Bajaj Auto is one of the few motorcycle brands that experiment with ideas and comes out as the winner. The proof backing this statement is as follows.
Bajaj was the first brand that introduced a successful semi-faired street commuter bike.
The motorcycle was christened as the Pulsar 220 F. The bike was introduced back in 2007. Yet, the motorcycle remains to be a fan-favourite. The primary reason for the success of this bike is as follows. For a while, the 220 F was the fastest Indian-made mass produced motorcycle.
There are also quite a few aspects that made the bike a successful product for Bajaj.
Some of those aspects are mentioned in the sections below.
The bike has an aggressive price
The last known ex-showroom price for the bike as per the official Bajaj bike price list was Rs 1, 36,998.
The engine was amazing
The engine that powered this motorcycle is the one that powered the original Pulsar 220. These days, the same engine powers the Avenger Cruise 220.
The engine is a single-cylinder unit paired with an efficient liquid cooling system. In later years, Bajaj Auto replaced the carburettor with a fuel-injection system. The brand also made the bike compliant with the now enforced BS6 emission norms. The bike’s engine also came with Bajaj’s DTS-i and ExhausTEC technologies.
The engine was tuned to produce 21bhp and 19Nm of peak power and peak torque respectively. The bike has a five-speed gearbox with tall gear ratios.
Packaging was unmatched
The bike had telescopic fork suspension for the front wheel and had best-in-class suspension travel. The rear wheel came with twin traditional shock absorbers paired with gas-charging reservoirs.
Bajaj also offered the bike with single channel ABS and dual disc brakes. The seats were split and well-padded. The dimensions of the seats were adequate to keep riders comfortable on long road trips.
The design and handling of the bike were second to none
The overall design language of the bike was ahead of its time. For 14 years, the bike was kept unchanged. Cosmetic upgrades always came in the form of new colours and body graphics.
People loved the semi-fairing on the bike. The reason was simple. The original Pulsar 220 was muscular. But those who preferred a bike with a menacing road presence preferred the butch 220 F. The semi-fairing looked amazing with the projector headlamp unit. The twin flanking integrated pilot lamps also compelled onlookers to glance at the bike for a second time!
The bike’s handling was commendable as well.
True to the DNA of the original Pulsar 150, the 220 F responded quickly to the commands of the rider. City rides were easy. However, crawling with the bike in heavy traffic was cumbersome due to the bike’s 160+ KGs weight.
The bike kept itself stable at high speeds. Braking performance from its single-channel ABS equipped dual-disc brakes was confidence inspiring. Cornering and overtaking traffic were fun with the bike. The top speed of the bike was electronically limited by the OEM to 134 km/h.
The huge 220 CC engine produced a lot of heat. To keep the operating temperature of the engine under control, the liquid-cooling system on the bike was designed impressively.
The overall ergonomics of the bike were rider-friendly. The riding triangle as well as the height of the handlebar kept the rider in a semi-aggressive stance. Thus, allowing one to keep backaches at bay even during long rides.
Why the past tense?
The motorcycle has been discontinued by Bajaj Auto. If one is lucky enough, one can get the bike at a dealership with leftover stocks. If that is the case then one should buy the bike right away!
Must Read: Bajaj Pulsar 220F: Why Its Still Popular Among People?