World’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp has unveiled the XPulse adventure motorcycle at the Auto Expo 2018. It is also India’s first 200cc dual-purpose motorcycle targeted towards young and thrill-seeking riders. The motorcycle looks to be in its production form and will replace the Impulse in India. We bring you the first look review of the Hero XPulse, the most affordable adventure bike in the country.
Hero XPulse Design
The overall design of the Hero XPulse is of a typical adventure bike with a tall stance and minimalistic body panels. Up front, the Hero XPulse features a full-LED headlamp, a windscreen to avoid wind buffeting and a high-set beak-shape fender. The adventure motorcycle also gets knuckle guards to protect the levers in case of a fall.
The Hero Xpulse features a simplistic fuel tank design with no additional bodywork. There are not much body panels, and the design is clutter free. The single-piece seat is sculpted for lower ride height and the slightly front set foot pegs offers a commuters riding posture which is good for an adventure motorcycle. The enduro-style foot pegs add to the raw look of the Hero XPulse.
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The tail section of the Hero XPulse sports an LED tail light, but the large plastic rear mudguard feels out of place and does not go well with the adventure styling. The upswept exhaust enhances the looks of the motorcycle and also has impressive water wading capacity. The XPulse also gets a rear luggage rack. The bike also gets a skid plate to protect the engine during off-roading.
Hero XPulse Sheet
| Expected Price | Rs 1.12 lakh |
| Engine Type | Single Cylinder, oil cooled |
| Fuel Used | Petrol Only |
| Engine Displacement | 200cc |
| Power | 18.1bhp |
| Torque | 17.2Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed |
Hero XPulse Engine Details
The Hero XPulse draws power from an all-new 200cc air-cooled, fuel injected engine producing 18.1bhp and 17.2Nm of peak torque. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The same engine does the duty on the recently unveiled Xtreme 200R naked street fighter. But Hero might tweak the power output accordingly to suit the XPulse adventure motorcycle.
Hero XPulse Features
The Hero XPulse is a modern adventure tourer with a host of features. The XPulse sports a new fully-digital instrument cluster, full-LED headlamp, clear lens turn indicators and sleek LED tail light. The prominent feature of the XPulse is the first-in-segment turn-by-turn navigation system which is extremely useful for a touring motorcycle. The motorcycle also gets off-road button tyres which enhance the looks of the Hero XPulse.
The suspension duties on the Hero XPulse are handled by telescopic forks at the front with the travel of 190mm and ten-step adjustable gas-charged mono-shock suspension at the rear with the travel of 170mm. The motorcycle is equipped with a 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear wheel with a ground clearance of 220mm. The XPulse features disc brakes at both the ends.
Hero XPulse Rivals
Currently, the entry-level adventure motorcycle segment does not have many players in the Indian market. The only offering is the Royal Enfield Himalayan, but with a bigger 400cc engine. The Hero XPulse will be the most affordable bike in the segment with a 200cc engine. KTM is also planning to launch the 390 Adventure which should spice up the things in the entry-level adventure bike segment.
DriveSpark’s Thoughts On The Hero XPulse
The Hero XPulse is an adventure motorcycle with a simple design and advanced features. The XPulse will replace the popular Impulse which was retailed with a 150cc engine. The Hero XPulse will be a game-changing product in the country with its features and design. Hero MotoCorp is expected to launch the XPulse in India by the end of 2018 or early 2019 with a price tag of around Rs 1.2 lakh ex-showroom.
[“Source-drivespark”]
