What's The Big News?
Indian riders have spent nearly a decade praying for an honest-to-god Pulsar RS400. When Bajaj finally dropped their flagship 400cc machine earlier this year, they gave us the naked NS400Z. Sure, nobody complained about the blistering sub-two-lakh price tag or the familiar 373cc powertrain, but deep down, enthusiasts who grew up worshipping the faired RS200 felt a little left out in the cold.
Enter the folks at Autologue Design. The well-known Pune-based custom shop has stepped in to build what Chakan hasn't yet rolled off its assembly line: a proper, fully faired bolt-on kit that morphs the naked NS400Z into a mean, aerodynamic RS400 clone. And honestly, it looks shockingly clean (yes, really).
Turning The Naked Streetfighter Into The RS400 We Deserved
Let's talk about the design transformation because that's where the real magic lies. The stock NS400Z looks sharp, but it's unmistakably an evolution of the decade-old NS frame. It's compact, muscular, and upright. Autologue's custom body kit completely flips the script by wrapping that perimeter frame in a tightly sculpted, race-ready outer shell.
Up front, you get an aggressively raked front cowl sporting aerodynamic winglets and a sculpted smoked windscreen that looks built to deflect highway windblast all day long. The kit integrates seamlessly around the stock LED projector headlamp setup, preserving the bike's signature lighting identity while giving it the face of a mini-superbike. Flanking the tank are extended side fairing panels that sweep down toward the underbelly, cleverly disguising the exposed engine casing without choking thermal cooling flow.
What impressed us most is the panel proportioning. Too often, aftermarket bolt-on fairings look like swollen fiber-glass balloons glued onto a slender chassis. Here, the kit retains a tight, factory-finished silhouette that hugs the chunky 43mm gold-finished upside-down front forks. It looks purposeful rather than patched together.
Under The Skin: Same 40 PS Firepower
Mechanically, the bike beneath the panels remains identical to the stock NS400Z, which is honestly great news for everyday reliability. You're still powered by Bajaj's tried-and-tested 373cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled DOHC motor. That engine pumps out around 40 PS of maximum power and 35 Nm of peak torque, paired with a smooth 6-speed gearbox and an assist-and-slipper clutch.
Out on the open highway, this conversion should theoretically offer a distinct advantage over the stock naked bike. The stock NS400Z hits triple-digit speeds effortlessly, but wind fatigue sets in fast once you push past 110 km/h due to total lack of chest protection. With this aerodynamic front cowl and taller windscreen in place, tucking in on highway stretches should feel significantly more relaxed. Suspension hardware carries forward unchanged with the front USD fork setup and a pre-load adjustable rear monoshock, while braking duties remain handled by disc brakes at both ends backed by dual-channel ABS.
Specs At A Glance
Feature / Parameter | Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z (Stock Platform) | Autologue Custom Transformation |
|---|---|---|
Engine Type | 373cc Single-Cylinder, Liquid-Cooled DOHC | Unchanged (Stock 373cc) |
Peak Power | 40 PS | Stock Powertrain Maintained |
Peak Torque | 35 Nm | Stock Powertrain Maintained |
Gearbox | 6-Speed with Assist & Slipper Clutch | Unchanged |
Front Suspension | 43mm Inverted (USD) Forks | Maintained with clearance for fairing |
Rear Suspension | Monoshock, Pre-load Adjustable | Unchanged |
Bodywork | Naked Streetfighter | Full Aerodynamic Fiberglass Fairing Kit |
Windscreen | Minimal Stock Flyscreen | Tall Touring / Track Bubble Screen |
Aerodynamic Winglets | Not Available | Integrated Fairing Winglets |
Estimated Kit Installation | Factory Standard | Bolt-on Kit (Reversible) |
How Does It Stack Up Against The Competition?
When you look at the 400cc motorcycle arena in India today, choices are fierce. The NS400Z came out swinging against heavyweights like the KTM 390 Duke, the ultra-refined Triumph Speed 400, and Royal Enfield's punchy Guerrilla 450. But notice one glaring detail: all three of those rivals are naked roadsters. If you want a fully faired performance machine in this displacement bracket, your options suddenly shrink down to the KTM RC 390, which costs over a lakh more, or the twin-cylinder Aprilia RS 457 that demands serious bank.
A modified NS400Z with this body kit creates an odd yet brilliant middle ground. You get the aggressive faired sports bike presence for pennies compared to European track machinery. Against the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, which brings torquey low-end grumble and rugged charm, this custom Pulsar targets the rider who prefers track-day aesthetics and screaming top-end rush. Meanwhile, Triumph's Speed 400 offers unmatched paint quality and sophisticated manners, but it can't offer the unapologetic boy-racer drama this faired Pulsar delivers.
The Good And The Not-So-Good
What We Like
- Transforms the familiar NS profile into a modern, jaw-dropping supersport stance.
- Adds functional wind protection that cures the stock naked bike's highway windblast.
- Designed as a bolt-on solution without requiring irreversible frame chopping.
- Allows budget-conscious enthusiasts to own a 400cc faired bike without shelling out big money for an RC 390.
- Retains the proven, easily serviceable 40 PS Bajaj powertrain.
What Could Be Better
- Added fiberglass panels inevitably tack on extra kilograms over the stock curb weight.
- Upright stock handlebars might feel visually mismatched with extreme supersport body lines.
- Aftermarket panel fit and long-term paint durability depend entirely on build quality and care.
- City engine heat dissipation needs real-world testing during peak Indian summers.
Price & When You Can Buy It
Bajaj launched the stock Pulsar NS400Z at a jaw-dropping introductory ex-showroom price of around ₹1.85 lakh, making it hands down the most affordable 40-horsepower motorcycle in the country. That low barrier of entry leaves plenty of cash in an owner's pocket for aftermarket mods.
Official pricing for this specific Autologue Design body kit is expected to be announced via their official channels soon. Historically, full bolt-on fairing kits from reputable custom builders typically sit anywhere between ₹20,000 to ₹40,000 depending on finish, paint options, and bracket complexity. Even when you bundle the price of the base bike and the full conversion kit together, you're looking at a complete track-styled package comfortably under ₹2.30 lakh. Pre-orders are expected to open in batches directly through the modifier's platform.
Our Verdict
Look, Bajaj might eventually build a factory Pulsar RS400 at their Chakan facility, but riders have grown tired of waiting for boardrooms to give the green light. For the college kid or the young professional who saved up for years, bought an NS400Z, and wants nothing more than to park a gorgeous fully faired sportbike in their garage, this custom kit hits the bullseye. It proves that with a little imagination and smart engineering, you don't need to spend European-twin money to turn heads at every traffic light.
