New Bajaj Pulsar NS160 Spotted

[UPDATE: Our initial impression after looking closely at these images was that Bajaj was working on a small-capacity Pulsar. However, after speaking to our sources within the company we have come to know that it is indeed the upcoming Pulsar 250 that was spotted on test. Here's more details on the upcoming quarterlitre Pulsar.]

• The NS design hasn’t changed for nearly a decade.
• The engine casing and packaging indicate that it is a smaller 160cc mill.
• Bajaj might launch this updated Pulsar by the 2021 festive season.

It has been more than nine years since we first saw the Pulsar NS design language that debuted on the Bajaj Pulsar 200NS (as it was known back then). Over time, the ‘NS’ badge preceded the number, a new 160cc model was introduced with the same looks, and new graphics made their way to the bike. Now, it seems Bajaj is looking to spruce up the NS series, and given that the 160cc-sporty-commuter space is currently the place to be, it’s readying a new contender to go up against the likes of the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and the Hero Xtreme 160R (check out our comparison review of these two 160cc nakeds here).

Don’t worry, it will still likely be called the Pulsar NS160. There’s enough indication that the bike is a small-capacity naked. It sports the same skinny tyres, slim telescopic fork, and box-section swingarm like the NS160. And those wheels are a dead giveaway that it is an NS. The motor’s dimensions, built, and casing also hint at this being an update of sorts for the baby Pulsar NS model.

The obvious differences are in the styling, with longer tank extensions and a new headlight unit. The tank itself seems a bit flatter and lower in comparison. Although there is a lot of camouflage on the headlight section, one can spot a new rounded face that is more Dominar-esque than Pulsar, to be honest. By the looks of it, it isn’t housing LEDs, but running with a projector bulb.

Also Read: The Bajaj Pulsar 180 Is Back

The tail section seems more or less the same, but we expect minor changes to the LED tail light, perhaps in its design or the internal elements. The rider’s seat seems a lot more spacious, but the test rider’s slim build could probably be throwing us off here.

If it does turn out to be the new NS160, it is likely to be powered by the same 160.3cc single-cylinder, air-cooled (w/oil-cooler) motor. It features a revised exhaust layout, the underbelly unit making way for a more conventional side-slung one. At 17.2PS and 14.6Nm, it continues to be one of the most powerful bikes in its segment.

However, the problem is in its heft. At 151kg, the current NS160 is one of the heaviest bikes in its space. Details regarding the frame are a bit sketchy as of now, considering you cannot spot the traditional NS perimeter frame.

Bajaj could possibly launch the bike by September 2021 to cash in on the festive-season frenzy. To make it even more enticing, Bajaj might just introduce the bike with the same sticker price of Rs 1.10 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) or with just a small premium. Stay tuned for more details on the same.

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