The 150 – 200 cc motorcycle segment of India is dominated by Bajaj Auto. Most of their motorcycles in this segment are Pulsars. The brand recently added yet another 160 CC motorcycle to its Pulsar range. The name of this new addition to the Pulsar range is the Bajaj Pulsar N160.
This motorcycle is offered in two trims. The base trim comes with single-channel ABS and costs around Rs 1,23,000. The top trim comes with dual-channel ABS and costs Rs 1, 30, 000. Furthermore, the motorcycle is BS-6 phase 2 ready.
Design
The overall design of this Pulsar latest model is similar to any modern-day streetfighter motorcycle. The bike has a low-slung headlamp. The fuel tank is muscular and comes with angular extensions. The tail section of the bike is pretty sharp as well. The bike is offered in a black paint scheme as well as red and blue paint schemes.
Overall Ergonomics and Comfort
The bike’s saddle height is 795mm. Hence, it is suitable for both tall and short riders. The riding triangle of the bike is a bit committed yet it can keep the rider comfortable for hours.
The tubular handlebar of the bike is forward-set and the footrests of the bike are slightly rear-set. Hence, the rider will sit with a forward leaning crouch position and their knees will be folded. The seat is well-padded and spacious.
The suspension setup of the bike is set on the medium setting. It means that the bike would remain planted on the highways. On bad patches of road, the rider would need to slow down. This would keep the kicks from the undulations from creeping into the saddle of the bike.
Engine
The engine of the bike is brand new and made from scratch. It has an oil-cooled, 164.82 cc, single-cylinder, BS-6 phase 2 ready unit. The engine is equipped with two spark plugs. Its peak power output is 15.7 bhp @ 8750 RPM. The peak torque output of the engine on the other hand is 14.65Nm @ 6750 RPM. The engine is paired with a five-speed gearbox and a wet multiplate clutch. In addition, the engine is extremely refined and delivers performance in a linear fashion.
Handling
The N160 is probably one of the best handling 160 streetfighter motorcycles in India. The bike is built using a brand new chassis. The dry weight of the motorcycle is around 152 KGs. The front tyre is pretty slim and has a profile of 100/80. The rear tyre however is a chunky 130/70 unit.
The chassis, tyres and low dry weight allows the bike to navigate through traffic pretty easily. Switching lanes on highways is also a breeze! The steering bar of the motorcycle is light. The rider will always enjoy the sense of impressive control, cornering stability and agility this bike offers.
Braking
The two trims that this bike entails are both equipped with front and rear disc brakes. At controlled speeds, the overall performance of the brakes on this bike feels adequate enough. At high speeds, the rear brake tends to let the rear wheel roll on for quite a bit before stopping it.
Features
Since this is a brand new motorcycle from Bajaj Auto, the bike does come with some much needed features. For example, the bike comes with a USB charger and a 14-litre fuel tank. The semi-digital instrument cluster is brand new as well. The instrument cluster has been programmed to show data such as gear position and distance-to-empty.
Conclusion
In the end, it is apparent that the Pulsar N160 is an attractive motorcycle offered at a competitive price range. Furthermore, the engine and chassis are brand new as well. This makes the overall feel of the bike like a breath of fresh air.
