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A wider rear tyre and cubes (now there’s a wide-spectrum antibiotic) would help the Unicorn really churn up the dirt. As is, the street ergos work off-pavement and the stiff monoshock comes in handy over the bigger bumps.
First mud
The Pulsar 180 DTSi wins this contest, thanks to the extra power from the extra cubes. In the stream, I got stuck more than a few times having miscalculated the path of least resistance. Each time I had to paddle backwards to get the exhaust header clear of the rocks; then a quick hint of throttle would have the 180 leaping forward through the water. The steep muddy bank, where both the Fazer and the Disco struggled a bit, was easy with the 180 calmly spinning its way up on to the other side.
Up the trail, the 180 showed its motor’s brawn as well, charging through on its 1.5 kgm of torque without any problem.Any deflections added by rocks and roots needed just a whiff more of throttle to disappear. However, my aching forearms did suggest that a wider, taller handlebar would probably have made it easier to ride in these conditions.The 180 was the bike that made the most circles around the trees. Big power, and a hair-trigger throttle came together into huge slides, bordering on the out-of-control. In more than one case, the 180 was still spinning wildly after completing the circle. Thanks to our previous experiments with the bike (we’d cut out the plastic mudflap at the back), it was the only bike that ended up with clods of mud on the pillion seat.
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The simple joys of big torque and horsepower are hard to ignore! While the Unicorn probably made it easier for the rider, two of four testers handed the number one plate to the 180. The Bajaj enjoys smashing smaller obstacles into smithereens, although street-spec clearances do mean it grinds down on rocks now and then. The shorty handlebar also raises effort, but at a very basic level, the 180’s a huge smile-inducer. Can’t wait to lay our hands on a full-on off-road variant of this... Anyone taking hints?
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