Aprilia RS4 200 VS BAJAJ PULSAR 200NS

After a successful launch of the KTM Duke 200 by Bajaj in India, Piaggio now intends to get the Aprilia RS4 to India in 2012. Bajaj which plans to gets more bikes from international KTM range currently has no competitors in India.

The Aprilia RS4 which is is inspired by its flagship RSV4 factory is expected to get a 200 cc engine to challenge its closest rival KTM Duke 200. This 200cc Aprilia motorcycle will be sold via the Piaggio dealerships. Currently Aprilia is selling a meagre volume of 6-7 super-bikes a year in India and hence making standalone dealership does not make sense.

Aprilia is currently working on the 200cc engine that will challenge the KTM Duke 200. We only hope the new Aprilia RS4 carries the legendary racing heritage of Aprilia in various MotoGP and Super-bike series championships its won.

Aprilia RS4 200-OVERVIEW

Aprilia has always been the undisputed leader in 125 cc supersports, a market segment in which Aprilia has pioneered new concepts and advanced solutions, and developed technology that others have struggled to follow. Like all Aprilia motorcycles, the RS4 200 has benefited from the sophisticated technology that has been developed over years of success in GP racing, and quickly transferred into production. Over the years, the RS 4 200 has forged a reputation as the standard setter for sports 200’s. Sales success has come naturally too, with the RS4 200 topping the sales tables on major European markets. The RS4 200 is the inevitable choice of riders entering Sport Production racing. And rightly so, because when the competition gets tough, there is simply no other bike like the Aprilia RS4 200. The Aprilia RS4 200 offers young riders the best in components and equipment, and a concentration of technical refinements worthy of a flagship supersport.

The following are just some of the main features of the Aprilia RS4 200:
• tried and tested yet extremely sophisticated Rotax two stroke engine;
• super-rigid aluminium frame and swingarm derived from Aprilia’s vast GP experience;
• upside down fork;
• front brake with radial caliper and four opposed pistons;
• RSV 1000 R style fairing, windshield and tail;
• RSV Factory style, crossed spoke wheels;
• analog/digital instrument panel with multi-functional computer;
• RSV Factory style, forged steering yoke;
• oval section racing silencer with riveted end plates;

STYLE

The mean, cutting edge look of the new RS4 200 tells you that this is a professional racing machine. The styling of the RS, like that of all Aprilia sports bikes, is the result of painstaking aerodynamic research.
The fairing, for example, was perfected by extensive wind tunnel testing, to guarantee great wind protection and minimum drag for maximum racetrack efficiency. The fairing, windshield and tail not only look mean and aggressive, but allow the RS4 to reach a blistering top speed, eliminating all turbulence around the rider and allowing man and machine to become one.
The latest generation twin halogen headlight also adds to the mean look of the new RS4 200, and delivers a high power light beam for enhanced visibility and safety at night. The sleek tail looks exactly like the tail of a GP racer. Thanks to the effort put into the design of the RS 4 200’s tail, not even the passenger seat disturbs the bike’s impeccable lines.
The crossed spoke wheels are not only lighter and more stylish, but safer and more reliable too.

ENGINE
The powerful but reliable, single cylinder, two stroke, Rotax-Aprilia engine needs no introduction. Over the years it has won a reputation for being unbeatable on the track and dependable on the road.
Still today, this engine boasts technical solutions that are state-of-the-art for two strokes, including a crankcase reed valve intake, liquid cooling, an anti-vibration balancer shaft, and an automatic mixing system. The RS4 200’s engine has been constantly updated over the years to keep in line with the latest emission control legislation without penalising performance. A catalytic converter and precision carburation has won Aprilia’s single cylinder two stroke homologation to Euro 3 standards. And the amazing thing is that this has been achieved without losing out on performance: the Aprilia RS4 200 engine remains the reference point for all 200 cc powerplants.

CHASSIS
Without a doubt, the most advanced single component on the RS4 200 is its frame. Developed from Aprilia’s vast experience in GP 125 racing, the RS 4 200 frame is made from cast aluminium alloy with cross-ribbing reinforcement. Despite its extremely light weight, this advanced structure achieves amazing torsional rigidity, setting the standards for Aprilia’s competitors.
The box section, aluminium alloy swingarm has the highest torsional rigidity of all production 200 cc swingarms. Differential side members enable the exhaust to follow a path that maximises engine performance and enables more acute angles of lean to be achieved on bends without risking dangerous contact with the asphalt.
The suspension too plays a fundamental role in ensuring not only the RS4 200’s performance, but its safety and comfort too. The RS4 200 can rely on an upside-down fork that has been optimised for maximum performance on the racetrack while also delivering a more satisfying ride on public roads.
The rear suspension features rising rate linkages based on Aprilia’s 125 GP racing technology, for excellent traction and superb comfort even over uneven road surfaces. The hydraulic monoshock that provides the damping for the swingarm is also adjustable in spring preload.

BRAKES
Like any self-respecting supersport motorcycle, the RS4 200 has to have the best when it comes to components. The braking system is the best available, and designed for maximum efficiency under competitive riding conditions. The front brake is a genuine state-of-the-art, high performance system with a radial caliper and four opposed pistons. In addition to the 320 mm front disc, the system also incorporates a radial master cylinder and aeronautical hoses for maximum precision and unrivalled braking power. The rear disc is 300 mm in diameter and is also equipped with metal braided hoses for perfectly balanced, high performance braking.

EQUIPMENT
The Aprilia RS 200 is packed with prestige components. Compact and impressively light in weight, the instruments include an analog rev counter and a multifunctional digital display with an on-board computer that can be operated from the handlebars. The speedometer, rev counter, coolant temperature gauge and exclusive racing chronometer put you in total control. The on-board computer even has provision for interfacing with the optical finishing systems used on racetracks.

Bajaj has revealed the latest generation of its popular Pulsar motorcycle in 200cc guise, dubbed the Pulsar 200NS.

The Pulsar 200NS (Naked Sports) uses a liquid-cooled, 199.5cc four-valve SOHC carbureted engine with a new triple-spark-plug system, coupled with a six-speed gearbox. The engine now produces 23.18bhp at 9500rpm and 1.86kgm of torque from 8000rpm. Bajaj claims the new Pulsar 200NS can hit 0-60kph in 3.61sec and 0-100kph in 9.83sec. The chassis now gets a pressed steel perimeter frame and a rectangular tube-section swingarm, which the company claims offers over three times the

lateral stiffness of the old Pulsar 220’s frame. It also employs a gas-filled monoshock suspension and a central exhaust, for better balance. There are petal disc brakes front and rear, measuring 280mm and 230mm respectively, and 17-inch alloy wheels.Speaking on the occasion, K Srinivas, President-Motorcycles, Baja Auto said, "Pulsar has now celebrated a 'Decade of Dominance' with 10 years of leadership in the Indian performance motorcycle market. The Pulsar 200NS showcases next leap in technology and design and will set the standard for others to follow. We believe that 2012-13 will be an exciting period where Bajaj Auto will excite customers both here and abroad."

The next-generation Pulsar 200NS will go on sale this March.

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