HomeBike NewsBajajInteresting Q&A on Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 during Indian launch

Interesting Q&A on Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 during Indian launch

Interacting with Mr. Eric Vas, President of Motorcycle Business, and Mr. Sumeet Narang, Vice President of Marketing, at Bajaj Auto Limited, Team RushLane has learnt a thing or two about Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 as a motorcycle and as a business tool.

Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 is essentially based on Pulsar 200 NS, in terms of platform and powertrain, but both have been tweaked to fit the Race Sport profile. The perimeter frame has been modded to shorten the wheelbase, for more agile handling and cornering.

The engine is the same as in 200 NS in India, but is fuel injected. However, it is not the same spec as Pulsar 200 NS FI sold in markets like Turkey. The motor produces (marginally) higher power and torque, and Bajaj Auto wishes to remain coy on ARAI certified mileage, even at a direct question.

When the topic of discussion eventually reached pricing and possibility of cannibalisation, the executives highlighted that Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 can no way be compared with its street fighter sibling, as the sheer number of features offered in the former sets the distinction right. Includes, two projector headlamps, complex front fairing, Fuel Injection technology, Bosch single-channel ABS (only at the front), new side-stand indicator in instrument cluster, and the like.

All these have contributed to the price difference of almost Rs. 30,000, between Pulsar RS 200 and 200 NS, which clearly prevents cannibalisation in our opinion.

When asked about offer of only single-channel ABS in Pulsar RS 200, the reply was, the model was designed and tuned to be suffice with ABS on front alone, for which larger 300 mm disc rotor is employed (upfront). But when asked about the reason for India being the only country to receive single-channel ABS, while international markets are destined to get the same bike with dual-channel ABS (on both front and rear wheels), we didn’t get a clear response.

Also Read – Bajaj Pulsar First Look Review, Walk Around Video

For a bike that the company expects 2,500 sales a month and international variants of which are to be manufactured locally, Bajaj Auto has decided not to offer Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 with dual-channel ABS even as an optional version with a bigger price tag.

On a different note, Bajaj Auto has no plans to plonk the fuel injected version of Pulsar RS 200’s engine into Pulsar 200 NS, at least not this year.

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