Both Bajaj Auto and KTM are leading motorcycle brands in India when one considers the market shares of each brand. Bajaj Auto is an indigenous brand whereas KTM is an Austrian brand. Both bike brands offer a wide range of motorcycle categories and price brackets. This post, however, will compare the Bajaj Pulsar NS 200 with the KTM Duke 250.
Bajaj Pulsar NS 200 Vs KTM Duke 250 analysis should begin with the designs of these two bikes.
The Pulsar NS 200 has a dated design, granted but the sales of this bike haven’t dipped over the years. The reason is simple. Since its launch year, the bike entailed an ahead-of-its-time design language. The latest iteration of the bike retains the aesthetics of its predecessor. The NS 200 still comes with a distinctive halogen bulb-equipped headlight unit flanked by two halogen bulb-equipped pilot lamps. The fuel tank retains its muscular design. The tail lamp remains to be a split-styled unit. The colour options for the bike is revised recently. The new range of colours consists of –
The Duke 250 recently got an array of cosmetic upgrades from its maker. The updates are mentioned in the sections below.
Bajaj tends to periodically offer its bike line-up with a torrent of electromechanical upgrades. This is a standard business practice that increases the life cycle of a product. The NS 200 is no exception but the upgrades for the bike are limited to aesthetics. In simple words, the NS 200 misses modern features. However, the bike remains an enthusiast’s dream as the NS 200 offers an unfiltered ride every time. The under-belly exhaust, backlit switches and semi-digital instrument cluster keep the bike relevant. But Bajaj should offer the bike some new-age features like smartphone connectivity and navigation.
The KTM 250 Duke, similar to other KTM bikes, on the other hand, is equipped with a digital instrument cluster. The bike also gets a LED headlamp unit, a LED tail lamp unit and LED indicators. The bike also gets a slipper clutch and SuperMoto mode.
The NS 200 has a 199 CC, single-cylinder, fuel-injected, BS6-compliant, liquid-cooled engine. This is the same engine that one can find in the RS 200. The difference is that the engine on the NS 200 gets a lower power and torque mapping. Still, the numbers are impressive. The peak power and torque outputs of the NS 200 engine are 24.13 bhp and 18.5Nm respectively.
The Duke 250 gets a 248.8 CC, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, SB6-compliant engine. The engine has a Direct Overhead Camshaft that allows the motor to deliver unmatched performance and mileage. The peak power and torque outputs of the engine stand at 30 bhp and 24 Nm.
The Pulsar NS 200 remains stable on straight lines at high speeds. However, the bike demands a bit of effort from the rider on corners. The riding stance of the bike is aggressive. The ground clearance of the bike is adequate. But one should not take the motorcycle on a bad patch of road as the underbelly exhaust might get damaged. The seat height of the bike is perfect for both short and tall riders. The braking performance of the bike’s dual disc setup is adequate. However, Bajaj should consider offering the bike with dual-channel ABS instead of single-channel ABS.
The Duke 250 offers a precise ride on straight lines, at high speeds and on corners. The split steel Trellis sub-frame does wonders to keep the bike highly manoeuvrable. The bike comes with premium parts as well. To put things into perspective, the front suspension of the bike is a USD 43mm open cartridge fork from WP Apex. The rear preload-adjustable monoshock is also from WP APEX. The bike gets dual disc brakes paired with dual-channel ABS.
Both bikes entail value-for-money factors that are commendable to state the least. But in case one wants a motorcycle that is packed with advanced features, one should choose the Duke 250. On the other hand, the Pulsar NS 200 offers an unfiltered riding experience. To make an informed buying decision, it is best to test-ride each bike.
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