Owners review of the 2009 Pulsar 220 DTS-i by Gagan from Gurgaon..
Hi guys, this is Gagan from Gurgaon..
Well, 7 months down the lane since I brought the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-i home.. this review was long due!! So am getting to it straightaway.
I had a pulsar 150 late 2005 edition prior to this and I had no complains with that pair of wheels and it wasn’t easy for me to part with it, but I knew what I wanted and I went for it.
Bajaj launched the "Fastest Indian" campaign for the Pulsar 220 DTS-i and I knew at that time that the Pulsar 220 DTS-i was finally coming of age. I took a very brief test ride and decided for it. For some reasons I didn’t place the booking at the pro-biking outlet and did it at the dealer outlet in Gurgaon. It anyways went through pro-biking but that’s another story.
The bike was delivered after 2-3 weeks. The bike came fitted with the leg guard and sari guard (i so much hate them!! :) and black in color. Bike's base price was around Rs. 63K and add VAT and insurance to it and it became around 72K. They put in half a liter of petrol and booted it up and gave the throttle a twist and it welcomed me and my wife with a big roar.
That was the welcome part in flashback, now current date, bike after 2 free services (3rd due in April).
Look & Feel:
Everyone knows how it looks, but how it feels is what I need to say something about. The saddle is perfect with an aggressive stance and the rider actually feels like taking on the road and traffic. It was a welcome change from the pulsar 150 handle bar to the Indianized clip ons, anyone who has seen the actual clip ons will notice the slight elevation on the screws. It took a little time to get used to the fairings as I was used to ride on the 150 where pretty much everything turns with the handle. Fairing is quite a generic term but i know all of you would understand it if you have seen the 220 [:-)]
Overall it is not a hooligan roadster, but it has a class of its own.
Handling and riding experience:
The bike is well balanced. The basic test of balance what I do and I "don't" suggest anyone to try it, is gain some speed on the bike in a straight line and on speed around 70-75 leave the handle bar for few seconds. If the bike decides a direction on its own then there is something wrong, and if it holds the straight line you got a good bike. The same test is done for wheel alignments too but on a new bike you don’t really expect a bad alignment of wheels. But then again am sure there can be many arguments for this test but that’s my personal opinion.
The bike never shakes or wobbles on high speed. Little bit of vibration? Yes it is there but hey I can bet you will get that on the frigging R1 too [:-)], after all you have an engine going ballistic right under your butt.
The most amazing part that I noticed and is also a very small thing is that on braking hard on the rear wheels, and when the wheel locks you can hardly feel it, a little bit of exclamation from the bike is all what you feel. Sorry I can't explain the "exclamation from the bike" part. Try it and you will understand it. Real soft and smooth front disc breaks which actually suited my 1 and a half finger braking style and I already discussed the rear ones.
Pulsar 220 DTS-i sale price = 63K
Vat + insurance cost = 9K
Riding Experience + Heads turning = Priceless..!!
The gear box also took sometime to get used to because "good morning!! the first gear is down and the rest are up!!!". Gear changing is yet to show any issue and I think that Bajaj has improved on the Gear Box a lot when I compare it with my 2005 Pulsar 150, that was a different gear box.
The soft compound Tubeless tyres have already given me some surprise in the 5th month only. I saw the rear tyre flat one fine morning and took it to get it checked and fixed. The puncture guy pulled out a good solid long nail and filled the whole. I thought it’s done but on the second thought I decided to scan the tyre once more and found a similar second nail. That should have been it but I had a third thought and guess what there it was, the third nail. So three nails out of a 5 month old tubeless tyre. Guess that’s what you get on soft compounds but they are undoubtedly the finest when it comes to holding on to the road and have been through some scary situations to actually realize that the hard way [:-)].
Satadal Payeng: Gagan dude, I am not very sure if soft compound tyres leads to more punctures.. maybe it could have been bad luck on your part with the punctures.
Engine and Performance:
The 220 CC engine is shelling out what it promised. First, second and third gears don’t put any surprises but shift to 4th and then 5th and you are in for the surprise that made 220 DTS-i the Fastest Indian. On the highways I need to make effort to slow it down whereas it was the opposite on my 2005 Pulsar 150. It starts talking in 90s before you even notice it on the speedo.
Fuel efficiency wise I am yet to actually feel the difference on the fuel cost after my pulsar 150, of course if you remove the petrol price rise factor out of the calculation.
I think that would be it from my review, I have never been able to detail out every minute details of any of my test rides of any vehicle, guess I only like riding/driving and not talking much about it. So pardon me for keeping it short and with less technical jargons.
Shoot a note/comment if you have any questions related to my pulsar 220 DTS-i experience.
- Pulsar 220 DTS-i sale price = 63K
Vat + insurance cost = 9K
Riding Experience + Heads turning = Priceless..!!
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- Yamaha R15 Review
Disclaimer:
This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.
18 Comments:
nice review. Gagan I just want to know why you didn't go for the R15?
'Pulsar 220 DTS-i sale price = 63K
Vat + insurance cost = 9K
Riding Experience + Heads turning = Priceless..!!'
Well said. Ride safe bro
@Deep
That is a good question and i have multiple points on it (no offense on the R15 machine and owners and i have great respect for Yamaha's technology):
First, i am slightly heavy and large built, R15 looked like a bicycle when i tried it.
Second, I wasn't very keen on shifting to another 150 CC machine as i was already riding the Pulsar 150.
Third, R15's cost as far as i remember was 20K more than Pulsar 220 at that time.
Last and not the least, i have this old and satisfying connection with Pulsar and i wanted to give it another innings.
@Anonymous
thanks.
BTW besides the "priceless" part :) i was actually trying to highlight how VAT is actually killing everyone and Delhi is again under fire nowadays. Thanks to Commonwealth Games!! These are the times when i feel relieved that i don't live in Delhi!!
WOW!! Gagan Dude...!! That took a loooong time to come through :)
Well when I took the test of the P220 DTSi, there was a very distinct difference in throttle response in every gear pre 5k mark and post 5k mark. I guess it's something with the big bore carb (not sure though). But be it the 1st or the 5th, take the bike past 5k and BANG... the bike goes mustang :)!!
@Gagan,
how much of a difference is there between the final on road price between Gurgaon and Delhi [Difference in VAT bettween the two cities]?
@Sajal dude
yea it took some time..but guess what!! my i10's review is also due, gud 2.5 years overdue!!Would "Throttle" like to host it? :)
@Akash
dude numbers have changed alot lately, a friend of mine has been looking to buy a car, he lives in noida and he figured out after inquiring from dealers from Gurgaon, Noida and Delhi, gurgaon is the cheapest and the difference was turning out to be of around 10K. not sure about VAT on automobiles as the recent changes have been on LPG and items like mobile phones, but there is a significant difference in road taxes for sure!! Calling a dealer would be a good idea!! :)
@Gagan
It would be pleasure to host man!! Anytime, anyday :)
@Akash
As Gagan said, Gurgaon taxes are less compared to Delhi and Noida and therefore the price difference. But, at the same time, if you ever plan to sell off your steed inside Delhi-NCR, then a Delhi registered number fetches more than any NCR number. So, have your options are requirements sorted out and have all available options well researched. :)
@Gagan, aren't there anything negative (might be even small ones) about about the Pulsar 220 DTSi?
@Anil
Oh yes there are negatives. ones that strike me instantly is its weight..a leaner guy might feel a bit uncomfortable in putting it on its main stand and of course the digital fuel gauge can mislead sometimes. :) See..that is why i put that little note at the end asking for questions!! Thanks for asking!! :)
How come the price of Pulsar 220 dtsi si so low on 72K, its min onroad price is around 79-80 K....
Gagan dude - The most amazing part that I noticed and is also a very small thing is that on braking hard on the rear wheels, and when the wheel locks you can hardly feel it, a little bit of exclamation from the bike is all what you feel. Sorry I can't explain the "exclamation from the bike" part - this means the rear brakes are completely feel less. Not a good thing
The bike is well balanced. The basic test of balance what I do and I "don't" suggest anyone to try it, is gain some speed on the bike in a straight line and on speed around 70-75 leave the handle bar for few seconds. If the bike decides a direction on its own then there is something wrong, and if it holds the straight line you got a good bike. - It may also veer off if you're not sitting right
aah..didnt notice there were more comments!!
@Anonymous
Dude, feel less..yes you can say that, but then again compare it with brakes of a car, in a good not so bashed up car even when you brake hard, you can hardly feel the grunt and friction where at the same time you rear tyre is leaving some serious rubber on the turf. that is called smooth braking. and as far as braking is concerned i feel stopping on time matters and how much ruckus your brake and tyre creates is pointless. you know your brakes, you put the right pressure, vehicle stops!!
and for the other part, as i said "don't" do it. and anyways if you are not sitting right, you are not riding right, and you are even more not supposed to do this test :)
@vishal
which city you are talking about? there is another calculation of road taxes which varies across the country.
hey,i also own a p220 but i have some problem relating to its handling..its very difficult to take a u turn with small radius.when i try to do so it begins to fall sideways..is this the problem with all p220 or is it my own poor riding experience??
Hi Gagan. Neat review. It suggests your admiration for the bike. I bought a P220 Dtsi on 7th Aug 2010. Hardly done 150 kms on it but the bike feels very smooth. The gearbox is also crisp. But I am losing tyre pressure on each ride. Say on saturday I filled 28 psi front and 30 psi rear but today, there was a drop by 2-3 psi in both tyres in flat 3 days n 120 kms. Is this normal?
m in love with the pulsar 220.. but am undecided as to its colour.. m buying it next month.. any suggestions??
nice review. Gagan I just want to know why you didn't go for the R15?
can u tell smthin bout it's ignition???
i have seen many old pulsars being pushed and pulled so that it can be switched on
is it the same wid u?????????????
Where Do u get in 71,000 its ex showroom price is 70,000
:)
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