The N-series Pulsars have a very tricky job to do — appease people who want practicality but also swear by the performance this brand has been associated with for the last 25 years. And since its debut in 2022, the three variants of N160 have been doing that just right. Yet, Bajaj Auto chose to build two more — the N160 S and the N160 SS — with the latter being the top-of-the-line variant. Yeah, five variants of one bike should make things even more confusing, no? Well, the two new variants do exactly the opposite. They make things distinctly clear.
At first, one would easily dismiss the N160 SS as another variant with a fancy paint job. But this one could easily classify as a completely new bike altogether… well, almost. Barring the striking new paint job, it’s the same bike that we’ve come to love in the last four years, isn’t it? Well, close. A real close look will reveal new fins under the tank extensions to direct air to the overhauled engine.
Well, overhauled is probably underselling it. The 164.5cc engine is technically all-new. Not only does it now flaunt a four-valve head, but with a 63.5 x 52mm configuration (vs 58 x 62.3mm on the 2V), it has gone full short-stroke mode. Meaning it now makes 18.2bhp, a jump of 2bhp over the 2V engine, and revs to almost 11,000rpm. And to keep that performance consistent, there’s a new oil cooler and a path-optimised jet lubrication system.
And to complement that, Bajaj has even given it an electronic throttle, which has enabled four riding modes — Rain, Road, Off-road and Sport. This means not only do the modes have different throttle responses, but also different performance. While Sport delivers full power and torque, Road and Off-road tone them down a bit, with Rain going a step further. While I personally don’t think a bike of this class really needs traction control, Bajaj has thrown that in, too.
All of these settings can be toggled via a new 5-inch full-colour TFT display — a first for a Pulsar. And of course, Bajaj has thrown the kitchen sink at it. It boasts Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi connectivity, and all the fancy features these enable. That means not only can you control calls and music, but also enjoy Google Maps mirroring, a first in the segment. The four-button switch cube makes toggling through the menus easy… well, almost. There’s a delay between the input and the response on the screen, which means constant attention is required to ensure that your desired settings have actually been registered.
But once that was out of the way, this Pulsar was a riot.
I shifted into first gear, let go of the clutch and I was already impressed. The clutch action was so light that riding it through traffic wasn’t going to be a problem. But Bajaj had some other ideas. It gave the N160 a crawl mode, which meant the bike could go up to 7 kph in first gear without clutch or throttle input, 11 kph in second, going all the way up to 23 kph in fifth gear. And it sounds like a gimmick until you’re negotiating bumper-to-bumper traffic. Then, it makes the N160 SS almost laughably effortless to ride.
The engine itself has plenty of initial pace. There’s a healthy dollop of low-end grunt, so getting off the line or slotting into a gap in traffic requires little effort. Keep the throttle open and it will sprint all the way to 117 kph. However, there’s a rather noticeable flat spot between 5,000 and 7,000 rpm. This is particularly evident when you’re trying to overtake, because the engine momentarily loses some of its urgency right where you expect it to keep building pace. It isn’t a deal-breaker, but it does mean you need to calculate your overtakes a little more carefully.
Get beyond that zone and the motor wakes up again, accompanied by a throaty, angry soundtrack that suits the Pulsar badge rather well. But at the very top of the rev range, there’s a sense that the engine is working a little too hard. It feels slightly restricted as it approaches its limit, and I couldn’t help wondering if a slightly reworked set of ratios — or, dare I say it, a sixth gear — could have made better use of this engine’s appetite for revs.
The gearbox itself, thankfully, is near faultless. In fact, it is one of the slickest units in the business. Gear changes are quick and precise, and the light clutch makes the whole package even easier to work with in traffic.
The difference between the riding modes is more than just something you can see on the TFT. In Rain mode, particularly, there’s a substantial change in the way the engine delivers its performance and responds to throttle inputs. Given that it rained heavily during my ride, this was one setting I found myself appreciating rather than merely testing for the sake of it. Sport, meanwhile, brings out the full performance and gives the throttle a sharper response.
And then there’s the chassis — an area where the N160 has always been good. The SS continues that tradition. Despite being on the heavier side, it masks its weight remarkably well and changes direction with the sort of ease you’d expect from a lighter motorcycle. The updated suspension adds to that sense of confidence, too.
Up front, there’s a 37-mm USD fork, while the rear gets a monoshock. Together, they strike the balance the N-series is supposed to deliver: enough control to satiate the sporty side of the rider without sacrificing too much comfort. The bike deals with bumps and potholes very well, and even on the rain-soaked roads during my ride, it remained composed. Attack a sharper pothole, though, and the rear can feel a touch firmer than the front.
The brakes are equally impressive. The front has a strong initial bite, but more importantly, it is consistent and offers good feedback at the lever. The ABS intervention isn’t overly intrusive either. The tyres, meanwhile, did a commendable job of finding grip in what were far from ideal conditions. With the rain coming down heavily during the test, wet grip was something I was paying close attention to, and the N160 SS never gave me reason to complain.
The riding position has also been tweaked, with the updated handlebar contributing to what is a very comfortable set of ergonomics. This is still a motorcycle you could spend an entire day on without constantly shifting around in the saddle looking for a more comfortable position.
There is, however, some vibration once you start pushing the pace. The engine is largely vibe-free through the mid-range, but once you cross around 85 kph, a buzz starts making itself known, particularly through the footpegs. It isn’t severe enough to spoil the experience, but it does remind you that this is still a 160cc single-cylinder motorcycle trying to punch above its weight.
And that, in many ways, is what makes the N160 SS interesting. Bajaj hasn’t simply taken an existing motorcycle, splashed some new paint on it and added a TFT to justify a higher price. The four-valve engine fundamentally changes the character of the N160. The electronic throttle brings meaningful changes to how it delivers its performance, while the updated suspension and chassis retain the qualities that made the N160 appealing in the first place.
At ₹1.42 lakh, it sits at the top of the N160 family, but it also brings a fairly substantial amount to the table. You get the practicality expected of an N-series Pulsar, the comfort to use it every day, a chassis that can entertain when the road gets interesting and, now, an engine that finally feels like a genuine step forward for the platform.
It isn’t perfect. The 5,000-7,000rpm flat spot takes some of the shine off the engine, the TFT interface could respond more promptly, and the absence of a sixth gear feels like a missed opportunity given how freely this motor wants to rev. But these are blemishes on what is otherwise a very well-rounded package.
The N160 SS, then, makes a surprisingly strong case for its existence. It takes what the N160 has always done well — practicality, comfort and handling — and adds a proper dose of performance and technology. Five variants of the same motorcycle may sound like overkill, but with the SS, Bajaj has made the hierarchy rather easy to understand. This is the N160 for those who want the most of everything.
