Bajaj Auto continues testing the Pulsar 200 AS in India. The bike is expected to be launched in the second half of 2015 and will feature some upgrades over the 200 NS.
Bajaj Auto is planning to introduce six new products this year. It is trying to venture into different genres of motorcycles with its new models. One such segment is the adventure bike segment which Bajaj plans to enter with the Pulsar 200 AS. The motorcycle is based on the Pulsar 200 NS and sports a few changes in order to make it touring as well as adventure friendly. The other models Bajaj will soon be launching are the fully faired 200cc and 400cc models of the Pulsar and the next generation version of the Pulsar 150.
The Pulsar 200 AS sports some useful features. It gets a taller windshield which helps reduce windblast at high speeds. It also gets a projector for one of the beams of the headlight in order to illuminate the road ahead better. The smaller number plate holder gets replaced by a long rear mudguard which would protect the rider from all the dirt and mud flying off the rear wheel. Mechanically, the bike is similar to the 200 NS and will sport the same 199.5cc single-cylinder carbureted engine which is liquid-cooled and produces 23 BHP of power and 18.3 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The engine might be tuned for a more linear power delivery and the suspension may be tweaked to suit the bike’s dual-purpose character.
Bajaj Auto has been really smart in using the very popular Pulsar moniker for a plethora of its models. This helps them advertise their bikes with relative ease as customers connect easily with the Pulsar name. Also using the same platform for many bikes helps achieve economies of scale which results in savings for the company that in turn leads to a lower sticker price for the product. We expect the Pulsar 200 AS to be priced at the Rs. 1.15 lakh mark (on-road) but Bajaj may come up with a lower introductory price to capture the market. Good times ahead for bikers who like to make their own road!
Spy Pictures Source – Motoroids.com
