Bajaj Pulsar AS200 vs Bajaj Pulsar 220F vs Hero Karizma R: Spec Comparison

There is a huge market for affordable performance motorcycles in India, and it is constantly growing too. But it’s a tricky one too, not only should it boast of respectable performance, customers also demand premium looks and affordable pricing. Does the new Bajaj Pulsar AS200 have all of it? Can it survive the cut throat competition with products like the Bajaj Pulsar 220F and the Hero Karizma R in the market?

Looks: 

In the looks department, this is a close battle as each of the four motorcycles has its own charm. To start with credit must be given to the designers at Bajaj for turning the naked Pulsar 200NS into a fine looking quarter faired offering. The fairing and the headlight panel blends well into the tank making sure that it looks wholesome. Although Bajaj has used the same panels from the Pulsar 200NS at the back, it doesn’t quite looks disproportionate. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the Hero Karizma R as its quarter fairing ends abruptly thanks to which the design looks somewhat incomplete. Although it has been a while since the launch of the Bajaj Pulsar 220F, its design doesn’t quite look old, at least not until you park the new AS200 right next to it. 

Engine: 

The newly launched Pulsar AS200 sports the same engine as its naked sibling. The 199.5cc 4-valve liquid-cooled unit makes 23.5PS of power and 18.35Nm of torque. It makes considerably more power than the higher displacement Hero Karizma R which churns 19.46PS but at 19.35Nm the torque rating of the Hero MotoCorp offering is marginally higher. In fact, the Pulsar 220F too makes 21 horses and 19.12Nm. Keeping in mind that all the three motorcycles are pretty evenly matched on paper, with regards to overall performance too they will be pretty much neck and neck.

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Features: 

With the price in mind, Bajaj offerings have always given more bang for your buck. And that is not just thanks to the engine, but also due to the kind of features it has on offer. The Pulsar AS200 gets projector headlamps, 10-spoke alloy wheels and a semi-digital instrument cluster with two trip meters. Apart from the alloy wheels, the Pulsar 220F has pretty much all the said features. And then there is also the triple spark technology in the AS200 to improve efficiency while the 220F makes use of dual spark system. Both these motorcycles also get backlit switch gear.

The 2014 Hero Karizma R does get a semi-digital instrument cluster but no projector headlamps and no disc brake option at the back either. Moreover, the Karizma R is air-cooled while the AS200 and the 220F are liquid cooled and oil-cooled respectively. 

Price:   

From the three motorcycles being discussed here, the Hero MotoCorp Karizma R is the cheapest of the lot at Rs 83,900. The Bajaj Pulsar 220F is marginally higher at Rs 86,699 while the Pulsar AS200 is the most expensive of the lot at Rs 91,550. All prices ex-showroom Delhi. Yes the Bajaj Pulsar AS200 does cost more than Rs 7,000 higher than the Hero Karizma R, but then consider into your calculation the features that it has on offer and equation starts to get more complicated.