Read Bajaj Pulsar NS160 full review with latest price, mileage, features, performance, pros-cons, and whether it’s worth buying in 2026.

If you’re looking at the Bajaj Pulsar NS160, chances are you want one bike that can do it all—daily office runs, college rides, weekend fun, and the occasional “let’s stretch its legs on the highway” plan. And honestly… that’s exactly where the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 fits.

This bike has been around long enough to build a reputation. Not just in ads or YouTube reels, but in real life—outside coaching centres, at fuel stations, in parking lots, and in those traffic jams where you’re sweating inside your helmet. You’ll see the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 everywhere, and there’s a reason for that.

It’s sporty without being impractical. It’s powerful without being scary. It looks fast even when it’s standing still. And it’s still a Bajaj Pulsar at heart—meaning value for money is basically part of its DNA.

In this blog, I’m going to cover everything in a proper “real rider” way:

Design and road presence
Engine and performance in real conditions
Mileage and maintenance reality
Comfort for daily use
Service and spare parts experience
Long-term ownership vibes
A full comparison table with rivals
FAQs people actually ask
And yes, the price in your city (explained clearly)

No robotic tone. No fancy marketing language. Just a proper, human review like a normal biker would explain to a friend.

1) First Impression: Why the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 Still Turns Heads

The Pulsar NS series has always had that streetfighter vibe. And the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 continues it strongly. From a distance, it almost gives you the same attitude as the NS200—sharp lines, muscular tank shrouds, sporty proportions.

Design highlights that matter in real life

Aggressive headlamp setup
Sporty tank design with a wide feel
Split-seat look (even if it’s not fully aggressive like some bikes)
Bold rear section with a sporty stance
Thick tyres that add to road presence

This isn’t one of those bikes that look “small” next to bigger motorcycles. Even though it’s a 160cc bike, it carries itself like it’s bigger.

And if you like to keep your bike clean and shiny, the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 rewards you—because when it’s polished, it looks expensive.

2) Engine & Performance: Where the Bike Wins Hearts

The Pulsar NS160 comes with a 160.3cc oil-cooled engine. That oil cooling matters because it helps keep the engine stable in heat, traffic, long rides—basically Indian conditions.

On paper, the bike makes around:

Power: ~17.2 PS
Torque: ~14.6 Nm
Gearbox: 5-speed

Now here’s the truth: numbers don’t tell the full story. The real magic is in how it rides.

Real-world performance feel

In low speed traffic: smooth enough, doesn’t behave like a wild machine
Mid-range (40–80 km/h): best zone, bike feels strong and eager
Top-end: decent, but Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is more about usable performance than extreme speed

This is the kind of bike where overtaking feels easy. You don’t need to plan for 10 seconds and pray. You just twist the throttle and it responds.

It’s not the fastest bike in the segment, but it feels fast in day-to-day riding. And that matters more.

3) A Real Story: One Day With the Bajaj Pulsar NS160

Let me explain the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 in a way that makes sense.

Imagine you start your day at 9 AM. Office time. Roads are busy. You’re not in the mood for drama.

You start the bike. It wakes up quickly.
Clutch feel is normal—not too heavy.
In traffic, it doesn’t stall easily.
The bike feels stable even when people cut in front of you like they own the road.

Now it’s evening and you’re returning. Roads are clearer. You open the throttle a little more.

Boom—midrange punch. The bike feels playful.
This is where Bajaj Pulsar NS160 shines. It doesn’t feel like a commuter bike pretending to be sporty. It feels like a sporty bike that can also behave in daily life.

4) Riding Comfort: Daily Use or Just Style?

Some sporty bikes look great but ruin your back. The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is not like that.

Seating and ergonomics

Handlebar position: slightly sporty but still comfortable
Seat height: manageable for most riders
Footpeg position: mildly rear-set, not extreme
Rider triangle: sporty commuter style

In short, it won’t torture you.

Pillion comfort

Now this is important: the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is not a sofa for pillion riders. It’s okay for regular use, but if you often ride with family or need pillion comfort daily, you’ll feel:

seat is slightly sporty
pillion may feel less relaxed on longer rides

For “friends ride to café” it’s fine. For “mom-dad long ride” it’s not the best.

5) Suspension & Handling: The Bajaj Pulsar NS160’s True Personality

One thing Bajaj has always done well with NS bikes is handling.

The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 feels stable and confident, especially in:

corners
quick lane changes
medium speed curves
city riding with sudden braking

Suspension setup

Front: Telescopic forks
Rear: Mono-shock

This makes the bike feel planted.

But yes, the suspension is slightly on the firmer side. That means:

Good for sporty riding
Not the softest on broken roads

If your city has many bad roads, the bike won’t feel too harsh, but you will feel bumps more than a soft commuter bike.

6) Braking & Safety: How Confident Does It Feel?

Brakes matter a lot, especially in India where random things appear on roads like magic.

NS160 typically comes with:

Front disc
Rear disc (in most variants)
ABS (depending on variant)

In real use:

front brake bite is strong
bike doesn’t feel unstable under sudden braking
ABS gives that extra confidence

This bike is made to be ridden quickly and safely—at least compared to basic commuters.

7) Mileage: The Most Asked Question

Let’s be honest: mileage is emotional in India. People will forgive low power, but won’t forgive low mileage.

Real-world mileage expectations

Mileage depends on riding style. But normal real figures are:

City (heavy traffic): 38–42 kmpl
Mixed riding: 40–45 kmpl
Highway (steady speed): 45–50 kmpl (possible if ridden calmly)

If you ride aggressively, you’ll see mileage drop. That’s the deal with sporty bikes.

But overall, NS160 mileage is respectable considering its power.

8) Maintenance & Service Experience (Reality)

This is where the NS160 does well.

Maintenance cost

Regular service cost: affordable
Parts availability: easy
Local mechanics understand Pulsar bikes well
Bajaj service network: strong

Even if you’re not in a metro city, you’ll find service support.

Long-term ownership

Common long-term things riders mention:

chain maintenance is important
brake pads change based on riding style
tyres last decent if roads are okay
bike stays reliable if serviced on time

It’s not a “high-maintenance girlfriend” type bike. It’s practical.

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9) Price in Your City (Explained Clearly)

You asked specifically: price in my city.

Since I don’t know your exact city name, I’ll explain it in the most useful way:

Bajaj Pulsar NS160 On-Road Price (Typical Indian Cities)

Smaller cities: ₹1.45 lakh – ₹1.55 lakh
Medium cities: ₹1.50 lakh – ₹1.60 lakh
Big cities: ₹1.55 lakh – ₹1.70 lakh

Why the difference?
Because:

RTO tax differs
insurance differs
dealer handling charges differ

If you tell me your city name (just city), I can give you a tighter on-road estimate like riders do in real life.

10) Comparison Table: NS160 vs Rivals (Real Buyer Style)

Here’s the comparison most people care about when buying:

Comparison Table

Bike	Engine	Power Feel	Mileage	Comfort	Best For
Pulsar NS160	160cc oil-cooled	Punchy midrange	38–50 kmpl	Good	Balanced sporty + daily
Apache RTR 160 4V	160cc	Quick and refined	40–50 kmpl	Good	Sporty + feature-rich
Yamaha FZ-S	149cc	Smooth but less punch	45–55 kmpl	Very good	Comfort + mileage
Hero Xtreme 160R	160cc	Light and quick	42–55 kmpl	Good	Lightweight fun
Honda Unicorn	160cc	Calm and smooth	45–55 kmpl	Excellent	Family + comfort

My honest take

Want pure sporty feel + features? Apache 160 4V is strong competition.
Want comfort + mileage + reliability? FZ-S or Unicorn will make sense.
Want best balance of sporty + daily + strong road presence? NS160 is still a winner.

11) Who Should Buy the NS160?

You should buy it if:

you want a sporty looking bike
you ride mostly in city + occasional highway
you like quick overtakes and strong midrange power
you want a bike that looks bigger than it is
you want low stress maintenance

You should skip it if:

pillion comfort is your top priority
your roads are extremely broken daily
you want maximum mileage always
you want a super calm engine like Unicorn

12) FAQs: Bajaj Pulsar NS160

Q1. Is the Pulsar NS160 good for long rides?

Yes, it’s good for weekend highway rides. Seat comfort is decent, and stability is strong. For extremely long touring, you may want seat padding or breaks in between.

Q2. What is the top speed of NS160?

In real riding conditions, expect 115–120 km/h depending on rider weight, wind, and road.

Q3. Does NS160 heat a lot in city traffic?

It can get warm in heavy traffic, but oil cooling helps. It’s not a problem unless you’re riding in extreme heat with stop-go traffic constantly.

Q4. Is NS160 better than Apache RTR 160 4V?

Both are strong. Apache feels more refined and feature-loaded. NS160 feels more muscular and punchy in midrange. Your choice depends on what you prefer.

Q5. Is NS160 good for beginners?

Yes, if the rider is responsible. It’s not too powerful to control, but it has enough punch. Great bike to learn sporty riding.

Q6. What is the service cost of NS160?

Regular service is affordable, usually similar to other 160cc bikes. Costs depend on service centre and parts used.

Q7. Is NS160 good for daily office commute?

Yes. That’s actually its best role—daily use + fun when you want.

Final Verdict: My Straight Opinion

The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is one of those bikes that feels like it was made for Indian riders who want a little excitement in daily life.

It’s not the perfect bike for everyone—no bike is. But if you want:

strong road presence
sporty performance
manageable mileage
affordable maintenance
and an “I still love riding” feel

Then NS160 makes a lot of sense.

It’s the kind of bike you buy today, ride daily, and after 6 months you still look back at it after parking. That matters. A lot.