It’s more than just a bike from India. It’s a legend. It’s time defying, evolutionary masterpiece that has grown over the years to prove the rest unworthy. Well it can’t have it all. The muscle bike segment was initiated by the launch of the Hero Honda CBZ in 1999. The scooter manufacturing industry of India, Bajaj saw an unlimited scope and a future in coming up with a bike, I mean a bike bike, not the rattly old pieces of machinery held together. And since then the R&D of Bajaj strived for the Pulsar and on the 24^th November 2001 the company launched the twins, in the 150 and 180 cc segments. Man, was that a giant leap or what?? Wasn’t it a big deal back then? A 180 cc of power pumping your wheels definitely qualified as a big deal.

What with those broad new tires, that muscled look with those round headlights coupled with that chunky bit of the shocks at the front, revolutionary disc brakes at the front, a wheelbase of 1235mm and of course the life saver of an electric starter. And all this with the punch line; “DEFINITELY MALE”. It definitely qualified as a big deal. Oooooh man the Indian rider had gone berserk with desire. Priced at 59 grand and 61 grand the pulsar twins overtook the market like rapid fire. Not that it was exactly an all in all champ. After the novelty had worn off and the critics came in to do the job it was branded as the “nut crusher” for the extra dip in the frame and the gearbox had quiet a few problems and shifting gears through a turn needed supernatural abilities almost. The Pulsar had a blast for the next two years with all its nuances from the stereo types and with all its follies.

All this while at the R&D the engineers weren’t resting on their laurels. They had a huge job to do. After all the vision and all that unlimited scope stuff was not just about coming up with a pair of bikes. 2003 saw the coming of a macho pair of wheels. Yeah this was the big bro of ‘em all. Bajaj had launched the Pulsar DTsi, yet again in 150 and 180 cc segments. Ok for all those who don’t know what that stands for it is Digital twin spark ignition- It meant the usage of multiple spark plugs in the cylinder head reducing any chance of letting out any unburnt fuel. Well the DTsi technology enhanced the power by 1 bhp for both the variants and also increasing fuel efficiency. Actually a bit of digging into the archives leads us to find that the distant cousin “DISCOVER” was a complete R&D product which had all the new techs like DTsi, the Exhaustec (Exhaust torque expansion chamber), the SNS suspensions out of which only SNS was not used on the Pulsars. Just hate to say that it didn’t start with the Pulsars. The DTsi sported a new swash buckling bikini style fairing giving the bike a more hunky, no nonsense type look. Mag wheels was a custom add on from the older version. The lack of stability on the old ones was reduced by an increase of 55mm on the wheel base giving it 1290mm of length. This was dream come true for all those street-smart wannabe John Abrahams on the road. The DTsi version of the pulsar saw the greatest number of sales now that it didn’t have to start with introducing the character of the bike to the crowds. It had made a definite impression.

The company seemed to take two year breaks for every new version they came up with. In 2005 the changes were more of a job for the design team than the R&D. It had new 17 inch alloys wheels at the rear so you dint loose your traction while blowing those skirts up. The front end was given a dip of 12mm to give it a meaner look. 180 cc versions came with a black engine console giving the bike a contrast feels with the handlebars and the pillion handles all silver. The power was increased to 13.5 bhp @8500 rpm. This version somewhat went unnoticed. But the add stunt was definitely an eye catcher what with the stuntman zooming magically on a vertical wall. Well that’s besides the point.

However the company wasn’t gonna take a two year break again and this time much faster the cosmetics were pushed up in Dec 2006. This new kid

had a LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) screen cushioned in the close set fairing head that offers a digital read out of ever changing vehicle parameters like rpm, fuel gauge, speed etc. this one had a slightly new rear end giving it sharpish look towards the end that housed the LED(Light Emitting Diodes) brake lights. And new gas filled nitrox shocks holding the rear give you a feeling of extreme comfort. Somehow the new add ons gave a lot more attitude to the bike.

Nope it does not end at that in fact Bajaj continues to surprise us and this new version I am talking about hits the Pulsar at its heart. Bajaj now not only belonged to the market in fact it now influenced the market and strongly at that. The introduction of the Pulsar 200cc marks a major development in the history of Indian two wheeler markets. The 200cc Pulsar raises an entire new segment of bikes and benchmarks the limits to which the Indian rider can go to fulfill the biker’s ecstasy. I don’t mean to say that there have never been bikes above 200cc in India (all respect for the RD350s and Enfields out there) but you haven’t exactly seen them around a lot but the Pulsar 200 is a promising machine. The Pulsar in the 200 version looks like it has just been for a session at the parlour and the gym. It exhibits a fairing plus side panels sort of look at the first impression of course with that muscly bit of shocks at the front and the headlights are outlined with a black framish sort of cast in place of plastic. The pillion handles at the rear are no longer a single piece of fabrication, it comes in split type handles giving it a classy look. Now at the heart the engine the air cooling system is chucked out of the window replaced by oil cooled efficient piece of casting for the block. The rear wheels hold a new surprise for us, yep you guessed it right. Tubeless tires. So now you can swing into a turn , run the tire in to a shard of glass, blow those skirts up and yet you don’t go off your rockers . Phew man that’s like James bond piece of machinery.

No I am not done yet. Only this time I delve into the future and have faith in Bajaj to come up with the real thing not just with the rumors about the 220 c. Yeah you read it right 220 cc. Hmmmm I seem to be running out of words for what Bajaj has in store for the end of 2007. Well I see Bajaj introducing fuel injection technology into the market. Well that’s revolutionary almost.

In fact the birth, the progress, the growth, the very existence of the Pulsar is revolutionary. Bajaj Pulsar has given it all to the Indian two wheeler. All of it, style, comfort, fuel efficiency, power, road holding, jaw dropping prices, excellent after sales, there is no place for an etc. It is amazing to see it start from a bike with spoked rim, round head lights, noisy gear box and that ancient exhaust pipe and now what do we have today?? After mere 7 years of experience behind them we have an ultimate two wheeler with an engine which breathes through fuel injectors, is cooled by oil jackets, and ignites fuel with twin spark plug technology. A bike that gives you pin point braking with front and rear end discs, tires that are tubeless and maintain traction for the crudest of the riders. It’s like a child from Sparta where it has grown up to be an excellent warrior that has slain all the beasts in the cold cave. It strikes an optimum level between all the parameters to give you the very best. Not that it has not faced competition, what with unicorns, apaches and CBZ extremes. It has definitely faced competition. It has had its share of criticism. And it has emerged as a definite winner.