Bajaj Auto plans launch of the highly anticipated Pulsar RS400 (their new flagship) sometime during the current financial year. After the first spy shots of the new Pulsar emerged online earlier this week, the sportsbike has now been caught on road.
The first reported test mule of Pulsar RS400 on test on the outskirts of Pune. Photo – PowerDrift.
Design
The Pulsar 400 SS Concept. RS400 is the production variant of this motorcycle.
Just like the KTM Duke twins, 200 and 390, Pulsar RS200 and RS400 will have similar design. This means, just like the RS200, RS400 will also get twin projector headlamps in the front with LED DRLs, aerodynamic muscular styling, ABS, perimeter frame, nitrox mono suspension at the rear, fuel injection, race exhaust, split seats, crystal LED tail lamps, chiselled fuel tank, digital display, and clip-on handle bars.
Engine
The engine on board Pulsar RS400 is a derivative of the same engine seen on Duke / RC 390.
The new Pulsar RS400 from Bajaj will be powered by a derivative of the Duke 390, which is a 373 cc single cylinder liquid cooled engine. This engine on board the Duke delivers 44 PS power @ 9000 rpm and 37 Nm torque @ 7000 rpm. On board the Pulsar, this engine will be retuned, as was the case in the RS200. Aboard the Pulsar RS400, expect this engine to get Bajaj’s patented triple spark tech, which enables to deliver better mileage as well. But, the power and torque figures will be reduced slightly as compared to the Duke 373 cc. The engine will be mated to a six speed gearbox. Top speed will be in the 165 kmph range.
The front fairing is exactly similar to RS200.
Apart from the engine, another major difference between the RS200 and the RS400 will be the availability of wider tyres. We also expect the RS400 to get dual channel ABS, unlike the single channel ABS which is seen on board the RS200 in India.
Price
ABS, dual discs with ABS, LEDs, split seats, Pulsar RS400 will be the new Bajaj flagship.
Bajaj Pulsar RS400 will be definitely be priced below the Duke 390 and the RC 390. This is because Bajaj wants to maintain the KTM as a premium brand, which will always be placed above Bajaj. They had applied similar strategy with RS200, which is not only cheaper than the RC200, but is also cheaper than the Duke 200.
We expect the price of Bajaj Pulsar to be in the range of Rs 1.7-1.75 lakhs, ex-showroom.
First showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo as a concept, the new Pulsar RS400 will not only be the most powerful and fastest Pulsar till date, but it will also announce Bajaj’s entry into a completely new territory.
Rivals
To be manufactured at Bajaj Auto’s plant in Chakan near Pune, the new Pulsar RS400 will find many rivals when we take engine and specs into consideration. This includes the likes of Duke 390, RC 390, Ninja 300, Benelli TNT300, upcoming Mahindra Mojo 300 and Yamaha R3.
But, if we take price into consideration, there will be no bike which will match the price tag of Pulsar RS400.
