Introduction
Bajaj has been on a roll lately and is updating most of its lineup which includes the NS and the N range. The latest product from the Chakan-based manufacturer to have received a refresh is the Pulsar N250.
This quarter-litre offering from Bajaj now packs new features, and new hardware and boasts visual changes too. But what sort of improvement have the new additions brought to the Pulsar? Does the bike feel complete as a package now? Is the user experience better in terms of the engine feedback, and its capabilities at high speeds, and should you spend Rs. 1.51 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) on the ‘updated’ Pulsar N250? To answer all these questions and a few more, we test-rode it for a day. So, here is how different the 2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 feels.
The Visuals
Appearance is the first aspect that comes to play more often than not, when purchasing a motorcycle. And Bajaj has turned things around for the N250. Sure, the bike always looked good with its muscular build and sharp design. But with the new paint schemes of red and white alongside the new tank decals, the 2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250’s visual quotient has been enhanced further. It not only looks sportier and more youthful but the proportions appear pronounced as well.
Then the golden-coloured USD forks not only make the fascia look chunkier but also add a nice bling to it. So, it is fair to say that the Pulsar N250 has hit a glow-up.
The Package
One area where the previous model came short was the overall package. While it housed all LED illumination, the Pulsar N250 lacked in the features department. But Bajaj wants to step up its game and make it a tough fight against its rivals. And as a result, the N250 now gets more bells and whistles. It sports a fully digital screen with smartphone connectivity, gives you access to call/SMS notifications and provides turn-by-turn navigation too.
That's not it, Bajaj has also equipped the bike with traction control and three ABS modes – Road, Rain and Off-road. These can be toggled through using the revised switchgear. You can also turn the traction completely off in the Off-road ABS mode.
The Rain mode has the most intrusion for obvious reasons and the Off-road ABS setting lets you lock the rear wheel in a controlled manner before the ABS kicks in. Not to mention, the USB charging port is offered on the new Pulsar N250 too.
The Ride
The Bajaj Pulsar N250 has been a nice and easy-to-ride motorcycle since its birth. Its 249cc single-cylinder engine making 24.5bhp and 21.5Nm of torque packs adequate punch in the low and mid-range. This works just fine when you commute in the city and often come across bumper-to-bumper traffic or need to make quick overtakes. Further, even from the get-go, the first gear is decently tall for you to accelerate hard and probably be one of the first few people to zoom out once the traffic signal is green.
Keep up-shifting and the Pulsar N250 clocks 50-60kmph speeds in no time. If you are out on the freeway, speeds of 90-100kmph too are easily attainable. But the problem lies in the higher rev range as the engine feels stressed around the 7-8,000rpm mark. There are vibrations near the fuel tank and the handlebar. This could have been rectified if the N250 had a sixth gear. But unfortunately, Bajaj has gone with the same fivewdw-speed setup. So, the overall NVH levels more-or-less remain the same as before and have a scope for improvement. If the vibes at the higher revs can be ironed out, then the N250’s engine would feel butter smooth.
The Pulsar N250 has benefitted from the inclusion of USD front forks and a wider 140-section rear tyre. Speaking of the suspension first, the front forks are set up properly. The front end neither bottomed out nor felt too stiff during our first ride. However, the monoshock is tuned slightly on the harder side. Now this could be subject to change as per the payload.
The brakes have predictable performance and offer just the right stopping power. But the front lever could use more feel as the current one has a borderline spongy response and the bite is noticeable only after the lever is pulled halfway through.
The new MRF tyres on the 2024 Pulsar N250 seemed to grip well on the road and the curvature too made it easy to flick the bike around. That said, the 164kg weight is noticeable if you are pushing the bike around manually.
The Conclusion
It's clear as a day, with the inclusion of new features, hardware, and colour options, the Pulsar N250 appears far more recommendable than before. The ABS modes and traction control add to the safety net while the fully digital screen with turn-by-turn navigation and smartphone connectivity enhances the user experience. To top it off, the new colours are a welcome change to the refreshed model along with the golden-coloured front forks.
However, there are minor areas of improvement on the finishing front, and the fact that the Pulsar N250 still needs a sixth gear for the engine to feel relaxed at higher revs is slightly bothersome.
But overall, the value for money has been amped up vastly. And, you just pay about Rs. 1,000 more at Rs. 1.51 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). All in all, we can confidently say that the 2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 would make for a good purchase in this class. And more so when you consider that the N250’s rival, the Suzuki Gixxer 250 costs almost Rs. 50,000 more for similar features.
Photography By Kaustubh Gandhi
Gallery
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Bajaj Pulsar N250 Left Front Three Quarter
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