Origins

• The Bajaj Pulsar was designed jointly by Bajaj Auto and Tokyo R&D, a Japanese design firm with other successful motorcycles under its belt. The development took several years and was a costly enterprise, putting the financial future of Bajaj Auto at stake. In the late 1990s, the Indian market for motorcycles was dominated by smaller, more efficient models. Recently introduced models, however, were selling well despite larger engines and higher fuel consumption. This led the Bajaj Pulsar to be designed as a performance model that still retained a relatively low cost. Targeted at young buyers, it was a major sales success from its introduction. In a way, the Bajaj Pulsar revolutionized the market for motorcycles in India, leading riders to expect higher performance and power ratings even from modest, entry-level bikes.
  
  

First Bajaj Pulsars

• The initial Bajaj Pulsar was available with either a 150cc or 180cc engine. Both were single-cylinder, air-cooled engines. The Bajaj Pulsar was very simply designed, using only springs as shock absorbers and a single spark plug. Optional features were few, but included an electronic ignition system. Disc brakes, standard on the Bajaj Pulsar, were a major selling point as, up until that time, they had typically been reserved for higher end models.
  
  The early Bajaj Pulsars were very popular, both for their appearance and performance. By 2003 the 150-250cc market class was firmly established and buyers were no longer unwilling to spend more money for a higher performance motorcycle. Building on its sales success, Bajaj Auto began a series of improvements that would keep the Bajaj Pulsar novel and commercially viable for years to come.
  
  

Evolution

• 2002 model year Bajaj Pulsars were identical to 2001 models. For 2003, Bajaj added its new Digital Twin Spark Ignition (DTSi) system to the 150cc and 180cc engines, adding a small amount of power while actually improving fuel economy. The next series of changes came in 2005 with the introduction of 17-inch wheels on the Bajaj Pulsar (a first for an Indian motorcycle maker). Bajaj also lowered the frame for better handling and a more low-slung appearance. Additional engine upgrades gave the new Bajaj Pulsar as much as 16.5 horsepower. Pneumatic shock absorbers were also added to accompany the spring-based suspension.
  The 2006 Pulsar is notable for the introduction of an onboard diagnostic system featuring an LCD screen. New lights including a revised headlamp and turn signals were also added for 2006.
  
  

Later Models

• The first new major versions of the Bajaj Pulsar were offered in 2007. These new models featured 200cc and 220cc engines and were known as the Bajaj Pulsar 200 DTS-i and Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi, respectively. The new Bajaj Pulsars employed fuel injection instead of a carburetor. The new engines were also oil-cooled, as opposed to the air-cooled 150cc and 180cc models.
  
  In 2009 Bajaj refreshed the original 150cc and 180cc models. The 150cc Pulsar was offered with a special black paint scheme and a 3-D logo. Similar cosmetic upgrades appeared on the 180cc Pulsar, which was now rated at 17 horsepower.
  Also new for 2009 was the Bajaj Pulsar DTS-i, a high-performance version of the Pulsar 220cc model, which, at the time of its debut, was the fastest motorcycle available in India.
  
  

Specifications

• The five engine options in the Bajaj Pulsar have been rated as high as 14 horsepower for the 150cc engine, 17 horsepower for the 180cc, 18 horsepower for the 200cc, 20 horsepower for the 220cc, and 21 horsepower for the 220cc in the DTS-i configuration. All Bajaj Pulsars use tube tires and five-speed transmissions. Front telescopic forks and a 52-inch wheelbase are also common to all models.
  Depending on optional equipment, most Bajaj Pulsars weigh in at under 350 pounds, resulting in a very good power-to-weight ratio for its class.