Hero XPulse 200

Introduction

The Hero XPulse 200 is an adventure bike that comes in 5 vibrant colours. With the introduction of the Hero XPulse 200, Hero Motor fills a void. This is more of a tourer and rather dissimilar from the previous generation motorcycles of its lineage. This bike also complies with BS4 emission norms. It perfectly fits into off-road motorcycling. But when touring is high on one’s agenda, the XPulse 200 is not an ideal choice, unless one is okay with the slow-paced rides. On the plus side, this bike is rich in features and easy to rear on off-road journeys. 

How is the design? 

The Hero XPulse 200 is inspired from the original Impulse and there are significant similarities between the two. The new XPulse 200 gets a swingarm and a frame which the previous model did not have. This bike has spoked wheels, fork gaiters, high mudguards, broader tyres, un-swept exhaust and bash plate. There are disk brakes both at the front and the rear and the front suspension of the bike is telescopic. It also consists of a tubular diamond frame. The rear suspension is rider-adjustable. This bike has a ground clearance of 220 mm. The seat is long and curved and the fuel tank has attractive graphics on it. The body panel also has graphical work. The headlamp is small and round and the mirrors come in the same colour as the body. The rear end is pretty stylish and contributes to the overall good looks of the bike. 

How is the performance?

The Hero XPulse 200 is powered by an oil-cooled, single-cylinder, 199.66 cc engine that can develop 17.8 bhp of power and 16.45 Nm of torque. Its engine is mated with a 5-speed gearbox. This bike also comes with an anti-locking system of braking. The engine has the same smoothness and vibrations are rarely felt at lower speed. However, the bike feels pretty stressed at the cruising speed on highways. The build quality of the bike could be improved and there is much room for improving the engine. The engine is slightly underpowered and does not serve the interest of the people who are looking forward to touring. On the plus side, however, there is adequate ground clearance and suspension for keeping the ride easy even on uneven terrains. This bike is lightweight and easy to rear and manage off-road motorcycling. 

How does the Hero XPulse 200 ride? 

The XPulse 200 rides pretty well in city traffic and it is a pretty good bike for daily commuting and short weekend trips. The long expansion of the front 37 mm suspension is paired with monoshock adjustable rear iron to provide support for the undulation along broken and bad roads. The perfect 21-inch wheel in the front and the 18-inch wheel in the rear do the everyday work. The seat is relatively taller and some may find it intimidating, especially those having the average height in India. The off-road trailing is pretty fun, even when high speed achieved on tarmac is not very thrilling. The lean frame and the diamond chassis provide confidence when travelling through dirty terrains. The low kerb weight and the good ground-clearance make the bike manageable for riders who are new to adventures or looking for mild off-roading. 

How comfortable is the Hero XPulse 200?  

The standing posture of the Hero XPulse 200 is quite aggressive on the bike’s foot pegs, especially when the body leans over to grab the handlebars. This bike is wheeled by CEAT tyres that provide ample gripping and hold during off road motorcycling, apart from regular road conditions. The feedback and bite from both the disc brakes are pretty good, while the anti-lock braking system carries out the braking duties very efficiently. The locking of the rear wheel makes way for a fun-filled ride. The engine of XPulse 200 pushes quite well to manoeuvre through road traffic. The body has to be stretched further to accelerate on highways. 

How's the tech? 

The Hero XPulse 200 has a list of technological specifications that promise the adventure capability of the bike. 

• The bike is powered by an air-cooled, single-cylinder, 4-stroke OHC 199.6 cc engine. 
• The engine has a capacity of providing 18.4 PS of power at 8000 rpm and 17.1 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm. 
• The frame of the bike is diamond type.
• The gearbox is a constant mesh, 5-speed unit. 
• The instrument cluster of the bike is fully digital. 
• There is an engine-kill switch on the handlebar. 
• The braking controls are taken care of by a single channel ABS. 

How's the mileage of the Hero XPulse 200? 

The average mileage of Hero XPulse 200 is 42 KMPL. In city traffic the mileage could be slightly less. 

Is the Hero XPulse 200 good value for money? 

The highway cruising ability of the bike takes a massive hit and the sturdiness has quite some room for improvement and refinement. But in terms of pricing, Hero Xpulse 200 is a clear winner. Buyers can still find several models to choose from with this segment, however, it can be an ideal choice for entry-level off roading, especially when daily commuting is someone’s priority. This bike is feasible and practical. 

How is the after sales service? 

Hero has a very strong service network across the country and provides a range of excellent services. There are five free services for the Hero XPulse 200. The first one is provided after 60 days or 500-750 km, the second is provided after 160 days or 3000-3500 km, the third one after 260 days or 6000-6500 km, the fourth one after 360 days or 9000-9500 km and the final one after 460 days or 12000 to 12500 km. 

Which motorbikes compete in this segment? 

The other bikes that compete in the same category as the Hero XPulse 200 are Bajaj Pulsar NS200, Hero XPulse 200 T, Yamaha R15S and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. 

Verdict (Value for money)

The overall performance of this bike is pretty good, when the priority of the rider is regular commuting. However, this bike is not easy to rear on long hauls due to the underpowered engine. This bike is low-priced and includes all primary features that are expected. This bike is a definite value for money.