Bike Chronicles of India

Feb 21, 2010

16 Pulsar 135LS Review [Part II] What's so special about the Pulsar 135LS?

What’s so special about the Pulsar 135LS..??

The "LS" in the name stands for "Light Sports", and that exactly is what makes this baby Pulsar special.

Light: Being Light in weight provides a good power to weight ratio:

The bike weights just 122 Kgs with fuel and engine oil. A massive 21 kgs lesser the Pulsar 150 and other 150 cc bikes as well. It means that the 13.5 Ps generated by the engine is not wasted in hauling more of the dead weight of the bike. This gives the Pulsar 135LS a power to weight ratio that is even better than the Pulsar 150, Unicorn, CBZ Xtreme, Hunk, FZ-16, Fazer (any of the current air-cooled 150 cc bikes)..!!

Sports: 4 Valve per cylinder engine with DTS-i (Digital Twin Sparkplug Ignition) engine provides Sports bike like performance.

What’s a 4 Valve per cylinder engine and what is its benefit?

After tasting first blood with the Pulsar 135LS, I just can't wait to ride bigger Pulsars with a 4 Valve head..!!

The Pulsar 135LS is the first bike from an Indian bike manufacturer to feature a 4 valves per cylinder layout. In a 4 valve single cylinder engine, there are 2 valves to let in the "air + fuel" mixture and another 2 to let out the exhaust gases. A very simple analogy would be: Imagine if you have 4 nostrils to breathe instead of 2. This would mean that we would be able to suck in more amount of air and expel more air and that too faster whenever we would need it most, that is while running hard.

4 Valve DTS-i Engine

Almost all the bikes manufacturer in India has the 2 Valve per cylinder layout. In a 2 valve engine, the "air + fuel" mixture is fed into the cylinder via one intake valve and the second valve lets out the exhaust gases after the combustion. Most normal riding, these basic 2 valves per cylinder layout is more than enough as in day to day riding one will rarely rev the bike to its limit like on a sports bike. International super sports bikes like the Yamaha R1, Honda CBR 1000RR, Suzuki GSX-R1000 etc. all feature the 4 valves per cylinder layout.

In a 4 valve single cylinder engine, the engine can suck in more "air + fuel" mixture and also expel the exhaust gases at a faster rate. It means that the engine will perform better at higher revs and allow you to rev it higher. The DTS-i engine further ensures that the fuel is burnt optimally and efficiently.

Are there any drawbacks of a 4 Valves per cylinder engine?

The now extinct Kinetic – Hyosung GF125/170 were bikes that first came with the 4 valve per cylinder layout

Currently the Yamaha R15 and the Ninja 250R are the bikes with the same layout

The high end performance definitely improves in a 4 valve engine, but as a trade-off the low end grunt of the engine tends comes down a little bit. This is the reason why the Yamaha R15 and the Pulsar 135LS seem to have less pickup at slow speeds.

To overcome this, the engine can be designed where the stroke is shorter than the bore of the engine cylinder. This is done so that the engine can be revved faster. The other solution could be and which the Bajaj R&D has resorted to in the pulsar 135LS, is to make the Stroke longer than the Bore of the engine. This improves the torque at low engine revs to potter around town and therefore be rewarded by good fuel efficiency. And when in a sporty mood, one needs to rev the engine hard and benefit from the 4 valves per cylinder layout.

But why am I so excited with the Pulsar 135LS..?? Haven't I ridden better and faster bikes than it..??

I have in fact ridden faster and more exciting bikes than the Pulsar 135LS. But the reason for my excitement is that, if the Pulsar 135LS is the shape of things to come from the Pulsar stables (read: faster, lighter, sharper handling).. I just can't wait for the future.

After tasting first blood (of the 4 Valve engine) with the Pulsar 135LS, I just can't wait to ride the bigger Pulsars with a 4 Valve head..!!

Pulsar 135 LS: Price

Rs. 51,000 (Ex-showroom Delhi)

Colors:

Passion Red

Midnight Black

Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS Specifications:

Whats so Special about the Yamaha YZF-R15..?? [Jan 2008]

Test Ride Review of the Yamaha R15..!! [Nov 2008]

Test Ride/Review of 2008 Yamaha Gladiator Type-SS [Feb 2008]

Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi Vs Hero Honda Hunk Vs Honda Unicorn Vs TVS Apache RTR 160: Which is the Best 150 cc..?? [Dec 2007]

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.

Feb 19, 2010

39 Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Review [Part I] Over a week of ownership experience

My first review of a new motorcycle after a long time... this one has been ridden for a week by me

I have been often accused to be a pro Bajaj, or more specifically a pro Pulsar guy. Let me state once more that without any doubt Pulsar is my most favorite brand. And I am proud to be associated with this brand just like the way I am proud to be an Indian.

So how does a Pulsar Maniac like me feel when a new bike on the block is named as Pulsar 135LS? Is it an insult to the legendary Pulsar brand? After spending a week on the Pulsar 135LS (borrowed from an out of town friend of mine), this is what I like about the bike.

Review Summary: Positives

Looks: Definitely a handsome "young" Male

Built Quality: As good as the best available in India.

Engine: Snatch free, built to last feel. Pulls easily from speeds ridiculously as low as 22-25 kmph (in 5’th gear) to a class leading 115-120 kmph in 5’th gear..!!

Clutch & Gearbox: Ultra light weight clutch and probably the Best Gearbox for any Pulsar variant from Bajaj.

Handling: Without any doubt the Best handling and the most agile Pulsar variant from Bajaj.

Price: Wallet friendly Rs. 51,000 (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

Mileage: Depends on riding style, but I managed to squeeze out 58-60 Kmpl (Thrice)..!!

But isn’t there anything negative about the Pulsar 135LS? And most importantly does it look, feel and ride to be accepted as a Pulsar..?? Read on..

I. Looks:

The first time I saw the Pulsar 135LS, I was really impressed. It definitely is a beautifully styled bike. Like its older brothers (the bigger Pulsars) the proportions are so pleasing that the bike doesn’t need snazzy stickers/decals or special paint job to distract your attention. Historically Pulsars have never resorted to sticker jobs and so it should remain.

I have no qualms in accepting the 135LS into the Pulsar brotherhood. After all, the bike looks like a handsome teenager. A definitely "young" male..!!

The front is dominated by its uniquely styled headlamp which gets floating panels that encase the glass area and gives the bike the look of a breathing animal. But the best angle to view the bike is from the sides. From the sides the bike has the look of a stretched feline. The trademark Pulsar tank has been replaced by a sleek, compact yet muscular looking one with aircraft style fuel filler caps to boot. The flush fitting tank flaps further adds to the sporty character and neatly flows into the tank.

The way the front portion of the seat blends into the fuel tank is a design element which has been there since the days of the classic Pulsars. The Pulsar 135LS also gets sporty split seats and split rear grab rails. With every tom-dick-harry motorcycles been given the "fear the black" look, the Pulsar 135LS gives a silver finish to the engine cylinder and the engine covers instead. This is actually successful in drawing your attention to the engine covers that has also been given the designer touch with some neat detail work.

The rear tail lamp (with LEDs) and the sharply styled turn indicators have been borrowed from the XCD 135 but look more at home on the Pulsar 135LS. The rear number plate holder has a neat trellis like design made out of aluminum which looks like inspired by the Yamaha R6. The silencer is upswept and has been sharply cut and is in line with the current international trend of stubby silencers.

Dislikes in Looks: The pulsar 135LS looks great from every possible angle. The only part that I found a bit out of place is the rear mud fender, which in a bid to protect from mud splash covers more than 50% of the 100/90 section MRF Zapper. A rear tyre hugger similar in design to ones found on the Pulsar 150 could have made the rear look better. Also a sporty half chain cover instead of the fully enclosed one could have made the rear portion of the bike look lighter and sportier.

Now coming to the important question, does it look like a Pulsar?

Small design details like the way the front seat flows into the tank, the rear split seats and backlit switches does remind of the Pulsar DNA. But strictly speaking, it does look different from the older Pulsars. But even then, I have no qualms in accepting the 135LS into the Pulsar brotherhood. After all, the bike looks like a handsome teenager. A definitely young male..!!

II. Engine performance: I’ll describe it in two parts..

Act I: The sane and sensible commuter:

Thumb start the bike and it comes into life with a smooth crank, which is quite unlike the older Pulsars which lets others around know that it’s coming back to life. The Pulsar 135LS is so silent at idle that in traffic I had to blip the throttle to know if the engine had gone back to slumber. The bike gently moves forward with the twist of the accelerator, which is again quite unlike the older Pulsars which kind of leaps forward from standstill.

Our Indian bikes normally reach their maximum power at around the 7000 rpm mark... and post that these bikes normally feel stressed and out of breadth

This gentle build up of speed might disappoint who expect this to be a speed manic. But at the same time the engine has a crazy ability to pull from speeds as ridiculously low as 22-25 kmph (from near idle engine speeds of 1800 rpm) in 5’th gear..!!

The engine also is snatch free and has got a built to last feel. There is a slight sporty buzz to the engine which feels quite.. well sporty. If not in a hurry, one can virtually ride on 5’th gear the whole day. And in case one needs a quick getaway, a quick downshift and a twist of the accelerator will make you zip forward. The bike might not exactly act like a pocket rocket at low engine revs but as the engine spins above 4000-5000 rpm, one can sense the build up of speed. The bike crosses 60 kmph and everything remains civil and composed, like a well mannered commuter. But then, a Pulsar.. a commuter? Where is the Pulsar grunt gone on this bike?

Intermission:

Just then the cruise party is interrupted by tingling sensations, especially on the right foot. You look down the speedometer and realize that the bike has just crossed 70 Kmph and 6000 rpm. From previous experience on other bikes, you actually expect this as our Indian bikes normally reach maximum power at around 7000 rpm and post this figure, these bikes normally feel stressed and out of breadth.

Act II: Crazy, Insane.. this cannot be a 135 cc engine..!!

As you further twist the accelerator, the tingling intermission ends and the second act starts! Puzzled by the regain in composure of the engine you look at the speedometer which surprising reads 78 kmph. The speed keeps on climbing with the engine remaining eager and cheerful. 80 kmph.. 85 kmph.. Holy $%!T this can’t be a 135 cc engine!!

The speeds reach 90 kmph.. 95 kmph and breaks the 100 kmph as if it does it everyday..!! The tingling sensation now makes a comeback but by now you just don’t care. The engine still feels eager and kind of taunts/dares you. Get into a crouch on an open stretch of empty road and in about 2 kms, you should get to see indicated speeds of upto 115-120 kmph..!!

So does the engine perform like older Pulsars?

Actually no.. it has a character of its own and performs better at higher speeds. It's is a gem of an engine. The shape of things to come for bigger Pulsars..?

III. Clutch and Gearbox:

The very light clutch literally makes light work out of heavy traffic. The only other bike with a similar light clutch is the Yamaha Gladiator. The one-down, four-up gearbox is probably the best Bajaj has so far made. The gearshifts are light and accurate and provide a good feel while shifting through the gears. It is not perfect but at the same time not too far away from perfection either.

Does the clutch and gearbox feel like one from a Pulsar?

No, its actually better.

IV. Handling:

The best part of the Pulsar 135LS is in fact is in its handling. Without an ounce of doubt, this is the sportiest handling bike from Bajaj. The Pulsar 135LS loves corners as a duck loves water. Just think Corner, and the Pulsar 135LS instinctively attacks corners with the agility and stability of a cat.

Even at slow speeds the Pulsar 135LS feels light and can successfully squeeze into tight spaces in our desi traffic. Unlike the bulky older Pulsars, the turning radius is small and the light weight bike (122 kerb kgs) makes things delightful for a city slicker.

So does the Pulsar 135LS handle like older pulsars?

Nope. But do you really need the answer?

V. Ride quality:

Traditionally Pulsars have always enjoyed a plush and back pampering ride quality. But this new Pulsar 135LS in a bid to provide for sharp handling loses that plush ride quality and becomes a bit firm. But then I have enjoyed the handling so much that I am ready to forgive the slightly ride of the Pulsar 135LS.

VI. Mileage/Fuel Efficiency:

I calculated three reserve-to-reserve sessions and every time the calculation came out to around 58-60 Kmpl. During this time I was riding quite normally within the city in medium traffic. Impressive I would say (By the way, my riding style gets me 37-38 kmpl from my Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi).

So is all well with the Pulsar 135LS?

I’ll call a spade and spade and say that the Pulsar 135LS is not free from minor flaws or trade offs.

[1] Looks are subjective but I would have preferred a half chain cover and a Pulsar 150 like tyre hugger instead of the current one.

[2] The engine is a gem but I wish that the slight vibrations at around 6000 rpm (70-78 kmph in top gear) been not there.

[3] The handling is stable and sharp but in the process the ride quality becomes a little bit firm.

[4] The city is the natural habitat of the Pulsar 135LS, and this light weight and sporty bike might not be an ideal choice as long distance tourer.

Verdict:

After spending week on the Pulsar 135LS, I am sure that this pocket rocket can outrun any current 150 cc (maybe except the Liquid cooled and twice as costly Yamaha R15) and deflate the puffed up chests of 150 cc owners. Throw in some corners and the gap and the embarrassment for the 150cc owners will only increase.

Without any doubt the Pulsar 135LS is the sportiest bike in the below 150 cc category with serious ability to taunt the current crop of 150 cc bikes.

Test Ride Review of the Yamaha R15..!! [Nov 2008]

Test Ride/Review of 2008 Yamaha Gladiator Type-SS [Feb 2008]

Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi Vs Hero Honda Hunk Vs Honda Unicorn Vs TVS Apache RTR 160: Which is the Best 150 cc..?? [Dec 2007]

Disclaimer:

Feb 15, 2010

18 Will 110 cc CB Twister make a big mark?

Will Honda India (HMSI) crack the commuter code with the 110 cc CB Twister?

Despite a plethora of models available in the above 100 cc segments, the bulk of the 2 wheeler buying consumer still refuses to budge from their 100 cc fixation. It’s the 100 cc Splendor and Passion duo which makes Hero Honda the world’s (and India’s) largest two wheeler maker. Even Bajaj has come back again strongly (after a rather bad 2009) with its 100 cc Discover DTS-Si.

I would say, the CB Twister has a better chance of scoring with the Hero Honda "Passion" crowd..

For a bike enthusiast, the realization that this 100 cc fixation is here to stay for a long time, is a bitter pill to swallow. But the writing definitely is on the wall that having a 100 cc model which the “desi” consumer fancies, can do wonders to the sales numbers.

The latest manufacturer to jump into the 100 cc bandwagon is Honda (HMSI) with its 110 cc CB Twister. The bike was officially launched in December 2009 and was scheduled to go sale in February 2010. That means that the CB Twister would be in a HMSI showroom near you very soon.

What does it take for the CB Twister to entice 100 cc customers?

Forget the extra 10 cc’s, the U.S.P of the CB Twister is actually its styling. HMSI used to be criticized heavily for its ultra conservative approach at styling (result: the Unicorn and the Shine). A few might say that the styling on the CB Twister a bit overdone for a 110 cc motorcycle, but the styling of the CB Twister does take Honda to a new level in India.

The CB Twister looks eye catching in the photos. But would it catch the fancy of someone who would have otherwise gone for the Hero Honda "Splendor" or the Bajaj "Discover"? Well.. I would say, the CB Twister has a better chance of scoring with the Hero Honda Passion crowd instead. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hero Honda Passion (Pro) gets an upgrade pretty soon.

Honda CB Twister Price:

Honda CB Twister Tech Specs:

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

Paper Filter

WEIGHT/MEASUREMENTS

CHASSIS

Tubeless,

Disc

ELECTRICALS

Maintenance Free

Honda CB Twister: Color Options [Click for a larger image]

2010 Honda CBF Stunner (125cc). Details, Price, Colors revealed (from Official Website)

Honda Plans 2 models for 2010. New Unicorn on cards..??

Auto Expo 2010 Coverage: Honda (HMSI)

Why hasn't Honda made a mark with its "Unicorn" in India..?? [June 2007]

Disclaimer:

Feb 14, 2010

21 What is the difference between Power and Torque of a motorcycle?

An attempt to demystify the two terms that puzzles most of us.. which one should we use to compare bikes?

"Power' and "Torque" are two terms very often used to describe and compare the (engine) performance of motorcycles. Even if I have always had an idea of what these two terms meant, I have so far struggled to put it in simple words which any layman could understand.

Harley Davidson doesn’t even bother to mention the Power figures of its bikes in its tech specs..!!

A google search for these two terms will land you on numerous of web pages, each trying to explain in detail the definition and the difference between them. But as the definition often gets into the scientific equations and technical nitty gritties, I have always invariably ended up closing the web pages.

Recently I found a very simple explanation for the difference and explanation of Power and Torque on this site (www.HowStuffWorks.com)

"Power" and "Torque" demystified in 4 sentences in simple English (courtesy the above mentioned site)

[1] Both Power and Torque are responsible for acceleration (which most of us also call as Pickup)

[2] Power affects acceleration (pickup) at high speeds (higher engine speeds)

[3] Whereas Torque aids acceleration (pickup) when the vehicle has to move from standstill or has to pull a heavy load (lower engine speeds)

[4] Torque lets the engine to do the work (of moving the motorcycle), but Power lets it do the work quickly when you're already moving and pulling something heavy behind you

Which suits you better? A bike high on Power, or a bike rich in Torque?

To put things into perspective.. For Super Sports bikes like the Yamaha R1, Honda CBR1000RR, Ducati 1198, the talk always revolves around the Power figures.. rightly so as racy bikes need more engine grunt at higher engine revs.

Power

On the other extreme, Harley Davidson, the maker of heavy cruiser bikes doesn’t even bother to mention the power figures of its bikes in its tech specs (Check out the Harley Davison site if you don’t believe me)..!!

Torque

To sum it up,

If you are inclined towards words like Sporty and Racy, "Power" should satisfy your need for speed.

If you don’t like to rev up the engine and want to take things at a leisurely pace, or if you have a heavy girlfriend/wife as pillion, you should probably talk more about "Torque".

Disclaimer:

Feb 11, 2010

7 Pulsar Maniacs..!! New video.. featuring the Pulsar 135LS DTS-i

There is a new video "MTV Pulsar Maniacs' on Bajaj Auto's site.. it features the youngest Pulsar the 135LS..!!

The "Pulsar Mania" TV Commercial (2008) is without doubt one of the best motorcycle commercial to have ever been made.. period. Taking the same theme of "Synchronised motorcycle stunts" forward, a new video has appeared called the "MTV Pulsar Maniacs".

Screen shot of the "Pulsar Maniac" video on Bajaj Pulsar (MyPulsar.Com) site

Update: Just saw this video on MTV.. it was shown as a "Music Video" and not as a regular TV Commercial.

Unlike the original "Pulsar Mania" commercial which was only about motorcycles, the new video also features a band of "b-Boy" dancers and some pretty faces as well. 4 Pulsar riders engage in a face off with the b-Boy dancers on their Pulsars.

The highlight of this new video is that the youngest Pulsar, the 135 LS appears on screen along with its Older sibling. By the way, the Pulsar 135LS with its rear hugger removed looks wicked..!!

Watch the video posted below or visit the www.mypulsar.com.. (One can even download the audio track in MP3 format from the site).

"Pulsar TV Commercials" have always set new standards for motorcycle commercials in India. Each new TV Commercial for the Pulsar have raised the bar and expectations of bike enthusiasts only higher. With the launch of a new Pulsar variant, bike enthusiasts eagerly look forward to its TV Commercial.

Does this new video meet the expectation of the enthusiasts?

According to me the 2008 "Pulsar Mania" TV Ad have raised standards to such dizzing heights that even matching it would be some feat. Coming back to this video, I would have liked to see some Indian faces in it (it features only foreigners). Maybe a few of the participants from the first season of the "MTV Pulsar Stunt Mania" could have appeared in it.

Well.. what do you think about it..??