Hero XPulse 200 Vs Royal Enfield Himalayan - Image Gallery

Here’s a shot-by-shot comparison of the two most affordable adventure bikes you can buy in India!

Hero’s newest offering, the XPulse 200, has lowered the entry point to adventure tourers (ADV) in India with an aggressive price tag of just Rs 1.05 lakh for the fuel-injected variant. It undercuts the next most affordable ADV in India, the Royal Enfield Himalayan ABS FI, by about Rs 75,000! Here’s a picture comparison between the two:

Front:

The XPulse comes with a more modern LED headlamp setup whereas the Royal Enfield Himalayan makes do with a halogen unit. While both bikes get a windscreen as standard, only the XPulse gets hand guards straight from the factory.

Fuel tank:

While both the XPulse 200 and Himalayan get similar tank profiles, the former gets a slightly curvy-looking unit. The XPulse 200 has a 13-litre unit while the Himalayan can hold two litres more. An interesting feature about the Himalayan is the accessory-mounting frame around the tank, which allows you to secure a pair of jerry cans for extra range.

Instrument Cluster:

The XPulse 200’s instrument console is more advanced, while the Himalayan’s setup looks a bit retro. Both have their own set of unique features. For example, the XPulse 200 gets Bluetooth connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation while the Himalayan packs a compass and ambient temperature gauge.

Seats:

The XPulse 200’s seat is very dual-sport-like thanks to its length, which extends well into the fuel tank. On the other hand, the Himalayan comes with a split-type unit. Both Hero and Royal Enfield have provided a tail rack to secure small luggage. Royal Enfield offers panniers and saddle stays as accessories whereas Hero is developing it for the XPulse 200.

Engine:

The XPulse 200’s air-cooled powerplant is half the size of the Himalayan’s and consequently, it looks compact too. On the other hand, the Himalayan is powered by an air-cooled engine with an oil cooler to maintain stable oil temperature over long running periods. Both get a 5-speed transmission.

Front Suspension & Wheel:

Both get long travel gaitered forks holding a large 21-inch spoke wheel. The Himalayan offers 10mm more travel than the XPulse 200 at 200mm. Also, the Himalayan gets a dual-channel ABS whereas the XPulse comes with a single-channel unit. Both are non-switchable.

Rear Swingarm & Wheel: 

Both bikes get a box-section swingarm with a monoshock. However, the Himalayan features a linked unit while the XPulse gets a directly-mounted gas-charged shock absorber. The XPulse 200 rolls on an 18-inch rear spoke wheel while the Himalayan features a smaller 17-inch unit. Here, the Himalayan gets 10mm greater wheel travel than the XPulse, with 180mm of play. The Ceat dual-purpose tyres on both bikes are properly trail-friendly.

Exhaust: 

Both Hero and Royal Enfield have made sure the exhaust is set high enough to enhance water-wading capabilities. The XPulse 200’s silencer looks more in line with the off-road motorcycle design language than the Himalayan’s though.