At INR 1.85 lakh ex-showroom, the NS400Z is one of the most affordable 400cc motorcycles in India
Last week, Bajaj launched the Pulsar NS400Z, the company’s biggest-ever Pulsar, at a mouth-watering price of INR 1.85 lakh, ex-showroom. The motorcycle is powered by the same 373cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that powers the Dominar 400 and offers a peak power of 40hp at 8,800rpm and a maximum torque of 35Nm at 6,500rpm.
The motorcycle is equipped with ride-by-wire technology, all-LED lighting, slip-and-assist clutch, an LCD screen that shows information such as fuel gauge, tachometre, gear position indicator, speedometre, odometre, trip metre, Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, and a lap timer. It also boasts riding aids such as switchable traction control, ABS, and four ride modes: Road, Rain, Sport, and Off-road for enhanced safety.
In short, the NS400Z is now the most tech-loaded and powerful Pulsar from the Bajaj stable. However, given that the 400cc motorcycle market is quite crowded in India, in the following paragraphs, let us take a look at the NS400Z’s closest rivals.
The Speed 400 is also one of the newest motorcycles on the Indian market, born out of the collaboration between Triumph and Bajaj. The Speed 400 is powered by a 398cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that has a peak power of 40hp at 8,800rpm and a maximum torque of 37Nm at 6,500rpm. In terms of features, the Speed 400 falls short of the Bajaj with a semi-digital instrument cluster and only has features such as an immobiliser, traction control, and dual-channel ABS. However, the Speed 400 flaunts much better build quality and looks like a premium motorcycle priced at 2.34 lakh, ex-showroom.
Speed 400 delivers a class-beating 40 PS of power & 37.5 Nm of peak torque, bringing fun to your every ride.
— TriumphIndiaOfficial (@IndiaTriumph) May 2, 2024
Experience exhilarating performance of the most powerful Modern Classic. Book a test ride today ! pic.twitter.com/inmbAgsIyQ
The Honda CB300R may be a backdated motorcycle with not many gimmicky features to offer, but the 286cc, four-valve, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine continues to impress us with its 31.1hp at 9,000rpm of peak power. The neo-retro-looking sporty motorcycle is priced at INR 2.49 lakh, ex-showroom, and in the eyes of many, the price may not be justified given the lack of electronic aids. However, if one believes in quality over quantity and prefers supreme ride quality, the CB300R is still a worthy competitor.
When it comes to being the best single-cylinder, 400cc motorcycle in India, there is nobody better than the Duke 390. Powered by a 398.63 cc engine, the Duke 390 makes 45.3hp at 8,500rpm and a peak torque of 39Nm at 6,500rpm. The motorcycle also does not fall short in the tech department, as it boasts launch control, traction control, multiple riding modes, ABS, cornering, bi-directional quickshifter, and turn-by-turn navigation. Not to mention, the motorcycle weighs 168 kilogrammes, is much lighter than the NS400Z, and has an adjustable suspension. Priced at INR 3.50 lakh ex-showroom, the Duke 390 is the best pick if budget is not an issue for a buyer.
Twisting and turning with the #NoBullshit attitude. The KTM 390 Duke rules the tarmac with ease. Drop an emoji for the Corner Rocket.
— KTM India (@India_KTM) March 3, 2024
Click the link to know more: https://t.co/zaFHzODygX#KTM #ReadyToRace #GetDuked #TheCornerRocket #KTM390DUKE #NOBULLSHIT #NoBS #NothingToHide pic.twitter.com/XREAgG0eOe
One of the busiest-looking motorcycles on the market with strikingly aggressive design language, the RTR 310 is powered by a 312cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes a peak power of 35.08hp at 9,700rpm and a peak torque of 28.7Nm at 6,650rpm. The Apache is the most feature-rich motorcycle in the segment, offering traction control, cruise control, ABS, cornering ABS, and climatic control seats. The standard variant of the RTR 310 starts at INR 2.70 lakh on-road in Delhi and goes up to INR 2.99 lakh on-road in Delhi for the Fury Yellow top-of-the-line model.
For any customer who believes that quality over quantity and affordability are not issues, the KTM is the best purchase, followed by the Apache, Speed 400, and CB300R. However, for those who wish to have an aggressive motorcycle with massive horsepower and torque figures but can compromise on build quality and overall fit & finish, the newly-launched NS400Z is a great value-for-money product.
