2025 Bajaj Pulsar NS160 Is Better, But It’s Still Playing Catch-up

Quick Highlights: 

• The 2025 Pulsar NS160 reaches dealerships in India

• Now get 3 ABS modes: Rain, Road and Offroad

• Expected to be slightly more expensive than the outgoing model, but it shouldn’t affect your purchasing decision 

The 2025 Bajaj Pulsar NS160 has reached dealerships across the country.  What the bike gets in terms of features is the addition of 3 new ABS modes (Rain, Road and Offroad). The modes will change the ABS intervention levels according to the terrain selected. This feature was seen recently in the Pulsar RS200. Considering OBD-2B emission norms will be enforced from April 1, 2025, expect the new Pulsar NS160 to be OBD-2B compliant as well (though it is yet to be officially confirmed). Apart from these updates, the bike remains mechanically unchanged and continues to be powered by the same 160.3cc single-cylinder, air & oil-cooled engine which makes 17.2PS and 14.6Nm, and is paired to a 5-speed gearbox. 

Where It All Began 

The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 was first launched back in 2017. It shared the same chassis as its elder sibling, the NS200 which made it a hoot to ride. Though it was a bit late to the party, the Pulsar NS160 was powerful and fun around corners.A year later, Bajaj updated the NS160 with a rear disc brake which improved the appeal of the bike even more. For the next two years, things were mostly uneventful for the motorcycle while the rest of its rivals were getting incremental updates.

Then in 2020 all the manufacturers are scrambling to make their motorcycles comply with the BS6 emission norms which resulted in a slight power loss on some bikes. Then came the BS6 Bajaj Pulsar NS160, which not only complied with emissions but was also even more powerful than before. The bike received a bump of 1.7PS over the previous iteration, and became the most powerful bike in its segment for a while. 

A year after Bajaj launched the new Pulsar N160, it realised the NS160’s popularity is still unfazed, so it updated the motorcycle with several much-needed features. The bike then got dual-channel ABS as standard, received an upside-down fork, new brake callipers, and lighter wheels, among others in 2023. This was then followed up with another round of updates in 2024 with an all-LED headlight and a digital instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity. Now with the ABS modes, the Pulsar NS160 gets all the more wholesome. 

ZigSays

The 2025 iteration is likely to cost around Rs 2,000 more than the current bike, which retails at Rs 1,48,813 (ex-showroom, Delhi). While the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is more modern than it ever was, it still lags a little behind TVS Apache RTR 160 4V as the Apache gets proper riding modes which changes the power output of the bike and has fancier connectivity features. Though the Pulsar NS160 isn’t too far behind the Apache in terms of power figures, it still ends up being overshadowed by the Apache RTR 160 4V with less kerb weight, and more features all the while being more affordable. To give you a perspective, the current-gen Pulsar is dearer than the Apache by a massive Rs 8,823, and the difference will only widen with the 2025 version. 

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