Off-late the most frequently asked question on MotorBeam is which bike is better? Yamaha R15 or the Pulsar 200 NS? Well, if you are looking at purchasing either of these motorcycles, you should know that these bikes are as different as chalk and cheese. While one is a naked street-fighter, the other is a sports bike. The Pulsar 200 NS is the more powerful of the two but the Yamaha R15 is more technologically advanced. We ran a poll to see what our readers prefer and the results are quite surprising. While people swear by the Pulsar, the R15 actually received more votes (Pulsar 200 NS vs Yamaha R15 poll screenshot above).
Now the Yamaha R15 vs Pulsar 200 NS decision is very simple, if you are clear about what you want. If you are looking for a full-faired motorcycle with better handling and Yamaha quality, then the Yamaha R15 V2.0 is for you. If you are the value for money kinds, who wants bang for their buck and very good performance, the Pulsar 200 NS is for you. The Pulsar 200 NS is quicker, reaching 100 km/h in less than 10 seconds, while the R15 takes around 12 seconds. The Pulsar NS has a higher top speed at 136 km/h, against 129 km/h of the R15.
The Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS is priced at Rs. 99,200/-, while the Yamaha R15 Version 2.0 will set you back by Rs. 1.20 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai). For the additional Rs. 20,000/- you get fuel injection, full fairing, better handling, twin headlights, sportier riding position and a proven engine. Thus if speed is not your criteria and you have a budget of Rs. 1.20 lakhs, the Yamaha R15 is the bike to buy. You can’t go wrong with either of these machines and at the end of the day, you should get yourself a test ride and see which one suits you better.
