Pulsar NS 400Z Vs 390 Duke Gen 1: New school meets the school

The year is 2013, and KTM has just launched its highly anticipated 390 Duke at a mouth-watering price of Rs 1.80 lakh. Helped by this aggressive pricing, it rapidly grew into a performance icon and became the king of the hill, where it resides to this day. Well, a new kid on the block shares the same heart but brings more tech to the fold. For Rs 1.85 lakh, can the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z be the spiritual successor to the Gen 1 390 Duke and garner the same cult following? Thanks to Soham and his beloved Gen 1 Duke, we’re here to hit you with a blast from the past.

Despite the 390 Duke being in its third generation in only 11 years, its first generation still draws in new and old buyers. In fact, most Gen 1 390 Duke owners swear by their motorcycle and look back fondly on their time spent with this Indo-Austrian machine, despite any reliability issues or hardships they may have faced. Conversely, Bajaj’s Pulsar NS400Z is the first of its kind. Even though it has a whole host of smaller-capacity brethren, the NS400Z is the flagship Pulsar and has big shoes to fill. Given the legacy of its predecessor, does the Pulsar NS400Z have the same credentials to leave as big a ripple?

On paper, it has everything going for it. A 373cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder motor that produces a healthy 40hp and 35Nm. It gets relatively advanced electronics, such as traction control and ABS with different modes, for a price that gives motorcycles four segments below a real run for their money. However, people’s options have significantly increased, and with so many choices available, there are other ways to stand out than simply being affordable.

On the other hand, KTM’s Gen 1 390 Duke had little to no competition on its arrival thanks to its indigenous origins; little to none could stand against its affordability. On paper, the 390 Duke is even more of a riot, producing 44hp and 35Nm from a 373cc single. In terms of dimensions, the Gen 1 390 Duke is 190mm taller, 12mm longer and 53mm wider than the NS400Z.

Its wheelbase is longer by 21mm, and despite that, it weighs 20kg lighter than Bajaj’s new flagship Pulsar. Though its styling mimicked the smaller 200 Duke, the 390 Duke was still distinctive enough and had bright orange wheels. From its chiselled tank, exposed trellis frame and cast-alloy swingarm, the 390 Duke drew you in and made you turn around each time you walked away from it.

But all was not gold, and the motorcycle had issues such as intense heat radiating from its motor, cramped and uncomfortable seats as well as reliability gremlins in the early days. Its headlight, too, was rather dim, and you’d have a better chance memorising potholes than spotting one at high speeds.

Despite all its shortcomings, the Duke’s overall appeal was untainted. Even after KTM launched the next iteration that addressed most of these problems, KTM loyalists continued to swear by their machines as there was nothing else like them. I remember riding one for the first time in 2013, and I could barely keep myself from staying under triple-digit speeds. Its sticky Metzeler rubber was expensive but provided incredible grip and would stop on a dime. Its acceleration was addictive and instantly put a smile on your face, which would only grow from cheek to cheek when you leant into a corner. The engine would fire up with a throaty grunt and always prefer staying on the boil. Its sheer aggression gave it the immense character that made you disregard all of the aforementioned problems.

On the other hand, the NS400Z is far less tedious to live with and, in most cases, a breeze to ride. Its spacious and supportive seat is a blessing in comparison. Combine that with its comfortable ride quality, and it doesn’t mind a relaxed ride. It packs a bright LED headlight that does a fantastic job illuminating even the darkest streets. Even the engine won’t cook your calves and doesn’t urge you to whack open the throttle every chance you get. The tyres and brakes pack less grip and stopping power but perform adequately well.

The overall experience is a lot calmer and even slightly disconnected sometimes. However, Bajaj had to cut corners to price this motorcycle aggressively in this day and age, and there is a distinct feeling that the bike is built to a cost. While everything functions well enough, it lacks the finish and quality levels of the 390 Duke, which still seems intact for the most part, even today.

From the start-up message on the screen (“Ready to race” vs “Let us ride”) to the overall riding experience, both motorcycles take a somewhat different approach towards achieving the same task at a similar price point. For most youngsters and avid riders, the 390 Duke became a motorcycle that hardened them as riders and rewarded their skills the more they pushed it, but punished those who didn’t respect it. The Pulsar NS400Z, meanwhile, wishes to reward you with its comfort and ease of use, regardless of your skill. Its engine doesn’t invoke the same degree of thrill and adrenaline as the 390 Duke, but its friendlier approach would cast a wider net and be less daunting for new or returning riders.

While there are a plethora of sub-400cc motorcycles out there to choose from, the NS400Z stands out with its bold pricing and approachability. The only thing ‘cut-throat’ about it is its pricing, and while I hoped for it to be the second coming of a pocket rocket, it feels more like a practical purchase than an exciting one. For folks like Soham and countless others who swear by their Gen 1 390 Dukes, it will forever remain rent-free in our hearts as the Yamaha RD350 does for the generations that came before me. Bajaj has done a commendable job with the NS’ pricing, but even though the NS400Z is related to the Gen 1 390 Duke, I wonder if it will capture people’s hearts in the same way its distant relative once did.

Also see: Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z road test, review