Bajaj Pulsar AS 150, AS 200 review, test ride

AS or Adventure Sport is the latest range of Pulsar bikes from Bajaj, and both the twins from this range, the AS 150 and 200, come with neatly styled front quarter fairings, that extend sleekly back into tall, clear visors, that provide nice wind blast protection, when riding fast. Both bikes are equipped with potent projector lamp-powered headlights, and there’s deeply grooved, Pulsar- typical fuel tanks, which provide a snug thigh grip when attacking the twisties.  

Several lightweight alloy parts are offered on both new Pulsar AS bikes, including elegant, slim-spoke rims, rider as well as pillion footrests and the sub-frame units that support these. The Pulsar AS bikes feature backlit switches that work well, and familiar controls all of which are nice enough, such as the levers, grips and mirrors.

The new Pulsar AS range offers comfy-feeling split saddles for rider and pillion, with both new motorcycles looking well proportioned, and smartly turned out. While their front fascias are new, you'd easily recognise both bikes as Pulsars, when looking at them from anywhere behind their fuel tanks.  

The AS's 150 and 200 come with new-generation, four-stroke, single-cylinder and multi-plug (two for the smaller engine and three for the 200), four-valve engines that displace 149.5cc and 199.5cc respectively. Both are fed by CV carburettors with the major difference being that the smaller AS 150 is air-cooled, whereas the larger AS 200 is liquid-cooled.  The 16.8bhp and 23.2bhp outputs are at an identical 9,500rpm on both motorcycles. The AS 150 engine is all-new, feeling far smoother than any earlier Pulsar 150. It's clearly peppier too now, but has dropped the older bikes typical engine snarl, with a more refined, mellower note in place. The AS 200 has a more grunty engine note, and slightly less refinement compared to the 150, but nothing you'd be bothered by. As expected, the AS 200 offers far quicker performance through a wide powerband.