Bajaj Auto is planning to expand its Pulsar line-up with new quarter-litre motorcycles to help the brand compete better in the segment. According to a media report, Bajaj will be introducing tow new motorcycle – the NS 250 and RS 250 in the naked sports and supersport segment derived from the KTM 250 Duke engine. But the motorcycles are not expected to be just another larger displacement iteration of the current NS 200 and the RS 200 but the brand is expected to bring in a renewed design, underpinnings, equipment and electronics with the new quarter-litre motorcycles.
Though the engine is likely to be a derivative of the 250 Duke, the brand is expected to revamp the suspension setup and give the new motorcycles a completely new look but it is expected to retain the overall design language with sharp cuts and crease lines. The new motorcycles are also expected to come with advanced electronic features and fully digital instrumentation and smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth technology.
The motor is expected to be tuned differently but is expected to produce close to what the 250 Duke produces. The KTM 250 Duke is powered by a BS6 emission-compliant 248.8cc water-cooled, single-cylinder, single-spark ignition, four-stroke, four-valve DOHC engine with electronic fuel injection that produces 30 PS of power and 24 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed gearbox with slipper assist clutch.
Currently, the Bajaj Dominar uses the 250 Duke engine derivative a BS6 compliant 248.77cc water-cooled, single-cylinder, twin-spark ignition, four-stroke, four-valve, DOHC engine with electronic fuel injection that produces 27 PS and 23.5 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed gearbox. The brand is likely to make use of the same engine for the NS 250 and RS 250 but it is expected to be tuned for street use rather than the highway.
Both motorcycles are expected to be launched in 2021, but as of now no further details of the timeline are available.