The Bajaj Pulsar RS200 has long been a choice among riders seeking an affordable 200cc faired sports bike. Its bold and striking design played a key role in its widespread appeal. However, over the years, Bajaj fell behind in updating the model, leaving it feeling dated in a rapidly evolving market. That said, Bajaj has finally given the RS200 a much-needed refresh. Let’s dive into the details of this updated version and see what it brings to the table.
The RS200’s styling has always been dramatic and suited to an era when aggression was the name of the game. In fact, the RS200’s crazy “angel eyes” headlights have a cult following. Bajaj has made little to no changes to the front end to cater to the fans of the previous RS’ styling. However, there is a change to the tail lamp. The design includes two pods and combines the indicator and turn signal to give a refreshed look. Whilst the changes aren’t drastic, they seem to be effective.
One of the major updates to the RS200 comes in the form of NS400Z’s gauge cluster and switchgear. It is important to note that Bajaj has improved the quality and finish of their materials over the years and you can finally experience it in the RS200, especially when the NS200 isn’t upgraded to the same level. The new LCD Dash gives Bluetooth connectivity for turn-by-turn navigations and call/notification alerts. Bajaj has also given three riding modes i.e. Off-Road, Road and Rain to suit respective scenarios.
The engine remains unchanged as the RS200 is powered by the single cylinder 200cc engine that produces 24.5hp at 9750rpm and 18.7 Nm of torque at 8000rpm. It sends power via a 6-speed transmission with a slipper clutch. The suspension combination includes telescopic front forks and an anti-friction bush at the front and Nitrox Monoshock Suspension at the rear with a Canister. In terms of brakes, the front gets 300mm disc brakes and the rear gets 230mm disc brakes.
The RS200 is priced well at Rs. 1.85 Lakhs Ex-Showroom when you compare it with the likes of Yamaha R15 V4 and Hero Karizma XMR. However, the biggest competition it gets is from its bigger brother, NS400Z, which costs about the same. Overall, the update can be termed a mild refresh to integrate the RS200 with the newer Pulsar lineup but it has the potential to be a competent sports bike.
