In nearly 25 years, we have had 21 Pulsars. Start counting and you’ll realise that you have forgotten barely any. Heck, I, the Pulsar 220F, have been in the business for over 17 years. You, my friend, have just joined one of the most celebrated names in the history of Indian motorcycling. And I understand the responsibility and pressure that you have inherited with this legacy. Today, you are the biggest, most badass Pulsar, just as I was once.
Back then, we had simpler names, though. ‘Pulsar’ was the prefix to the engine capacity. Over the years, names grew more complex; first it was the technology (DTSi or Fi) that followed the displacement, and then came the acronyms that Gen Z is so fond of. Is that why you have the ‘Z’ in your name, NS400Z? Just kidding, kiddo. Easing the tension.
I am sure you must have heard about my return from retirement, and the sudden departure of my ‘spiritual successor’, the F250. But I want you to understand that it was not what I intended for either of us. I would have loved to hang up my fairing, sit back and let you young boys take our story ahead. That’s not what Indians want, though.
Trust me, I am as surprised as you are. Even I wonder sometimes what it is about this ‘oldie’ that people still find appealing. I mean, you have everything that one could ask for, right? A big liquid-cooled engine, USD forks, monoshock, ABS, traction control and even connectivity, if it matters. But what grabbed everyone’s attention? Your ‘dated’ styling which was of course inspired by the other NS bikes.
Somehow, my half fairing and the vertically-stacked headlight unit still feels fresh and turns heads. But you know what? Don’t be disheartened by it. Over the years, even I have tried to keep up with the trends, and sometimes they don’t work well. Take this LCD console, for instance. It has Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, call and message alerts, but it is barely readable under the sun. God, I miss that tacho needle so much.
You know, I was the first fuel-injected performance motorcycle in the country, and a year later, that was replaced by a carburetor, only for the FI system to make a comeback after a few years. You, on the other hand, are likely to have a smoother journey. Thanks to our Austrian connection, your 373cc engine doesn’t need much tinkering, although it would have been great if it was a bit more expressive, but that’s not your fault; it’s the emission norms tightening the noose.
Not to blow my own horn, but my 220cc air-/oil-cooled engine still feels rev-happy and smooth despite minimal changes in these 17 years. Back then, and even now, people don’t just love me because I was the ‘fastest Indian’, but because I can go with the flow and ride through the city traffic peacefully, and have all the 20 horses at disposal whenever needed. But just between us — people choose to do the latter most of the time and I happily oblige.
Even with all my might, you are twice as powerful. Seeing your ‘outdated’ (joking, again) tail-lights, as you blitz past me every time makes me proud. After all, YOU are the flagship, the torch-bearer for the Pulsar family, and you are doing a good job, too. The throaty exhaust note complements your performance. Though you don’t rush to the redline as smoothly as I do, I love the sense of urgency you create in the mid-zone of the rev range. And with the commanding ergonomics you offer, I don’t think the rider would want to go slow.
I mean, the almost dragster-like handlebar, the rear-set footpegs and the perfectly sculpted fuel tank lock the rider in a position which is just right to do… well, Pulsar things. I think that’s something you’ve gotten from me, but I think I am a little more comfortable than you. My footpegs aren’t as rear set and even though I sport clip-on ’bars, they are apt for relaxed riding, too. But well, with all that performance you pack, having a focused riding posture is not that bad idea, after all.
You know what was a bad idea, though? Giving you that 140/70-section MRF Revz S rear tyre. Not that it is an outright bad tyre, but honestly, it limits your potential. But guess what, we are sailing in the same boat. I still can’t fathom why I have the dual-purpose TVS Eurogrip ATT 1150 rear tyre. Is it because of our roads? Come on, I know I can handle every pothole, every speed bump and undulation without any hiccups, and I have seen you do that, too. We are born and trained on Indian roads, so we know what we are going to be up against.
And that’s why our brakes do just what they are supposed to, and maybe even more if the rider is willing to risk it. Okay, now it is a bit tedious for me, too, with the ABS keeping a leash on things. But there’s always a way around that, isn’t it?
People say you are late to the party, to which I agree. There’s a positive side to that too, though. With all the electronic gizmos, competitive performance and underpinnings, you are the most accessible one in your segment, and that’s something we should be proud of, isn’t it? We, as Pulsars, were born not just to be performance motorcycles, but to make performance motorcycles accessible. But despite your performance, fancy features and attractive price, I outsell you two to one. No pressure though, seriously.
