| In all the years that have gone by since Bajaj Auto showed off the Pulsar for the very first time almost a decade ago, there has hardly been any other bike launch that has caught the imagination of the entire nation. At the dawn of yet another upgrade on the Pulsar platform we trace back through the iconic bike's generations and explore the design direction that it has tread on. First generation The idea behind the Pulsar was simple, brief and extremely effective. The Hero Honda CBZ had opened up a new segment in Indian biking - one that had pretty much been left for dead after the Yamaha RD 350. Bajaj Auto saw a clear space for a hooligan motorcycle that would redefine biking in the country and separate the enthusiasts from the commuters - the Pulsar was the answer. What was a collaborative effort between Bajaj's technical team headed by Joseph Abraham and Tokyo R&D the foundations for the Pulsar were laid and packaged into a motorcycle that was compact and ergonomically tailor-made to suit the average Indian's height. The final look on the bike was penned by Ravi Darad with inputs from none other than the master himself - Glynn Kerr. Right from the very beginning, the Pulsar was to be launched as twins - in 150cc and 180cc capacities. Visually there was nothing except for a more subtle handlebar that separated the smaller engine. The bike was given a naked look - riding on the hooligan character that nakeds have always expressed the world over. The highlight of the design was the huge 18 litre fuel tank that flowed into the side panels which in turn formed the perfect start for the sharp comet-tail type rear fenders. The twin-pod instrument cluster in itself was a treat to look at as well with the speedo and tacho needles starting from vertical - another first for an Indian bike. What this all translated into for the rider was simple - sitting in the sporty stepped seat with the huge mass of the fuel tank snug between the legs and the bright-green lit needles dancing in the clusters, the bike felt big - much bigger in fact, than it was. It gave a feeling of substance and of immense power - the flat contoured handlebar adding to the effect. The first Pulsars were extremely tightly packaged too - with a short wheelbase and wide 100/90 rubber at the back, light hardly passed through when viewed in profile - which added further to the visually 'big' feel on the bike. Little elements such as the aircraft type fuel filler cap, the chunky grab rail, stubby exhaust can, sleek turn indicators and round headlamp further added to the Pulsar's class making it an instant hit not only in India, but in South America as well. | 
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