Before the introduction of the Pulsar, the Indian motorcycle market trend was towards fuel efficient, small capacity motorcycles (that formed the 80-125 cc class). Bigger motorcycles with higher capacity virtually did not exist (except for Enfield Bullet). The launch and success of Hero Honda CBZ in 1999 showed that there was demand for performance bikes. Bajaj took the cue from there on and launched the Pulsar twins in India on November 24, 2001. [2] Since the introduction and success of Hero Honda CBZ, the Indian youth began expecting high power and other features from affordable motorcycles.
2003
The second generation Pulsars featured Bajaj Auto's newly developed DTSi technology[4], which increased the power rating of both versions by 1 bhp each and also increased fuel economy[5]. This model also sported a new headlamp assembly, 1,320 mm wheelbase[6], and standard twin-tone horn and trip meter.
[ 2005
In 20 Bajaj launched another upgrade of the Pulsar. The bike was offered with 17 inch alloy wheels as standard option, and the stance was also lowered by about 12 mm to hopefully make it look meaner but unfortunately it could not. It was the first time any bike maker in India had offered 17 inch profile wheels at the rear. The fuel tank now had a capacity of only 15 litres[7]. The power output was now further increased to 13.5 bhp @ 8500 rpm[8]. The rear shock absorbers were now gas-filled Nitrox absorbers.
2006
Bajaj introduced another version of Pulsar. New features included: pilot lamps separated from the main headlamp, turn indicators with clear lenses and amber bulb, self-cancelling turn indicator switch, flush LCD screen with digital read-out of key vehicle data, non-contact speed sensor, non-contact backlit switches, twin-stripe LED tail-light assembly and side panels altered for a sharp, tapering-towards-the-rear look. The engine had increased torque availability, reduced vibration and improved gear shift feel[9].
[ 2007
In July 2007, Bajaj began selling the Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi, featuring fuel injection, a digital dash, and modern styling. This bike has some features which are totally new to the indian market, like the Fuel Injection itself then there's a rear disc brake and clip on handle bars.
[Technology
[DTSi
DTSi stands for Digital Twin Spark Ignition, a Bajaj Auto trademark. The DTSi idea is a simple one to understand - it involved usage of two spark plugs (instead of the usual choice of one) per engine cylinder.
Bajaj Auto holds an Indian patent for the DTSi technology. The Alfa Romeo Twin-Spark engines, the BMW F650 Funduro which was sold in India from 1995 to 1997 also had a twin-spark plug technology, and the Rotax motorcycle engines,more recently Honda's iDSI Vehicle engines use a similar arrangement of two spark-plugs. However very few small capacity engines did eventually implement such a scheme in their production prototypes. This may be the case because the idea was perhaps not observed to yield any significant or noticeable performance benefit that could be justified against the additional investment of an extra spark plug. This may well be the reason behind very few Indian motorcycles offering products based on the multiple-spark-plugs technology. In India, it has often been a subject of debate and curiosity if the multiple-spark-plug idea is of any noticeable utility or not.
While Bajaj claims that the Pulsar is a complete in house product, it should also be known that they had learnt a considerable know-how of building motorcycles from their erstwhile technology partner Kawasaki. Take for instance the original Kawasaki-Bajaj Eliminator, (now sold as the Bajaj Avenger) that had a different engine design than that of the current 180/200 cc Avenger series.
ExhausTEC
ExhausTEC stands for Exhaust Torque Expansion Chamber, a Bajaj Auto trademark. The technology involves use of a small chamber connected to the exhaust pipe of the engine to modify the back-pressure and the swirl characteristics, with an aim to improve the low-end performance of the bikes. This was attempted in response to the issue of a reported lack of low-end response in Bajaj's single-cylinder four-stroke engines. The ExhausTEC technology is claimed to be highly effective in improving the overall engine response, especially the low-end torque characteristics. This enhanced performance is claimed to come at no loss of top-end performance or engine smoothness.
Fuel injection
Fuel injection technology worldwide
As opposed to the carburetor, the fuel injection mechanism usually improves the engine startability, offers a brisker torque response to throttle changes and diagnostics features. It is possible to establish accurate closed-loop control of air-fuel ratio by using the fuel injection mechanism (as an actuator) and utilizing feedback information from an exhaust oxygen sensor (as a sensor). These two components require sophisticated manufacturing practices and therefore a closed-loop fuel injection system forms a costly proposition. It was discovered in late 1970s that accurate closed-loop control of air-fuel mixture encourages efficient destruction of exhaust pollutants in a three-way catalytic converters thereby enabling a gasoline engine to produce substantially low exhaust emission quantities as demanded by the emission standards worldwide. It is for this reason that microprocessor based fuel injection technology has been implemented widely in gasoline powered four-wheelers since early 1980s. In early 1990s, several global two-wheeler OEMs also began downsizing and adapting the fuel injection technology for use in two-wheelers; the most notable efforts[10] have perhaps been those from Honda.
Fuel injection technology in India
In India, all four wheelers since late 1990s feature microprocessor based closed-loop fuel injection technology in place of traditional carburetor to meet the Bharat emission standards imposed by the Government of India.[11] Indian two-wheeler companies have been little sluggish in comparison, however since early 2000s, they too have initiated developing the fuel injection technology to meet the emission standards of the future (early 2010s) and for customer appeal of a high-end technology.
The relatively late entry of fuel injection technology in Indian two-wheelers is mainly attributed to the higher cost sensitiveness of the Indian two-wheeler market in comparison with the Indian four-wheeler market.
It is for these reasons, introductions of fuel-injected motorcycles such as Glamour FI, Pulsar 220 into Indian market are often considered as bold, aggressive moves. The often prohibitively higher cost that fuel-injection warrants limits the application to the 'premium' segment of the motorcycle market, as is exemplified by the rather slow sales of the Glamour FI.
However, the early fuel injected two-wheelers in India are not expected to implement the aforesaid closed-loop control of air-fuel ratio in view of the consequent cost implications. Rather they are likely to implement the less costly option of "open-loop" or feed-forward regulation of air-fuel ratio thereby avoiding usage of (costly) exhaust oxygen sensor. Automotive experts argue that such a scheme, in comparison with the aforesaid closed-loop scheme, is often significantly less effective in reducing exhaust pollutants (see Catalytic converter#Rich Burn Spark Ignition Engines). As a result, the early fuel injected Indian two-wheelers are not likely to be significantly more environment-friendly than their carburetted counterparts. However, these fuel-injected two-wheelers are expected to outdo their carburetted counterparts in the areas of pickup, mileage, durability, dashboard diagnostics and the customer appeal of a high-end technology
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