Bajaj Pulsar N160 mileage and running cost

Pulsar N160's claimed mileage is 45 kmpl. Owners and our own riding put the real figure between 38 and 45 kmpl, roughly 8% under the brochure number, which is typical once traffic, a pillion and short trips are factored in.

Among the 67 sports bikes we have reviewed it ranks 24th for mileage, 3 kmpl above the group average of 42 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 41.5 kmpl, the Pulsar N160 costs about ₹2.28 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹1,782 a month, or ₹21,381 a year, before servicing.

The 14-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 581 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 3 weeks.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the Pulsar N160 works out to about ₹6.1 per km all-in, of which 37% is fuel and 50% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; expect roughly 50–60% of ex-showroom after five years for a well-kept example.

The quickest wins for the Pulsar N160: keep tyres at the recommended pressure (under-inflation by 5 psi can cost 2–3 kmpl), shift up early and avoid idling at long signals.

Short trips hurt most. A cold engine on a 2 km run can return half its normal mileage; if that is your use, expect the low end of the real-world band.

Service on time. A clogged air filter or old spark plug shows up in mileage before it shows up anywhere else.