Pulsar 200 NS VS Yamaha FZ

For the last few decade, Bajaj has been the undisputed king in the premium (150cc – 200cc) segment in India. The Pulsar 200 NS takes the game forward for Bajaj with its brilliant naked looks, performance and good fuel economy. However, the 200NS gets a stiff competition from the latest variant of Yamaha FZ, the FZs 16, which has been in the market since a long time, and is considered as the segment leader in the 150cc segment.

If you are in the market for a 150-200cc premium naked motorcycle, both the bikes are excellent choices. Here we compare both of them to see which one suits better to your needs.

Pulsar 200 NS VS Yamaha FZ – which is a better naked bike

Design and Looks

Both the bikes feature quite distinct designs. The Bajaj Pulsar NS 200 comes with a newly designed fuel tank, which is completely different from any other Pulsar. However, due to the new design, the capacity of the tank has been reduced to 12 liters. The overall styling of the NS is quite good and the plastics around the tank provides more grown up look alongside good thigh support while cornering. The NS is additionally equipped with brilliantly designed headlamps which provides clear view even in the darkest night. The only bummer in the NS is the rear mud flap which looks like an aftermarket accessory and doesn’t go well with the design. The bike is also lightweight, thanks to high quality parts including the slim and lightweight alloy wheels. The bike comes with nicely designed backlit switch which is an added advantage in the dark, and looks great too.

On the other hand, the Yamaha FZs 16 is in the market for quite a long time, and has made its design quite familiar on the Indian streets. It is still a looker with its naked looks and absence of fairing. The FZs 16 borrows heavily from its sibling, the FZs 1. Minimum body cladding is the main theme, with its engine parts proudly showed off as important elements of the overall design.

Engine and Performance

The Bajaj Pulsar 200NS comes with a new liquid-cooled 199.5 cc engine, that can produce 23.1bhp of maximum power. The engine is largely based on KTM’s short stroke engine for the Duke 200 which makes it brilliant to ride both on city and highway roads. The NS 200’s engine is the first liquid cooled engine from its manufacturer. The engine is further connected to a 6-speed gearbox for optimum performance. Stopping power comes from a 280mm disc brake in the front and a 230mm disc brake in the rear. Suspension duties are taken care of with the help of the telescopic fork in the front and Nitrox Mono suspension in the rear. Bajaj has equipped the NS with brilliant set of tyres, both the tyres are confidence inspiring and you would be tempted to take on corners with more speed.

The Yamaha FZs 16 comes with 4 Stroke, air cooled, single cylinder 149cc engine, that can produce maximum power of 13.1bhp and 12nm of torque. The transmission duties are handled by a 5-speed gearbox for brilliant performance. The FZs can be enjoyed with both high speed and low speed riding. It comes with a 267mm front disc-brake and rear drum unit that helps to stop the bike effectively. It is equipped with 100/80 x 17-inch and 140/60 x 17-inch tubeless MRF tyres which work wonderfully to provide brilliant grip on every kind of surface.

Both the bikes are quite good performers in any road condition. The Bajaj Pulsar 200NS is a great choice with larger capacity engine and brilliant cornering ability, while the Yamaha FZs 16 is quite old but successful model, with more stable engine and better road grip.