The first fully faired Pulsar is here and we can foresee a lot of turmoil in the already heated segment, which incidentally also includes its step-brother RC200! The new Pulsar RS 200 aims to provide all the fun and those muscular looks at much cheaper prices. But how does it fare in on-paper spec comparison against its rivals – Honda CR250R and RC200? Let’s have a quick look….
Pulsar RS200 vs RC200 vs CBR250R
Engine and Performance: The good old Honda CBR 250R uses a punchy but aging 249cc mill which produces 26.5 PS of power at just 8,500 rpm which is the highest among the crop but only by a whisker! But its 22.9Nm of torque is comfortably better and pronounces its 50cc of capacity advantage. The RC 200 and RS 200 have the similar 199.5 cc engines which produce both power and torque figures which are just a little lesser than CBR. All three motorcycles get 6 speed gearboxes.
Looks: Though this is a subjective matter but the CBR250R appears to be the most staid looking machine here. Both the RC200 and RS200 are a lot modern and with those flaunting twin projectors upfront, they do look aggressive right from the word go! Despite the fact that they have ‘love me or hate me‘ designs, we will pitch the new Pulsar as the best looker!
Braking: There is a confusion here because the earlier RC200’s carried a smaller 280mm front disc, however the new 2015 RCs get a bigger 300mm front disc plate with 4-pot callipers. The Pulsar RS200 also gets an equivalent disc plate, however it is petal-shaped whereas the RC’s is round in shape. RS200 also gets a single channel ABS as an option. Honda also offers it on the CBR as a higher priced option and it is a dual-channel unit, however, on slightly smaller brakes. Quite shockingly, KTM doesn’t offer ABS even as an option!
Weight: The higher power and torque of CBR gets negated by the extra flab it carries along with it. Pulsar RS200 follows closely and is just 2 kilograms lighter. In comparison, the RC200 weighs 154 kgs (about 11 kgs lighter) and also enjoy the best power to weight ratio of over 160 ps per tonne!
Fuel tank: The puny 10 litre tank on the RC200 is a pain and KTM should consider offering a bigger capacity unit in the next upgrade. Both the Honda and Bajaj sport 13 litre fuel tanks. Though, Bajaj has not delved any official (or even unofficial) fuel efficiency figures, we believe it possibly could be the most fuel efficient of the lot.
Price: This is what Bajaj’s forte is and a quick glimpse over the figures and you would want to head to a Bajaj showroom with your checkbook! Non-ABS Pulsar RS200 is significantly cheaper than both the others. Even the ABS Pulsar, which we feel could have been more aggressively priced, has a difference of a whooping 58,000 against CBR250R on the ex-showroom Delhi prices.
We will be testing the new Pulsar RS200 at Bajaj’s test track soon and will share a detailed review of the motorcycle along with its on-road behavior, riding stance, performance etc. Stay tuned…
