Hero XPulse 200: One Engine, Different Personalities

From a street naked to a supersport and an ADV, Hero’s 200cc engine has proven to be quite versatile

Hero MotoCorp is primarily known for its commuters. However, in the last two decades, the brand has been also focusing on bringing affordable performance motorcycles, be it with the first-generation CBZ or the Karizma. In the recent years, Hero has a new fleet of 200cc motorcycles catering to an array of riders:

XPulse 200

The country was bitten by the ADV bug and the XPulse 200 turned out to be just the right tool. It is affordable, and its 199cc engine producing 18.PS and 16.45Nm made it amateur-friendly too. Furthermore, with the optional rally kit, you could turn it into a serious rally machine too.

XPulse 200T

The ADV debuted with its touring oriented sibling, the XPulse 200T. It sports the same air-cooled 2-valve engine, but produces 18.1PS and 16.15Nm. To make it highway and city friendly, Hero equipped it with a 19/17-inch alloy wheel setup instead of the 21/17-inch wire-spoke rims from the XPulse 200. Unfortunately, the 200T didn’t turn out to be as successful as its ADV sibling because highway riding felt out of its league, and it felt better suited purely for commuting.

Xtreme 200S

Even though our market has grown fond of ADVs, full-faired motorcycles have a big fanbase here. With the Karizma gone, Hero filled the void with the Xtreme 200S. Unlike most faired motorcycles, it doesn’t have committed ergonomics or a demanding engine. This bike enjoys the friendliness of Hero’s 199.6cc engine, and combines it with the sporty aesthetics of a faired motorcycle.

Xtreme 200R

Hero MotorCorp also turned its eye to the sporty 200cc commuter club with the Xtreme 200R. The 2-valve engine didn’t offer a great top-end, but compensated for it with a punchy mid-range, making it a hoot around town. However, it was the least powerful bike in its class, and when the BS6 norms kicked in, Hero pulled the plug on this bike.

XPulse 200 4V

The 2-valve engine was great in the city, but lacked refinement and top-end, so highway riding was a dull affair. Hero fixed it by making it a 4-valve engine, and in the process, bumped up the performance to 19.1PS and 17.35Nm. Hero even added a bigger sprocket and oil-cooler. The result was a motorcycle that was now peppier and refined, while being light on the pockets.