Hero Xtreme 160R 4V First Ride Review: Likes And Dislikes

Is the 4-valve engine and USD fork enough to make it the 160cc bike champion?

The Xtreme 160R is Hero MotoCorp’s player in the super competitive 160cc motorcycle segment. Now, with the Bajaj Pulsar N160, the 2023 Bajaj Pulsar NS160 and the updated TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, Hero too has decided to revamp its bike and introduce the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V. We got to experience the bike in Jaipur and here’s what we liked and disliked about the motorcycle:

LIKES

Engine 

Hero has given the Xtreme 160R’s 163.2cc single-cylinder engine a 4-valve head and an oil-cooler. This has resulted in a performance bump of 1.7PS and 0.6Nm, which can be felt right from the get-go.

The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V feels more energetic than before. Its acceleration now feels quicker than before, and Hero even claims that this is the quickest motorcycle in this segment to accelerate from 0-60kmph. However, we can be sure only once we get the bike for a proper road test.

Apart from outright acceleration, the Xtreme 160R 4V now also feels much more tractable than before. While the 2-valve version felt comfortable in the third gear when doing city speeds, the new bike can do similar speeds even in fifth gear. It cleanly pulled from speeds as low as 20kmph in fifth gear without any protest. This also means that the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V could be more fuel-efficient than before, at least in the city.

Ergonomics

With the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V, the company has altered the ergonomics to make it feel more engaging. This has been achieved with the new seat. This is also complemented by the updated tank profile which allows you to grip the motorcycle better. So while on the previous-gen bike, you were perched “in” the bike, now you are seated “on” it, which gives you more leverage.

Handling

And the seating posture is much more enjoyable with the new KYB USD fork. The previous model was a neutral handler, and the Xtreme 160R 4V now leans a bit on the sportier side. It feels much more composed when darting through corners and despite that, its everyday usability hasn’t been compromised. The USD fork is pliant and could absorb almost all bumps and potholes. However, the monoshock could have been better at absorbing bumps, since the rear now feels a bit tossy. 

Dislikes

Instrument Console

Hero MotoCorp has given a bunch of ‘smart’ features to the Xtreme 160R 4V. There are safety, map-based, and telemetric features, but all of these are app-based ones. So, things like the turn-by-turn navigation is not as intuitive as the one on the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. Furthermore, the negatively lit instrument console is barely readable in the day, and we feel Hero could have made some substantial changes on this front rather than just adding gimmicky features.

Lack Of Dual-channel ABS

Yes, adding a dual-channel ABS system adds to the overall cost, but instead of these gimmicky features, ABS at the rear would have been more useful. In fact, currently, the only bike with dual-channel ABS is the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and if the Xtreme 160R too had the same, it would have presented more options for the customers.

Price

The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V is now priced at Rs 1,27,300 for the STD variant, Rs 1,32,800 for the Connect variant and Rs 1,36,500 for the Pro variant. With these prices, this bike has now become quite expensive. In fact, it’s even more expensive than the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V Special Edition that packs more performance and features.

Verdict

The Hero Xtreme 160R has bridged the gap between the commute-focused bikes like the Yamaha FZ-Fi Version 3.0 and the Suzuki Gixxer, and the sporty offerings like the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and the Bajaj Pulsar NS160. With this update, the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V has become sportier, but hasn’t compromised on its everyday useability. That said, the lack of dual-channel ABS and the relatively simpler feature set are the chinks in its armour.

If you are looking for a stylish 160cc motorcycle that can handle everyday duties and some spirited weekend rides, the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V is not a bad option. But can it now rule the 160cc motorcycle segment? Well, it definitely packs more punch to take on its rivals, but knowing if this is the best motorcycle in this segment warrants a proper comparison. So stay tuned!