With the introduction of the new Pulsar N160 S and N160 SS, Bajaj now offers their most affordable ‘N’ series model in a total of five variants. The two-valve 164.9cc air-cooled engine, which makes 16hp and 14.65Nm, is available in three variants. And the new four-valve 164.5cc oil-cooled engine that makes 18.5hp and 14.4Nm is available in two variants. According to the Bajaj website, the frame, assist and slipper clutch, Bluetooth, all-LED lighting and a USB-C port are standard across all five variants.
They all look largely the same and have a price difference of about Rs 20,000 between the absolute base and the absolute top. What exactly do you gain (or, in one case, lose) by upgrading? Let’s see. All prices mentioned here are ex-showroom, Delhi.
Pulsar N160
The Pulsar N160 is available in three variants, all of which get a USD fork and are differentiated by braking and seating configuration – single disc with single seat (Rs 1.22 lakh), twin disc with single seat (Rs 1.25 lakh) and twin disc with split seat (Rs 1.31 lakh). The mid-spec variant adds a rear disc brake and rear lift-off protection (RLP) over the base model. The top-spec variant steps up further with dual-channel ABS, traction control, a larger 300mm front disc (versus 280mm on the other two), 10mm more rear monoshock travel and LED DRLs inside the headlight.
Pulsar N160 S
The S is the base variant of the new four-valve engine. It gains a bigger front 37mm USD fork, ride-by-wire throttle, crawl tech, more advanced ride modes, and a new, bigger 5-inch LCD instrument cluster. However, compared to the top variant of the older N160, the S lacks traction control, LED DRLs, gets a smaller 280mm front disc brake, and goes back to single-channel ABS for Rs 1.33 lakh. Considering what you lose in the S for Rs 2,000 extra over the previous top variant, this is certainly not an easy choice to make.
Pulsar N160 SS
Next is the SS, which brings back traction control, the 300mm front disc, dual-channel ABS, and LED DRLs. It also swaps the S’s 5-inch LCD cluster for a TFT one with Wi-Fi support. The Wi-Fi module enables Google Maps mirroring support on the SS, which is a segment-first feature according to Bajaj. The other feature exclusive to the SS is the rear radial tyre that’s otherwise similar in size to the rest. The top variant costs Rs 1.42 lakh, a Rs 9,000 increase over the S and a Rs 11,000 increase over the top variant with the 2V engine.
Stephen Raj Antony
