Next-gen Bajaj Pulsar: 5 things to know

Not long ago, the first images of the upcoming next-generation Bajaj Pulsar surfaced online. Despite being covered in camouflage, a lot has been revealed, including major changes to the styling and mechanicals.

Next-gen Pulsar to get aggressive styling

A quick look at the camouflaged Pulsar reveals that it’s set to feature a more aggressive design. While it may look like it draws inspiration from the company’s NS models, a closer inspection provides a hint of the differences. The next-gen Pulsar’s proportions appear to be larger overall. Not only does that help make the motorcycle more spacious, but also gives it a more prominent stance. Other differences come in form of the design of the headlight and tail-light. There’s no denying that the wheels appear the same as the current NS/RS models, but the similarities stop there, and these could change on the production bike. Even minor elements like the belly pan and tyre hugger use a different design.

Next-gen Pulsar to continue to use air- and oil-cooling

Back in 2018, we learnt that the new engine platform will offer more scalability, stretching from 150cc to beyond the current 220cc limit; up to perhaps 250cc. While that remains to be confirmed, rumours do suggest that the bike in the image is running a 250cc engine. Interestingly, the image also reveals that the engine is air- and oil-cooled, not liquid-cooled like the NS and RS models. This also means that it will be a brand-new engine and not the one from the Dominar 250. If the engine is a new 250cc unit, we can expect power and torque figures between those of the Bajaj Pulsar 220F (20.4hp/18.5Nm) and Dominar 250 (27hp/23.5Nm).

Next-gen Pulsar to use a monoshock for the first time

Like we revealed back in 2018, this is the first time that a non-LS/NS Pulsar gets a rear monoshock. Needless to say, the frame and swingarm will need to be different units to incorporate this feature. This complete change in the underpinnings is expected to improve the dynamics of the Pulsar, and has been a long time coming. The suspension at the front, meanwhile, is a conventional fork.

Next-gen Pulsar likely to get more features

Given that this is the next-generation Pulsar and probably one of the highest-capacity models in Bajaj’s range, it is expected to come equipped with a decent set of features. However, the Pulsar brand is also about accessibility, so we don't expect to see too many game-changing features here. Nevertheless, LED lighting and a fully-digital instrumentation are part of the list. Whether things like Bluetooth connectivity will be offered remains to be seen. 

Next-gen Pulsar: Expected price and launch date

Bajaj is expected to debut the updates to the Pulsar with this higher capacity version and then bring the changes to lower capacity models. With the first bike expected to be a 250cc model, we expect it to cost slightly more than the 220F, which is priced at Rs 1.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). This will be Bajaj’s biggest launch of the year, and we expect to happen just before, or during, the festive season.

Also see:

Bajaj hikes prices across its range

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