2 reasons to buy the 350cc Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z and 2 not to

Bajaj recently downsized the Pulsar NS400Z’s engine from 373cc to 349cc, bringing a small reduction in peak output and a big reduction in price. After having ridden it, here are 2 reasons the biggest Pulsar ever should be on your shopping list and 2 why you should look elsewhere.

Reasons to buy the Pulsar NS400Z

Engaging handling, great brakes

The Pulsar NS400Z was always an engaging machine in the twisties and the downsized 349cc version continues in that vein. It tips in quite quickly and holds the line well once leaned over, inspiring confidence to push harder, although there is one caveat we’ll address later on. What also inspires confidence is that the NS400Z has strong and sharp brakes that help you come to a halt quickly in a controlled fashion, further building confidence when riding spiritedly.

Still a very quick bike

Despite the downsized 349cc now making lower peak output compared to the earlier 373cc version - 40.6hp/33.2Nm vs 43hp/35Nm, respectively - the NS400Z is still a super quick bike. While it has surely lost some low and mid-range grunt compared to before, it can still get up to speed in pretty swiftly and we reckon it’ll be able to manage a sub-7s 0-100kph sprint, although we’ll reserve judgement until we can strap on our Vbox and corroborate the same.

Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z

₹1.80 Lakh (Ex-showroom price)

Range/Mileage

To be tested

Specifications

Fuel Type: PetrolMax Power: 40hp at 8,800rpmMax Torque: 35Nm at 6,500rpm+ 55 more

Features

Pass-light switch: YesBrake/Tail Light: LEDAntilock Braking System: Dual Channel ABS+ 61 more

Variants

Standard

Reasons not to buy the Pulsar NS400Z

Footpegs scrape too easily

The one fly in the ointment when it comes to the handling prowess of the Pulsar NS400Z is that its footpegs scrape quite easily when you’re attacking corners at speed. This is something you'll have to make your peace with because the lower-set footpegs have an upside in keeping the rider comfortable without folding their legs in an aggressive fashion.

Throttle response in Sport mode inconsistent

While the NS400Z feels its most energetic self in its top Sport riding mode, throttle response in this mode feels inconsistent and doesn’t inspire confidence when riding spiritedly. Switching the bike to Road mode improves things quite significantly but the trouble is that the bidirectional quickshifter can only be used in Sport mode, so you have to choose between using this feature or having a predictable throttle, which is far from ideal.