The two Pulsars stood side by side, their motors idling in unison. Their reverberations infused the air with a sporty beat, and it was incredible to note how the original and the latest motorcycles sounded so similar. That’s when I knew for sure the Pulsar spirit pioneered by the 180 was truly alive again in the N250, enough for a cheesy reincarnation reference. And I couldn’t be happier. You see, the Pulsar 180 was my first bike and I learnt life on it. And when I was handed the key to this beautiful one that lives at Bajaj’s Akurdi facility, memories from 20 years ago came flooding back. The 180 will always be the reason why I keep falling in love with motorcycles again and again.
What makes a Pulsar a Pulsar? For me, it was always all about solid and clean shapes, a torquey motor, a flickable short wheelbase, and fun down to the bones. I just defined the Pulsar 180 there, and I can imagine how difficult it might have been for Bajaj engineers to take all those attributes and mix them with the dreary demons… er, demands of ‘customer insights’. I looked at the company’s first 100/90 rear tyre on the 180, the very same that my youth once pushed its luck on, and wondered if market surveys could ever match original out-of-the-box ideas. That’s what Pulsars after the first one were missing, in my opinion. And my bias is only as real and deep as the Pulsar 180’s character.
This story is from the January 2022 edition of Motoring World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2022 edition of Motoring World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
INTO THE SHADOWS
Truthfully speaking, there is no such thing as too much carbon fibre, is there?
STEP-UP GAME
With a name that commands love and loyalty over generations, an update was inevitable
BOTH BARRELS
The new Shotgun 650 goes up against its own stable-mates. Does it deliver?
POTENTIAL PREDATOR
A much-anticipated racing bloodline, but does it deliver?
AFFORDABLE SILENCE
Could these two be your choice to enter the electric world? We find out.
FRENCH RECONNECTION?
Late to the party, Citroén C3 Aircross gets an AT!
TIME AFTER TIME
Old shapes and generous amounts of chrome never did go out of fashion, right? That's why we're all for Jawa's second comeback, this time with what's called the 350.
STEPPING IT UP
Unveiling the dynamic and feature-rich Kia Sonet we check out this refreshed compact SUV
TOP TIER
We check out the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450, a robust SUV catering to those seeking the epitome of spacious, high-end luxury SUV
CENTENNIAL SPRINT
Škoda Auto India's thrilling race to 100k