Batman Needed A KTM RC To Hit The Drag Strip

This radical looking bike started life as a modest Bajaj Pulsar NS160

The Bajaj Pulsar needs no introduction among Indian bikers. It was at the forefront of a revolution that showcased that bikes could be fun, without compromising on fuel economy. Well here’s a Bajaj Pulsar NS160 that has undergone a major overhaul by a YouTuber named Nitin Umbaranikar. 

Nitin has previously modified this Pulsar NS160, which belongs to his uncle, on numerous occasions. Interestingly, all the custom work, which includes design and fabrication is done by Nitin himself. For this particular project, Nitin has fabricated the entire bike including the chassis. The only parts carried from the NS160 are the engine, suspension and alloys.

While the stock perimeter frame is 28 inches long and 4.5 inches wide, the custom frame used is 42 inches long and 3 inches wide, thus giving this custom bike a stretched wheelbase. This also meant that the stock chain was replaced with a much longer one, which is coupled to a bicycle derailleur to manage slack.

Owing to the longer wheelbase, a long narrow rod is used to connect to the rear master cylinder which is an economical hack but results in the rear wheel locking up even under the slightest application. To ease pressure off the rear brake, Nitin connected the rear brake to a wing mounted to act like a spoiler. Upon applying the rear brake, the wing pivots by 90 degrees, thereby acting like a drag brake, something we see only on high-end supercars.

The bike continues to be powered by the same 160.3 cc single cylinder engine that produces 17.2PS and 14.6Nm. Despite an extensive list of modifications, the total cost of the entire project is only Rs 20,000. This is mainly due to all the design, fabrication and livery work being done by the modifier himself.

It is important to note that such modifications are strictly forbidden by the RTO. A vehicle featuring any structural changes can be seized by local authorities. These vehicles are not road-legal and can only be used in private properties. That said, this radical creation is impressive from an engineering perspective, but is not functional enough to justify the effort. Nevertheless, it will grab eyeballs like no other.