2015 ZigWheels Awards: Executive Bike of the Year Bajaj Pulsar RS200

Essentially the category for motorcycles displacing up to 200cc, this is one of the fastest growing and most popular motorcycle categories in the country, and witnesses cut-throat competition each year with manufacturers fighting tooth and nail to win this coveted title. 

And with no less than four different manufacturers vying for the title this year, the award has been driven home by none other than Bajaj for the Pulsar RS200. Bajaj has clearly outdone itself with the Pulsar RS200. On the road - and also on a test track - it feels well engineered, well executed and fun to ride. It's also easy to get used to even though it is anything but slow. And lest we forget, at Rs 1.3 lakh, it's the only motorcycle in its class to come with ABS, single channel notwithstanding. 

The Pulsar is by far the most successful brand Bajaj has managed to create in the recent past. Not only has the brand spawned one successful product after the other, it is also probably the least notorious when it comes to model discontinuations; something the Discover brand is quite infamous for.

However, you have to give it to the other nominees in the category as well – Hero Xtreme Sports, Honda Unicorn 160, Bajaj Pulsar AS150, Bajaj Avenger Street 150 and Suzuki Gixxer SF – that gave the RS200 a tough run for its money. With the market for these bikes swelling by the day, we expect even better competition in the executive bike segment next year.