neo999.com

Except for the branding and the fuel tank, very little from the Pulsar 180 has been carried forward to the FI. This bike is brand new. The wheelbase has been lengthened to 1,350 mm from 1,330 of the older Pulsar, along with a new swingarm. The rider interface has changed too - the Fi has gone digital. Except for the tachometer, everything else including fuel guage and speedometer finds place in the orange glow of the digital read.

So, now that you know what the FI looks like, lets move on to the fun parts – how does it ride. Indian biking websites were full of rumours about the size of the engine, so now, let’s put it all to rest. The DTSfi comes with a 220cc single cylinder engine, with Bajaj’s tried-and-tested twin spark ignition technology, and, for the first time on a mass-produced Indian bike, this engine is oil cooled, which would cut out high-speed knock and overheating.

Compared with the 17ps at 7000rpm Karizma, the Hero Honda is practically a slow poke. Considering that both bikes tip the scales at 150 kgs, the Fi puts out 3 bhp more because of better technology. The fuel injection makes the acceleration constant, and the acceleration, though silky, is perhaps a little too smooth for something that carries the Pulsar cursive.

I drove this bike on Bajaj’s velvet smooth test tarmac, which isn’t a really good place to tell how this bike will handle in real world conditions, but from what I saw impressed me.
The wider tyres, nitrox shock absorbers and longer wheelbase go a long way in stabilising the FI, and if there’s one thing that impressed me, it’s the evolution of the Pulsar as far as handling is concerned.

The early model 180, which is what I ride, is quite unstable, especially at high speeds, and the FI is comparitively more relaxed, for you to go through the gears without any nervousness.

There’s so much more that needs to be told about this bike, but Bajaj is guarding their crown jewel well. When they said sneak peek, they meant it. When asked what the price would be, all they revealed was that it would be less than a lakh, and were equally vague as to when this bike would be launched. What I got was just a taste of a fabulous bike, and I want more! I guess I’ll just need to wait till the bike is launched, like everybody else. ”

- Joel Pereira (money control)