Let us agree that the Pulsar RS200 is the prettiest motorcycle with the Bajaj badge. The overall design language is fresh and aggressive. Some design inspiration is visible from the Japanese but the Indian industrial designers have done a good job. But while I appreciate their effort, I find the motorcycle’s design a bit too busy. The front fascia reminds me of the Bumblebee from the famous Transformers property. Look very closely and the placements of the two projector headlamps will remind you of the rattlesnake – very aggressive, and with a character of its own.  It gets two LED pilot lamps, which are flanked by small decals to make the design lively. The turn indicators are the ones seen on the KTM Duke 200. The windscreen is big and quite useful during rides.

In order to keep the costs in check, the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 retains the same instrument cluster from its naked sibling. The center console features an analog tachometer and a digital fuel indicator. The left side console sports neutral and turn indicators, oil-level and a battery indicator whereas the right console gets a small basic display comprising of the speedometer, two trip meters, time and the side-stand indicator. What I like about this cluster that it gets a blue backlight and that makes the cluster look very fresh and updated. There is an rpm shifter indicator as well, which lights up every time you rev till 10,000rpm. There is an important addition to this bike – a single channel ABS and an indicator on the center console for the same. There are two buttons to adjust the time and trip meter and I think they are made out of stone and are very hard to operate.

The Pulsar RS200 gets the same 200cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine from the Pulsar NS200. It gets the same bore and stroke, however, this one is fuel-injected. This engine develops 24.2bhp at 9,750rpm – 1bhp more than the Pulsar NS200. The torque has marginally gone up to 18.6Nm at 8,000rpm. Because of the fuel-injection, the engine is much smoother and the throttle response is crisper. Unlike the other Pulsars, this engine isn’t very harsh and feels very grown up with a good level of refinement. The overall power delivery is very predictable and linear. However, there is no bottom-end power. I stalled the bike a couple of times in the first gear. It gives you a feeling as if you are trying to move the RS200 in the second gear. After 4,000rpm, the Pulsar RS200 is so much fun to ride. This single-cylinder engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox that provides precise shifts. Gearing is different from the Pulsar NS200 with the final drive being a short one to compensate on the additional weight gain. The clutch is light and well-weighted.

The Pulsar RS200 is not really a super sport motorcycle but has been developed to give a rider that feeling. With its tall clip-on handlebar, the riding position is quite comfortable and the foot pegs have moved closer to the rear. This has been done for a rider who wants to tour as well as race down a track.

Over the last few years, Pulsars have evolved but the RS200 has taken the game to a whole new level. With the Pulsar RS200, Bajaj tries to please a set of consumers, who have a soft corner for full fairing and performance. The RS200 is the best looking and the best equipped Pulsar till date. The overall new design language is a welcome move by the company and some bits of it will be carried forward to other motorcycles for sure. The performance is really appreciable and the introduction of single-channel ABS is a big value addition.