It was developed by the product engineering division of Bajaj Auto in association with Tokyo R&D,[1] and later with motorcycle designer Glynn Kerr.

A variant of the bike, the Pulsar 200NS was launched in 2012, but it was suspended for some time (reintroduced in early 2017 with BS IV Emission compliance and renamed the NS200).

Bigger motorcycles with higher capacity virtually did not exist (except for Royal Enfield Bullet with 350cc and 500cc variants).

[6] Since the introduction and success of Bajaj Pulsar, Indian youth began expecting high power and other features from affordable motorcycles.

The project faced internal resistance, reservations by McKinsey & Company and doubts on its effects on Bajaj's relation with Kawasaki.

The first generation Pulsar had a 150/180cc two valve, air-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine which made 12/15 bhp of maximum power respectively.

It featured a single spark plug to ignite the air-fuel mixture fed from a carburetor, simple spring shock absorbers, round headlamp dome, voluminous 18 L fuel tank and a 1,265 mm wheelbase.

[19] This model also introduced a new headlamp assembly, 1,320 mm wheelbase,[20] and standard twin-tone horn and trip meter.20 In 2005, Bajaj launched Pulsar 150.

New features included pilot lamps separated from the main headlamp, turn indicators with clear lenses and amber bulb, self-cancelling turn indicator switch, flush LCD screen with digital read-out of key vehicle data, non-contact speed sensor, non-contact backlit switches, twin-stripe LED tail-light assembly, and side panels altered for a sharp, tapering-towards-the-rear look.

This bike has some features which are totally new to the Indian market, like the fuel injection itself, rear disc brake and clip-on handlebars (the first two only available in the 220 model).

[24] Bajaj launched a carbureted version of Pulsar 220 in June 2009, tagging it as "the fastest bike in India".

[28] At the February 2014 Auto Expo, Bajaj announced two new 375 cc Pulsar variants : the CS400, an unfaired "street-naked" compared stylistically to the Ducati Diavel,[29] and the SS400, with a full fairing.

[29] Later in the following year the a bike looking similar to the SS400 came into production with a 200cc fuel injected engine derived from the NS200, with full fairing and twin projector headlamps and was named as Pulsar RS200.

The RS200 is Bajaj's first attempt at a fully faired motorcycle whereas the AS series featured semi-fairing with projector headlamps common among them all.

Mated to a 6-speed transmission, this engine churns out a maximum power output of 23.17 PS at 9,500rpm along with a peak torque of 18.3 Nm at 8,000rpm.

The RS200 makes slightly higher power output at 24.5PS that peaks out (compared to the AS200) at 9,750rpm and 18.6 Nm torque at 8000 rpm owing to its fuel injection.

[31][32] On late 2015 Bajaj had come up with dual tone design, especially for Pulsar 220 Fighter bikes, which was later discontinued for certain colors.

The entire Pulsar lineup (135LS, 150, 180, 220F, NS200, RS200) receives BS4 compliant engines and AHO (Always Headlamp On) as well as a new Laser Edge color scheme.

[33] It features the same specifications as its older counterpart, the Pulsar 150, albeit being powered by a 124.4 cc engine and has a smaller price tag.

In September 2007, Bajaj Auto filed a claim accusing that the development of TVS Flame was in violation of their patent for DTS-I.

[40][41] In February 2008, the Madras High Court in Chennai restrained TVS from launching it with the twin spark plug technology.

[42] TVS appealed against this decision, claiming that crucial evidence was not taken into account[43] and in March 2008, launched the Flame with a modified engine containing one spark plug.

On 16 September 2009, the Supreme Court of India permitted TVS Motors to manufacture and sell the 125 cc TVS Flame with Twin Spark Technology[45] until the pendency of the suit before the Madras High Court, but it shall maintain accurate records of its sales all over the country.

[46] The technology involves use of a small chamber connected to the exhaust pipe of the engine to modify the back-pressure and the swirl characteristics, with an aim to improve the low-end performance of the bikes.