Enthusiasts know that it’s the power-to-weight ratio that tells a more detailed story when it comes to performance. That’s why we’ve decided to list out the top 10 bikes with the highest power-to-weight ratios and priced below the Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) mark. All figures have been calculated using kerb weights.
10) Bajaj Pulsar RS200 (24.5hp/167kg) – 146.7hp/tonne
The RS 200 manages to balance its identity very well – the riding position is sporty, but far from extreme, and the handling is stable and enjoyable, but without being punishing over poor roads. With its full fairing and perimeter frame, the Pulsar NS weighs in at 167kg. While that makes the RS200 9kg heavier than its naked counterpart, the NS200, it’s still among the top 10 with a power-to-weight ratio of 146.7hp/tonne. It achieves this thanks to its four-valve, single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that makes 24.5hp at 9,750rpm and 18.7Nm at 8,000rpm.
9) Bajaj Pulsar N250 (24.5hp/164kg) – 149.30hp/tonne
Launched early last year, this 250cc naked from Bajaj produces 24hp and 21.5Nm and tips the scale at 164kg. The Pulsar 250’s power-to-weight ratio gives it a good balance, making it suitable for navigating crowded streets. At an ex-showroom price of ₹1.51 lakh, the Pulsar N250 is not only a striking machine but also packed with features, making it a compelling choice in its segment. We had the Pulsar N250 for a long-term review, and when it was time to return it, the team wasn’t too happy to see it go.
8) Bajaj Dominar 250 (27hp/180kg) – 150hp/tonne
A motorcycle you wouldn’t think would make it to this list is the Bajaj Dominar 250. That’s because it is essentially a less powerful version of the hefty Dominar 400. Despite its 180kg kerb weight, the Dominar 250 manages to make 150hp/tonne, thanks to its powerful 250cc engine. This engine is based on the KTM 250’s, but with big changes that includes a different cylinder head and compression ratio. The Dominar 250’s engine makes 27hp at 8,500rpm and 23.5Nm at 6,500rpm.
7) Bajaj Pulsar NS200 (24.5hp/156kg) – 157hp/tonne
The Bajaj Pulsar NS200 is a motorcycle you may have seen coming. Being 10kg lighter than the RS200, at 156kg, gives it a big advantage when it comes to its power-to-weight ratio. It makes 157hp/tonne, thanks to the same four-valve, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that makes 24.5hp at 9,750rpm and 18.7Nm at 8,000rpm. We recently compared the NS200 to its rivals and it turned out to be the fastest accelerating motorcycle in its class, with a 0-100kph time of 10.98sec.
6) Hero Karizma XMR (25.5hp/163.5kg) – 155.9hp/tonne
The Karizma XMR features a single-cylinder, liquid cooled, 210cc motor which produces 25.5hp and 20.4Nm and is mated to a six-speed gearbox with slip-assist clutch. The Hero weighs 22kg heavier than the Yamaha R15 at 163.5kg but is about on par with the Bajaj Pulsar RS200.
When launched back in 2023, it was the first Hero with a liquid-cooled, DOHC motor, the first with a steel trellis frame.
5) Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 (26.5hp/161kg) – 164.5hp/tonne
The Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 is a motorcycle with a number of qualities. It does a lot really well and it leaves very little to complain about. Powering it is a 249cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine that makes 26.5hp at 9,300rpm and 22.2Nm at 7,300rpm. While these figures aren’t ground-breaking, it’s reasonably lightweight, at 161kg, especially when you consider that it’s a fully-faired quarter-litre machine. With 164.5hp/tonne, the Gixxer SF 250 takes position number four.
4) Suzuki Gixxer 250 (26.5hp/161kg) – 164.5hp/tonne
Coming in at number five is the Gixxer SF 250’s naked counterpart.As we witnessed with the RS200 and NS200 shedding some bodywork does go a long way. Powering it is the exact same engine as the SF 250 and it makes identical power and torque numbers, but its 156kg weight figure gives it a higher power-to-weight ratio of 169.8hp/tonne.
3) Triumph Speed T4 (31hp/180kg) – 172.22hp/tonne
The most affordable proposition out of a Triumph showroom makes it to our list. It features a 399cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine as the Speed 400 but produces lower peak power and torque. It is rated at 31hp and 36Nm of torque. This reduction in power is due to the internal rework which the brand has done. Key changes include a smaller throttle body, revised camshafts, a redesigned airbox, and a 31 percent increase in crank inertia. This motorcycle just about made the cut due to the recent price slash that brought its ex-showroom cost down to Rs 1.99 lakh.
In our experience, we have found that the Speed T4’s riding experience is much more enjoyable in the city than the Speed 400. Due to its heavier crankshaft, it requires fewer gearshifts and its mid-range grunt further accentuates that quality.
2) Hero Xtreme 250R (30.6hp/175kg) – 178.8hp/tonne
The Xtreme 250R is Hero’s latest addition and marks the brand’s entry into the quarter-litre naked segment. The Xtreme 250R is powered by a new 250cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine, making 30hp and 25Nm. The 250cc unit is derived from the existing 210cc mill first seen in the Karizma XMR. Hero claims the Xtreme 250R can achieve a 0-60kph sprint in 3.25 seconds.
1) Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z (40hp/174kg) – 229.8hp/tonne
The Pulsar tops the list with its impressive power-to-weight ratio. It holds a considerable lead over the second-best motorcycle, thanks to its much larger displacement. The Pulsar NS400Z bestows a new lease of life to the KTM derived LC4 373cc engine. It borrows it from the out-going 390 Duke and produces 40hp and 35Nm. The NS400Z is priced at Rs 1.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and is the country’s most affordable 400cc motorcycle. Interestingly, it costs just Rs 885 more than the updated Pulsar RS200, and for that small extra amount, you get significantly more power from a better KTM-derived engine.
Honourable mentions
KTM 200 Duke (25hp/159kg) – 157.2hp/tonne
The KTM 200 Duke would have made the list, but the recent update has driven up its price to Rs 2.03 lakh, which is Rs 3,000 above our cut-off. Nonetheless, the KTM 200 Duke stands as an amazing proposition. It tips the scales at 159kg, which is slightly more than the NS200, but it balances the equation thanks to a 0.5hp advantage. With just 0.2hp/tonne separating the two, the real-world performance is expected to be quite close, however, the KTM’s closer stacked gear ratios should result in more exciting acceleration.
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