The Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z has redefined the term value for money or VFM with its astonishing Rs 1.85 lakh, ex-showroom price tag. Achieving this price point for a nearly 400cc, 40bhp motorcycle in 2024 is incredible when you consider the fact that the KTM 390 Duke was launched at around Rs 1.8 lakh over a decade ago.
The benefits of economies of scale and using an existing parts bin to make the NS400Z have helped in this regard. That said, the NS400Z has a lot of kit. It has a 373cc, liquid-cooled engine that makes 40bhp and 35Nm. Its features include traction control, four ride modes, and a digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity. Here are the other options that you can look at instead of the Baja Pulsar NS400Z.
KTM 200 Duke
The KTM 200 Duke is for those who want an energetic, engaging, and entertaining street naked, for not a lot of money. Its 199.5cc, 24.67bhp engine is known for its punchy acceleration because of its short gearing. The chassis is also more than capable of keeping up with the engine’s performance and on the whole, it is quite the pocket rocket. That said, it has been around for years and it isn’t as well equipped as the NS400Z. Nevertheless, it serves as the entry point for those looking to buy a KTM in India.
Yamaha R15
The Yamaha R15 is one of the most revered motorcycles in the market and it has quite the fan following in the market. It isn’t hard to understand why that’s the case, given its looks, the performance of the engine, and the features it gets. We particularly like the engine for its refinement, its VVA technology and its ability to sit at high revs all day long without a sign of protest.
The bike’s chassis is also the gold standard when it comes to agility, feedback and being forgiving enough for beginners to improve their riding skills. The cherry on top is the solid build quality and Yamaha’s reputation for offering a hassle-free ownership experience.
That said, the R15 has a rather committed riding position which can be painful for some. And its pillion seat isn’t comfortable enough for long rides.
Suzuki Gixxer 250
The other Japanese motorcycle in this list is one of the sweetest out there. The star of the Gixxer 250 show, undoubtedly is the 249cc, oil-cooled, single-cylinder engine. It is tractable, has a strong mid-range, and a decent top end as well. What’s more endearing is the engine’s refinement levels across the rev range. It also rides and handles very well, making it one of the friendliest motorcycles to ride.
The issue, however, is with the bike’s high price but there’s nothing that Suzuki can do about it considering the high-quality levels that it has to adhere to because this is the same spec that is also exported.
Hero Karizma XMR
Hero resurrected the famous ‘Karizma’ name last year and with it came high expectations from the bike. The Karizma XMR looks good and its bold colours help lend it additional road presence. The sharp design aside, the bike’s chassis is superb. It offers a great balance between ride and handling, and this is one of the biggest strong points of the bike. As for the engine, it is a mixed bag. While the power and torque are good, one needs to rev the engine to the upper end of the range to squeeze out all the performance. It also isn’t the happiest-sounding engine when you are caning it. That said, the overall ride experience is good. However, we wish that Hero had paid more attention to the bike’s quality and finish levels since the Karizma XMR is positioned as a premium motorcycle.
