Bajaj Should Make The Pulsar RS400 Instead Of Refreshing The RS200

Bajaj Auto is one of the important players in the Indian motorcycle industry known for its price-to-performance ratio products. The brand shocked the market by launching the Pulsar NS 400Z which has created quite a buzz due to its powerful engine and enhanced features. While the NS 400Z brings excitement for motorcycle enthusiasts, many are now looking forward to Bajaj’s next big move.

Bajaj famously revealed another product – the Pulsar RS200 – a motorcycle popular for its performance. However, the company faced backlash for retaining the same first-generation looks.

The company has recently teased the updated version of the upcoming Bajaj Pulsar RS200, although most of the motorcycle remains undisclosed. People are hopeful that Bajaj will do something exceptional with the Pulsar RS200 but the mystery of its looks will only be solved after the official release. Bajaj has assured that the upcoming motorcycle will remain in the 200cc category.

After the successful launch of the Bajaj Pulsar NS 400Z, many enthusiasts were also expecting a 400cc sports tourer from Bajaj – something akin to a smaller, single-cylinder Ninja 300. The potential for a larger capacity sports tourer could open up new opportunities for Bajaj in the performance segment to attract riders who seek both power and long-distance capability.

The RS200 is already popular in the market. Rather than re-launching the motorcycle with the same category engine and a new design, Bajaj could have launched a whole new Pulsar RS400 in the 400cc category to capture the sports touring market. If the company launches the motorcycle around INR 2.3 lakhs, it may break records and the new RS may get more attention than the NS 400Z.

The moto sports, highway touring and motorcycle culture is rising in India and even new entrepreneurs are investing in applications to schedule and manage group rides. People want a combination of power, comfort and long-distance capability. Bajaj should consider launching the Pulsar RS400. It can fill the gap in the Indian market for affordable yet powerful sports touring motorcycles.

Reasons why Bajaj should consider a Bajaj Pulsar RS400

Filling the gap between INR 2 lakhs - INR 3 lakhs segment

As of now, there is no single fully-faired sports tourer motorcycle in the market available between INR 2 lakhs and INR 3 lakhs. Even the Ninja series is missing in this price range. Though TVS has come out with a fully-faired Apache RR 310, which is more focused on track performance than long-distance touring, a considerable gap still remains in the market for an affordable yet capable sports tourer.

Easy Task for Bajaj

Launching a sports tourer in this segment is relatively easy for Bajaj. The company has already launched the Bajaj Pulsar NS 400Z, which is equipped with a 373.27cc engine. The same engine powers well-established models like the Gen 2 KTM 390 Duke and the Bajaj Dominar 400, which have been tested for reliability and performance. The infrastructure and expertise that have been built up allow Bajaj to make a Pulsar RS400 around the existing platform. This can be faired off to present a long-range touring machine.

Bajaj can attract power-seeking, comfort-demanding riders at an affordable price with this sports tourer like the RS400. A faired sports tourer with the same proven engine is likely to feature better wind protection, improved aerodynamics and long-distance comfort – all that a sports tourer enthusiast might require.

With motorcycle touring gaining popularity and a huge demand for versatile motorcycles, a Pulsar RS400 could gain an effective market share. If Bajaj prices it around the INR 2.3 to 2.5 lakhs mark, it could set new benchmarks and even go beyond the NS 400Z in terms of market appeal. The brand's reputation for providing performance-oriented yet budget-friendly motorcycles sums up the well-planned launch towards assured success.

Repeat the Success of NS 400Z

The NS 400Z is one of Bajaj's most successful products and the Pulsar RS200 was also successful. The fanboys were demanding a Pulsar RS200 to compete with the KTM RC 390 even after the launch of the Dominar 400, but the brand has been unable to deliver it to this day. However, after the successful launch of the NS 400Z, the project RS400 seems possible for the company.

The Need for a Sports Tourer

The increasing download numbers of Android and iOS apps to manage motorcycle rides show the rising popularity of motorcycle culture. There is growing demand for motorcycles like the Himalayan 450, BMW GS 310 and Xpulse 200, but the segment below INR 3 lakhs still lacks a sports tourer like the Ninja 400 or the Ninja 300. A proper implementation of the NS 400Z engine with a sports touring body kit can solve this issue.

The RS400 could be the coolest motorcycle and may break all records, but as of now, we only have a few teasers of the Bajaj RS200. We can only keep the hope of the RS400 alive in our ‘hope’.