Bajaj Pulsar NS160 vs Dominar 160: Differences Explained In 6 Images

Two different names in two different countries…but are the bikes different?

Bajaj recently opened its innings in Brazil, and one of the bikes it launched was the Dominar 160. And no, that’s not a typo, as this bike is essentially a rebadged Pulsar NS160, albeit with some differences. Let’s find out what they are, via detailed images.

The chief difference is visible at the front, as while the Pulsar NS160 sold here sports a conventional fork, the Dominar 160 uses an inverted fork setup, likely borrowed from the Dominar 250 sold in India. You can read more about inverted fork here.

The other change is one that’s not visible, and that’s the difference in specifications. While the both bikes have an identical displacement, the Brazilian bike runs a carburettor, while the Indian bike is fuel-injected. This, therefore as an effect on their power delivery. So whereas both make an identical torque output of 14.6Nm, the Brazilian bike makes it at 6500rpm, which is 750rpm lower than the Indian bike’s 7250rpm mark. Moreover, while the Indian Pulsar N160 makes 17.2PS at 9000rpm, which is marginally higher than the Dominar 160’s 15.5PS, though it makes its peak power at a lower 6500rpm.

Additionally, while the Pulsar NS160 has a kerb weight of 151kg, the Dominar 160 comes in at a significantly lower 142kg. This is because the Brazil-spec bike runs a carburettor, and hence does not have to contend with the weight of a catalytic converter. Moreover, the Pulsar NS160’s 1372mm wheelbase is marginally longer than the Dominar 160’s 1363mm wheelbase. 

Ultimately, though, Bajaj does have plans to make the latest generation Pulsars (N250, N160 and P150) in Brazil as well. That said, it will take a bit longer, as Bajaj hasn’t yet set up manufacturing for these bikes over there.