The 2017 Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 has been launched in India at a price of Rs. 78,368 (ex-showroom, Delhi). This new model looks aesthetically similar to the NS 200 that has been on sale in the country for over 3 years. However, it gets a smaller engine block, which has till now not been on sale in India. It must be noted that the Pulsar NS 160 was already being produced by Bajaj Auto since 2016, though it was only sold in Nepal and Turkey.
With the introduction of the Bajaj Pulsar NS 160, Bajaj Auto is trying to bridge the gap between the Pulsar 150 and the Pulsar 180. However, since the regular Pulsar design, seen on both the said models, is now very old, Bajaj has gone ahead and used the body of the NS 200 to plonk the new 160 cc engine. As a result, the Pulsar NS 160 is essentially a NS 200 with a smaller engine.
Why has this model been launched? Well, company insiders reveal that Bajaj was concerned about the dropping sales of the Pulsar 150. Moreover, the Discover was never able to compete in the 150 cc segment, despite larger engines. The V15 has been performing well in the market, though it simply hasn’t been able to match the sales figures that the Pulsar managed to achieve.
This is where the new NS 160 comes in. Powered by a new 160.3 cc, single-cylinder oil-cooled engine, this new Bajaj bike is being marketed as a naked streetfighter that will go against the likes of the Honda CB Hornet 160R, Suzuki Gixxer and Yamaha FZ-S.
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Specifications
| Engine | 160.3 cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled DTSi |
| Power | 15.2 bhp @ 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 14.6 Nm @ 6,500 rpm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Top Speed | 120 km/h |
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Dimensions
| Length | 2,012 mm |
| Width | 803.5 mm |
| Height | 1,060 mm |
| Ground clearance | 176 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,363 mm |
| Kerb weight | 142 kg |
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Design and other details
Bajaj hasn’t invested much to design the NS 160 from scratch. Instead, it uses the same steel rigid parameter frame that underpins the NS 200. In fact, the overall design and styling is 90% identical to that of the elder Naked Sports bike, with the only difference being new colour treatment and 160 badges on the fuel tanks extensions and below the rear seats.
As a result, the bike is built in-line with the naked streetfighter look. It gets a cowl-less single-assembly headlamp with a small chin and crown. The side is characterised by a sharp fuel tank, split-seat setup and 17-inch alloys wrapped in 80/100 tyres at the front and 80/110 at the rear.
Suspension duties are handled by telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. Braking setup includes 240 mm disc at the front and 130 mm drum at the rear.
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 colours
The 2017 Bajaj Pulsar 160 NS is available in three colours – Grey, Red and Blue.
1. Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Glossy Grey
2. Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Passion Red
3. Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 Saffire Blue
Bajaj Pulsar NS 160
The new Pulsar NS 160 looks smart, thanks to its styling that is inspired from the NS 200. The naked look appears timeless and manages to attract eyeballs at the road. However, Bajaj hasn’t loaded the NS 160 with some top-end features. As a result, dual discs, ABS, EBD, etc are all absent from the bike’s feature list.