Bajaj Pulsar AS200 : Detailed Review

Quarter faired offerings are just the thing for the Indian road conditions. They aren’t as aggressive as the full-faired motorcycles and at the same time offer a relatively comfortable ride quality. And then if you have a good engine to go with it, they make for respectable touring machines as well. Bajaj is one manufacturer that has understood all of this fairly well, and the success of the Pulsar 220F is testimony of the same. And they have now introduced a new offering in this class – the Pulsar AS200. But with such high standards already set, the task at hand is going to be even more difficult. Let’s find out if the Bajaj Pulsar AS200 is up for the challenge? 

Design: rating_4.0_rating

Now, in terms of design, the AS200 shares a lot of its parts with the 200NS, and yet it doesn’t fail in making its own identity. To start with, just like the Discover 150F, Bajaj has done well to ensure that the fairing blends well into the tank as well as the headlight. The large windscreen not only enhances the overall look but is functional too. Talking about the windscreen, although it is smoked, we would have liked it better had it been darker. Although it carries forward the rear panels and the tail lights from the naked Pulsar 200NS, they still gel well with the overall design of the AS200. The rear fender on the AS200 though draws inspiration from the older Pulsar 220, but has a few creases to add a bit of flair. 

Features: rating_4.5_rating

With regards to features, one would expect a motorcycle of the 200cc class to come fairly loaded with features, and in that regard the AS200 doesn’t disappoint. It comes with projector headlamps, a semi-digital instrument cluster with two trip meters, an odometer and a clock. Just like the rest of the Pulsar range, the AS200 too comes with backlit switchgear. And then it comes with nice looking star-shaped 10-spoke alloy wheels and tubeless tyres as well. 

Cosmetics aside, since the AS200 borrows its engine from the 200NS, which comes equipped with the Bajaj patented 4 valve and triple spark technology. 

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Engine: rating_3.5_rating

Although the AS200 look quite different from its naked sibling, both the motorcycles share the same heart. The Pulsar AS200’s 199.5cc liquid-cooled unit too makes 23.5PS and 18.3Nm. But in this new model, Bajaj has worked towards reducing the vibes and it shows. Push the AS200 hard and close to its red line and it doesn’t show hints of the speed on the pegs or the handle bars as much as older Pulsar models. Having said that, it climbs up the revs freely and is eager to go.  What’s more, despite the quarter fairing, the AS200 is just 2kg heavier than the naked sibling, which also means it doesn’t quite fall short in terms of performance. 

The engine continues to be mated to the same 6-speed transmission, which doesn't shift as crisply and might just make it cumbersome while riding in stop-and-go city traffic. 

Ride and Handling: rating_3.5_rating

The Pulsar AS200 sports telescopic forks up front and a monoshock suspension at the back. The setup leans marginally towards the stiffer side as opposed to being soft, but we didn’t quite mind it as it gave the motorcycle decent cornering capabilities. Sporting a semi fairing, the AS does feel more front heavy than the naked 200NS but still manages tp lean fairly easily and it is undemanding to maintain a line in and out of a corner. Its handling is well supported well by the Eurogrip tyres too, although a little more feedback would work wonders in inspiring confidence. We would have liked it even more had there been a little more travel in its suspension to live up to the Adventure Sport tag. As far as ride is concerned, the streets of Lavassa we rode on, didn’t quite have too many undulations, but considering the setup, we think it will ride over rough city roads without throwing too many tantrums to your back. 

Price and Fuel Efficiency: rating_4.5_rating

Bajaj has priced the AS200 at Rs 91,550 (ex-showroom Delhi) which is a around Rs 5,000 more than what you would pay for a Pulsar 220F. And at that price point, you get contemporary looking machine, an engine that makes more power and is a lot more refined. We didn’t quite get to test the bike for its efficiency but going by our tests on the 200NS, we think it should return a respectable figure of around 40kmpl. 

Verdict: rating_4.0_rating 

As mentioned earlier, Bajaj has done well to infuse the Adventure Sport traits in the AS200, with the limitations of working on the existing 200NS platform. Moreover, in terms of engine refinement, the AS200 is a leap in the right direction but still could have been marginally better. With its attractive design, price and features it has to offers, the AS200 is simply great value. Here's a good looking and fairly powerful touring machine which is difficult to ignore and yet costs under a lakh.