India's Best Performance Purebred upto 250cc

Bajaj Pulsar 220F DTSi

With 21PS of power, a 220cc motor, unbeaten top-speed and a pricetag of Rs. 70,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi) - it's a no brainer why the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi wins over its competition. A lot was said when Bajaj Auto reverted to the conventional carburetor for the new Pulsar 220 DTSi over the more advanced fuel injection system that featured on the previous model, the Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi. But by offering a well-tuned carburetor (and biggest one seen on any of the current Indian bikes) to suit the 220cc engine's characteristics, Bajaj Auto has silenced its critics as not only is the new Pulsar 220 DTSi quicker, revvier and faster, it is also a lot more reliable and efficient than its fuel-injected sibling.

Although the 152kg of mass of the biggest Pulsar is a bit of a bummer, weight distribution is spot-on and none of its heavyweight character reflects while astride the bike. The bike tips into corners effortlessly and springs right back up with equal ease. Even when maxed out in top gear the bike feels planted and sure-footed taking the road undulations and bumps in its stride. There is nothing quite like the Pulsar 220 DTSi currently in the Indian market barring the Yamaha YZF-R15, which has already scared the masses with its hefty price-tag and not-so-city friendly riding posture.

On the contrary, available at a significant price deficit, the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi is a highly versatile motorcycle with multiple applications like an everyday motorcycle to commute to work and back, a potent and comfortable long-distance tourer, a great tool for weekend sport riding in the twisties and last but not the least, a stunter’s delight! With such impressive versatility at an incredible price-point, it is a no-brainer why the Bajaj. Pulsar 220 DTSi is our best choice in this class.

Quick Facts:

Engine: 220cc Air-cooled Single

Power: 21.04PS@ 8,500rpm

Torque: 19.12Nm @ 7,000rpm

Transmission: 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 1350mm

LxWxH: 2035 x 750 x 1165mm

Weight: 150kg

Performance

0-60 km/h: 3.8seconds

Top speed: 138.5km/h

Fuel efficiency (overall): 44.8kmpl

Variants

Pulsar 220 DTSi (Ex-showroom, New Delhi): 70,000 lakh

Cheers:

1. Well-sorted out front-end with oodles of planted feel

2. Fabulous grip from the soft-compound tyres

3. Grunt yet refined power delivery

Sneers:

1. The rear view mirrors need an immediate re-design for real-world use

2. The main-stand is a severe hindrance, especially during cornering

1st Runner Up

Yamaha YZF-R15

Race-track scorcher with high-end technology and exceptionally good handling, the Yamaha YZF-R15 made every other Indian manufacturer sit up and take notice. There is still no other true-blue performance motorcycle like the YZF-R15 in the country, but its premium pricetag has placed it beyond the reach of many Indian bikers. But if you have a lakh of rupees to blow, do it on the One-Five with your eyes shut!

Other Rivals

Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi

Now this one’s for the hooligans! Trash those plastic panels, the fairings and keep it real. A stunter’s favourite set of wheels, the Pulsar 220 DTSi in its street-fighter avatar is raw and angry. Sharing the under-pinnings with its faired sibling, this one does not have a similar top-speed but due to the lack of weight, it surely is the quickest Indian motorcycle of today.

Hero Honda Karizma

The preferred choice of sport tourers in India, the Hero Honda Karizma has been around for a long time and in all these years its following and fans have definitely aged if not grown and well, so has the bike. That said, it is still one of the best motorcycles to have in your garage, especially if you like fast-paced touring.

Hero Honda Karizma-ZMR

The first real upgrade to the Karizma, the ZMR is a very quick and refined motorcycle. Apart from getting upgrades like fuel-injection and rear disc brakes, the ZMR is also more comfortable and planted than the Karizma. The full-fairing is a little too gaudy for our taste but it definitely makes heads turn on the streets. Although, the 160kg of mass means hauling this beast around tight corners requires some efforts which is not all that fun.