Bajaj is rigorously testing the upcoming Pulsar 200 AS on Indian roads. The bike is expected to launch in the month of May 2015.
Indian bike market has been continuously evolving because of changing needs of various customers. Bike makers are continuously trying to come up with new products to satisfy needs of different sets of customers. Some of them have been smart enough to use one platform for various bikes in order to benefit from economies of scale. Bajaj is a company which has always been ahead in launching products for Indian enthusiasts. They have responded really well to the changing market dynamics which has benefited them in turn.
Soon, Bajaj will be launching the Pulsar 200 AS in India and our reader Mr. Shoaib Khan has spotted the bike on test in Pune. The motorcycle is based on the Pulsar 200 NS with which it shares majority of the parts with. They have been testing the bike in India to ensure that the bike meets the requirements of the target customer and copes well with the harsh environment. The bike gets some interesting elements to make it both adventure as well as touring friendly. The Pulsar 200 AS gets a large windscreen to reduce wind-blast at higher speeds along with projectors for high/low beam in order to illuminate the road ahead well. It also gets a conventional mudguard to protect the rider from dirt and muck.
The Pulsar 200 AS will come with the same engine which powers the 200 NS. It is a 199.5cc liquid-cooled, triple spark carbureted engine producing 23.52 PS of power and 18.3 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Although it has the same suspension set-up as the 200 NS, it looks like the 200 AS will have more suspension travel in order to suit the adventure biker’s needs. The 200 AS gets better tyres in the form of MRF Nylogrip Zapper instead of EuroGrip which ironically had poor grip. But it will be missing out on ABS which the Pulsar 200 SS will get as an option. We expect the bike to be priced at around Rs. 1 lakh (ex-showroom) which means it will slot in between the 200 NS and 200 SS. With no direct competitor in the market, the Pulsar 200 AS should do well.
