The Perfect Entry-Level Street Moto May Be Hiding in Plain Sight

Forbidden fruit with a helluva back story, it offers more grunt for less dough than names that are much better known stateside.

Close-up of a black motorcycle engine with "400" decal and part of the front wheel with disc brake.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published April 7, 2026

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Updated April 7, 2026

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At this moment, we have more access to information about where our products come from than at any other time in recent history.

Sure, brands can still be sneaky about their provenance and production, but in general, there seems to be more transparency, too.

Red and black Suzuki Gixxer 250 motorcycle on a rear stand in a garage. — The Pulsar NS400Z combines classic street fighter looks with a punchy little engine and more tech than you’d expect.

For example, during a Q&A at a Triumph media ride in Spain last month, the brand made no real secret of the fact that its new Tracker 400 and Thruxton 400 were designed in England and made in India.

Maybe part of the reason is that their manufacturing partner, Bajaj, is a shining star itself, with bikes such as the Pulsar NS400Z pushing the whole industry to raise its game and/or lower its prices.

Bet on Bajaj

While it flies well under the radar in the US, Bajaj is huge, ranking 7th worldwide in moto sales last year with 3.25 million units.

For context, that’s approaching three times more than 9th-ranked Royal Enfield (1.2 million) and miles ahead of any “premium” brand; BMW comes in at no. 32 with 202,563 units, ahead of KTM, Triumph, Harley-Davidson and others.

Person wearing a white helmet and jacket performing a wheelie on a red and black sport motorcycle. — Selling 3.25 million units, partnering with Triumph and taking over KTM last year, Bajaj is clearly a brand on the rise.

Granted, units sold are hardly the only way to evaluate a brand’s impact, but it does serve to illustrate the scale Bajaj operates on, and explain how it was able to effectively rescue/take control of KTM last fall.

To industry insiders, this was no huge surprise, as Bajaj has been entwined with KTM for years, resulting in cross-pollination that produces bikes with different branding but sometimes very similar engineering and performance.

Pulsar power

Case in point, the aforementioned Pulsar, a nameplate so beloved that it has its own Facebook page with 2.3 million followers.

It says something about how different countries view displacement that while we Americans think of the 400cc class as small, the NS400Z is the biggest of eight available Pulsar sizes.

Rear side view of a white and black 400cc sport motorcycle with red accents on a paved road. — Pulled from KTM’s 390 Duke, the NS400Z’s engine comes with built-in respect.

It’s also a pretty damn compelling entry-level street fighter, thanks largely to the 373cc single-cylinder engine pulled from KTM’s very respectable 390 Duke.

Tuned for the NS400Z, it makes 40 horsepower at 8,800 rpm and peak torque of 25 ft-lbs at 6,500 rpm, numbers that are quite delightful for picking through city traffic and tackling two-lane twisties (not so much the highway).

Motorcyclist in black and red gear leaning into a turn on a red and white sport motorcycle on a racetrack. — I would not personally take this bike anywhere near a track, but I’d happily lean into turns on curvy two-lane roads.

At the same time, this bike boasts some surprising modern tech, including ride-by-wire throttle, ride modes, ABS, traction control and a full-color TFT display that pairs with your smartphone.

Suspension is nothing fancy, but a 43mm inverted fork and preload-adjustable rear shock are perfectly qualified for everyday riding.

Red and black sport motorcycle with gold front forks parked on a racetrack under cloudy sky. — Fun fact: By law, all motos made for the Indian market must include a saree guard to prevent long, loose clothing (such as a saree) from getting caught in the rear wheel. That’s the grate-like structure you see at the back in this image.

While none of that will blow you away on its own, all together it’s pretty stunning relative to the cost.

The NS400Z’s starting price in Spain, for example, is €4,499, roughly equivalent to $5,200 USD.

For comparison, Kawasaki’s Ninja 125 goes for the rough equivalent of $6,330 and Honda’s CB125R for ~$6,400.

Red and black sport motorcycle with headlights on, parked on a rooftop at sunset, with a person in black riding gear and helmet standing nearby. — With a seat height of 31.8 inches and a curb weight of 384 pounds, the NS400Z is more welcoming than most.

To be clear, these are 125cc bikes, meaning their engines are less than half the size of the NS400Z.

Also, none of them are available in the US, but if they were, perhaps Bajaj would be even more of a household name than those Big Four Japanese brands are.

Availability and pricing

The Bajaj NS400Z is available in India and parts of Europe, among other places, for €4,499, roughly equivalent to $5,200 USD.

Black and silver sport motorcycle with red accents and disc brakes on both wheels.

Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z

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About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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