On Dec 31, 2007, at 6:58 PM, Glifford Menezes wrote:
>
> Anyway since you bought the very first batches of the ("Beta") Pulsars
> (chassis # 400 or so?) do you regret getting it so soon? Are you
> happy you did?
>
> You too had your share of issues including those sticky clutch plates!
>
> My question now would be, knowing the niggling issues cropping up in
> the P220 (jamming rear disc, fuel guage indicator issues, reboots
> needed at times etc)... would you still not mind taking the plunge?
>
> Just asking from my inquisitive point of view. Trying to understand
> what appeals to a prospective customer in his/her buying decision!
This thread is going from OT to OT - so bringing it to bp.org.
I do not regret getting one of the very first Pulsars. They were the
original Pulsars, I fell closest to the original vision of the
designers - a riders bike.
The subsequent models of the Pulsar were diluted to appeal to wider
focus groups, and became tamer and tamer. A modern 200 does not give
me any more thrill than a splendor. The numbers on the speedo don't
mean all that much if they don't get your heart beating faster.
The original Pulsar carried the flame previously held by the RX100 and
RD350. Those who ride modern Pulsars will wonder how I can say
something like this.
Regarding the issues -
1. Gearshift - it was difficult to master, but once mastered, you
could do more with it than others - e.g. clutchless upshifts and
downshifts, rapid acceleration with tap-tap-tap. They made it easier
to use - more notchy - and practically impossible to use in
performance mode.
2. Clutchplates - I never had an issue with them and in fact argued
with Venkat when he replaced them. I also knew how to adjust my clutch
and would do so every month, so never faced problems - except when the
bike got serviced and they threw all my settings out.
Now I haven't ridden a 220 - so don't know if I'd be happy with it in
terms of feel and performance. But if I had to buy a bike on specs,
I'd go for a 220.
Read my first mail to the group -
http://bajajpulsar.org/archive/bajajpulsar_msgs_0_to_1000.mbx/0012.html
Emphasis on the last 2 paragraphs. I think they still hold true.
Do people have smiles on their face when they ride the modern Pulsars?
Shashvat
