The Hindu Business Line : Pulsating new look and features

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Pulsating new look and features

S. Muralidhar

Pulsar 180 DTS-i gets a racy makeover that will leave the competition standing.

Hi-tech features and redesign give the new Pulsar fresh ammunition. - Bijoy Ghosh

It is tough to stay at the top of the heap in the fast-paced two-wheeler market. This is even more so in the pricey, performance bikes category, which has seen quite a few launches the last couple of years.

But in the hot-to-handle 150cc bikes segment one brand that has occupied the pole position for years now is the Bajaj Pulsar. This bike has withstood the competition's onslaught and managed to stay well ahead thanks to some regular, timely redesign that helped refresh the twin bikes' premium image.

By endowing the Pulsar twins with more oomph, Bajaj has ensured that feature-to-feature, the competition always lagged. Sure the way up to the present level of refinement for the Pulsars has not been easy and they have had their share of rough edges and nit-picky glitches that dogged the bikes initially. But the latest version of the Pulsar 180 DTS-i is an example of the progress that the model has made in the quality, technology, premiumness and refinement parameters.

Oomph and substance

The Pulsars have been put through makeovers thrice. However, the changes that make up the new version of the bigger 180cc variant go deeper to deliver a substantial improvement in looks, refinement and performance.

For now the new Pulsar 180 DTS-i is the twin that has got the special treatment. Though not immediately visible from its front profile, the Pulsar 180 has also been put through a redesigning process. The headlamp has been changed to separate the parking lamps or the pilot lamps and the main headlamp.

With the overall design of the headlamp housing and bikini fairing remaining relatively similar to the older version, the new one gets a fresh headlamp reflector which, combined with the blacked-out gaps and separated new twin parking lamps, gives the bike a new wolf-eyed look. One safety feature that has been added to the headlamp is the automatic switchover facility, which enables the headlamp bulb to connect on to the second filament if one fails or burns out.

At the sides of the new Pulsar, the stalked turn indicators now feature clear lens glass and amber bulbs visually merging them with the bike's side profile. The more important highlight of the turn signals however is the new self-cancelling turn indicator switch. Instead of the conventional push-cancel turn indicator switch, the new type in the Pulsar behaves somewhat like those in a car.

So, after being activated by the rider pushing the knob either to the left or to the right depending on the direction he is about to turn into, the indicator bulb is automatically deactivated after the manoeuvre is made or after a preset time, if the turn is not made. The new self-cancelling switch, like all the other electrical switches in the new Pulsar, is a non-contact type. Therefore, there is no stiff feel and clicking mechanism of the older switches is also absent. To manually deactivate this seemingly advanced turn indicator switch, it just needs to be pushed in the opposite direction to the one chosen.

The new Pulsar's fairing and handlebar position has also been slightly lowered for improving the flow of the design and to offer a more sporty ride position. Housed within the fairing, the new instrumentation and display panel in the latest Pulsar version draws inspiration from high-end passenger cars.

Instead of the usual individual pods housing the speedometer, rpm-meter and fuel gauge, the new Pulsar 180 features a flush, lightweight, LCD screen, which offers a digital read-out of the key vehicle data.

The bright orange backlit LCD screen displays the vehicle speed, in large-format numbers and the fuel level, in a vertical, reducing bar format. To the left of the LCD screen is a large, analogue display for the tachometer. The LCD display is already an industry first and adding to its novelty is the use of a new contact-free, or non-contact type, speed sensor that feeds the bike's wheel speed data on to the display. The result is an almost completely error-free digitised speed tracking mechanism that puts the older worm-wheel-and-gear apparatus in the shade.

Taking the advance in the Pulsar's electricals one step further, Bajaj has given the new 180cc version non-contact type, backlit switches for the other functions such as horn, headlamp, high beam and self-start buttons. The cool bluish-white back light colour offers an attractive night-time view to the rider.

Another problem that bikes users often face with lighting for the instrumentation is its inadequacy during daytime and/ or the level of glare and distraction that a brightly lit cluster leads to at night. To address the issue, Bajaj has come up with a day-night mode for the Pulsar's speedo console. As a result, the key backlit indicators such as the neutral, high beam, turn indictor and side-stand lights glow more intensely during the day, to take care of the bright ambient sunlight that tends to even filter through the tinted bikini fairing. When the parking lamp or headlamp is switched on (during late evenings or in the night), the intensity of these indicating lights reduces, to prevent possible glare to biker.

One more electrical feature that has also doubled up to offer this Pulsar variant more novelty is the industry first use of LED bulbs for the bike's tail lamp. Instead of the angular square unit in the earlier version, the new Pulsar features a twin-stripe tail light unit that houses an array of light-emitting diodes. LEDs consume less battery power, are brighter to look at and light up faster than conventional bulbs, thereby improving the response time for the rider behind you.

To incorporate the thin LED stripe tail lamps, the Pulsar's body side panels have been altered to give it a new, sharp, tapering-towards-the-rear look. Chunkier side panels angle closer to the rear and converge to form a pointed end, which is crowned by a new die-cast grab rail. To better handle all the new electrical features, a body control unit has also been incorporated. Another new feature is the low maintenance battery that requires check-up only once a year.

Improved novelty

The neat, matt-finished alloy wheels, the muscular fuel tank, the matt-black silencer and the gas-filled Nitrox shock absorbers have all been retained from the earlier version.

On the performance and refinement fronts, the new version of the Pulsar gets a large volume air-filter assembly with an optimised intake system to provide better torque on demand. With improved filtering efficiency, the new air-filter together with an entirely new clutch assembly has remarkably improved gearshift feel and efficiency. The new clutch also reduces the earlier feel of gearshift shudder and lends a progressive feel and feedback. False neutrals have also been drastically reduced.

Bajaj's R&D has also worked on the gear-shifting mechanism, revamping it to offer a smoother shift feel. A new shifter assembly, an integrated overshifter preventer with a shift guide and shift forks with rollers contribute to a much better gearshift mechanism.

Overall, with the new attempts at refinement the old engine's performance has been bettered with increased torque availability, reduced vibration and improved shift feel to the gearbox. The changes will especially be appreciated by buyers, since this engine aided as it was by the digital twin-spark ignition, was never lacking in top end power.

Priced at Rs 59,000 (ex-showroom), the new, loaded Pulsar 180 DTS-i will be a hard-to-beat package. As yet, the competition for this bike will seem sorely lacking in novelty value, looks and performance in this price segment.

More Stories on : Two/Three Wheelers | Auto Focus | Bajaj Auto Ltd

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