in its segment. In our test the Pulsar managed to accelerate from 0 – 100kph in just under 7 seconds, despite the wet conditions. Not only does it put the NS400Z on par with its segment rivals, it completely blows away every other motorcycle below Rs 2.2 lakh.

Even through daily commutes the NS400Z didn’t seem too hot headed and even managed to keep its temperature in check. My only gripe with its riding experience are the vibrations that tend to creep in once the revs increase. One of my favourite bits is its exhaust note which may lack the raspy tone but packs a nice little grumble and a bassy undertone.

The Pulsar’s motor comes mated to a slick gearbox accompanied with a light clutch and even a set of adjustable levers which is a welcome addition at this price point. During my long highway stints this Bajaj managed to hold triple digit speeds with ease and effortlessly kept pace with highway speeds. Efficiency figures aren’t all too high given its performance and during our tests we saw city and highway figures of 27.52kpl and 29.62kpl respectively. We’ve seen better fuel efficiency figures from others in its engine segment and significantly better numbers from smaller bikes at a similar price. If fuel efficiency is a major concern, we’d recommend a smaller capacity motorcycle to ease your commutes.

The Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z represents a significant advancement in the realm of affordable yet potent motorcycles. Bajaj has done a commendable job making a performance bargain that packs remarkable value for both new and seasoned riders. Though the Pulsar may not appeal as much to someone looking for a more hardcore or premium experience, there is no denying its approachable price tag has the potential to draw you to it. Price and performance are its two biggest talking points, especially when you consider what the competition is offering.

The Yamaha R15M, KTM 200 Duke, Suzuki Gixxer 250 and Gixxer 250 SF all cost more than the Pulsar NS400Z! In fact, it only costs Rs 5000 more than a KTM 125 Duke. Not only does it undercut bikes in its own segment, it undercuts motorcycles that sit three segments below including some from Bajaj’s own stable, which is rather bewildering. However, it is worth mentioning that some of those motorcycles pack higher build quality levels, despite their lower performance.

The NS400Z is an easy recommendation to anyone on a relatively tight budget looking for the maximum performance they can afford. But if it’s an overtly, sporty or premium and sophisticated experience you’re after, you will have to look elsewhere.

Also see: Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 review: On the offensive