Bajaj had big aspirations when it first launched the Pulsar N250 and F250 back in 2021 as it marked the beginning of a new era of Pulsars. Sadly, the new flagship Pulsars couldn’t create a significant impact in the market both in terms of sale as well as following.
Come 2024, there’s no whereabouts of the Pulsar F250 and Bajaj feels it is imperative that it provides some crucial updates to the N250. What are these updates? But more importantly, do they make this bike a more enticing option for the buyers this time? Let us find out.
2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 review: Same looks
In terms of looks, the N250 remains largely unchanged with the same wolf eyed design up front, a chiselled fuel tank with extended shrouds, twin LED taillamps, split grab rails, and a tyre hugger. What has changed though are the new graphics with the ‘250’ branding just underneath the tank which make the bike look a tad bit sportier.
Bajaj is offering three shades– black, red and the new white. What also enhances the visual appeal are the golden-coloured USD forks, available only with the red and white paint schemes, but we’ll come to their functionality later.
2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 review: Feature packed machine
As mentioned earlier, Bajaj has made some crucial updates to the 2024 Pulsar N250 and most of them centre around the equipment. Starting with the new fully-digital negative instrument console which was added to the recently updated Pulsars. This unit packs Bluetooth connectivity via Bajaj Ride connect app, and turn by turn navigation. But more importantly, the display in itself is very crisp and legible even under direct sunlight.
Bajaj has also added two rider aid electronic features namely traction control, and ABS modes namely – Rain, Road, and Off-road. Now, one would wonder about the need for these features in a 250cc motorcycle, but safety has no price and it’s nice to have these features up your sleeve.
2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 review: Build quality
Build quality is definitely better than the older classic range of Pulsars and in fact even better than the NS range in my opinion. Bajaj has done an impressive job in providing a motorcycle with a very good overall fit and finish including the plastics on the switchgear, paint, and every touchpoint. There are no inconsistent panel gaps but if I had to nit pick, slightly larger mirrors would have been more welcome.
2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 review: Engine performance
No changes have been made in the powertrain. It gets the same 249cc, air/oil-cooled unit as before. It churns out 24 horses and 21.5 Nm of torque. This is paired with a 5-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch.
This engine is surely one of the smoothest in the entry level premium segment. The motor is super refined and the gearbox is buttery smooth. Together the engine and the gearbox make for a very tractable powertrain. The bike is a breeze to ride at slow speeds and gathers momentum linearly.
2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 review: Ride & Handling
We got the bike to ride for a short stint on bustling traffic within the confines of New Delhi on a weekday. In the limited time with the bike we found out no major changes to its ride and handling capabilities. Yes the front forks are different and tyres are wider but they haven’t translated into drastic changes. It was a pleasant bike to ride initially and the experience remains the same in this updated iteration.
Nevertheless, the suspension is slightly on the stiffer side but still very absorbent on bad roads. Weight has gone up marginally primarily due to the wider rubbers shod on the 17-inch rims but even that doesn’t make a huge difference to the overall ride quality. Honestly, a better analysis is only possible when we get the bike for a longer duration.
Braking is another positive aspect of the quarter-litre Pulsar. Although progressive in nature, both the front and rear disc brakes have a sharp feel at the lever and pedal respectively, and ABS isn’t too intrusive but knows when to act. The switchable rear ABS, however, is left for discussion some other time since we only rode the bike in Road mode on our short stint.
Coming to the ergos, they are spot on for a naked streetfighter– sporty but not uncomfortable. The seats are also fairly roomy and comfortable with ample cushioning. That said, one thing I certainly would have liked better are the handlebars which felt a little too narrow for my liking and would definitely create an issue if you’re planning to ride for long hours.
2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 review: Verdict
I have always maintained that the new-gen Pulsars are a step up over the previous-gen models. Even in the pre-facelift model the Pulsar N250 was a very exciting option and with the recent set of updates it is surely worth your attention. The added tech makes it one of the most feature-rich bikes in its segment that goes well with a smooth and refined engine that packs a punch.
What makes it even harder to ignore is its killer price tag of Rs 1.50 lakh (ex-showroom), which is barely a hike of thousand bucks. Bajaj has clearly knocked it out of the parks. The 2024 N250 lies in the sweet spot of being a commuter-friendly motorcycle with comfort and added convenience, and a performance bike that will keep the enthusiast in the riders happy for a sustainable period. Hopefully, there are a lot more buyers, who are enticed by the overall package this time.
