Can the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z be your only bike?

I’m looking to buy a new bike and this will be my only bike. Will be used for daily commutes in the city and also for weekend rides. I also might use it for touring, but that won’t happen very often. I was not considering a 400cc bike but now the new Pulsar NS400Z price is looking tempting. Can this be a practical bike for my usage?

Pankaj Yadav, via email

Autocar India says: The NS400Z can certainly do everything you have mentioned, but you need to be aware of a few things. The first point is the fuel efficiency will not be fantastic. Don’t expect much more than 30kpl even with careful  riding. If this is an issue then you will want to look at something less powerful, ideally in the 200-250cc segment. 

The other aspect to consider is that there will be some noticeable engine heat and you will need to be okay with that. More powerful engines generate heat and while the NS won’t get unbearable, you will certainly notice it more than on a smaller bike. 

This bike will be good fun on a weekend ride, and it has plenty of performance for long tours. However, if you are planning to take a pillion, you might want to add more preload to the rear shock as the bike can scrape over large speed breakers when fully-loaded. The same goes for touring with heavy luggage.