Words: Abhishek Pandey | Photography: Shrenith Bhandary
The new Hero Xpulse 210 has been launched as the latest entry in Hero MotoCorp’s off-road-focused Xpulse range. The original Xpulse 200 was launched in 2019 in BS4 avatar to follow in the footsteps of Hero’s Impulse, a motorcycle that still enjoys a cult following in off-roading enthusiast circles. Hero updated the Xpulse 200 the very next year with the BS6 version, and followed it up with the Xpulse 200 4V in 2021. These motorcycles have not only managed to make their mark as affordable, go-anywhere machines but also were able to open up a new segment in Indian motorcycling while managing to establish a diehard fanbase.
However, the Xpulse 200 4V had its share of shortcomings. It looked a bit basic and was not well-suited to touring, owing to the close-ratio 5-speed transmission. The new Xpulse 210 sports a new chassis, better suspension, a new, larger engine but most importantly, a 6-speed transmission. Armed with these upgrades, is the new Xpulse 210 capable of replicating the success of the original Xpulse 200? Let’s find out.
Design-wise, the Xpulse 210 features a more mature design language over the outgoing model. It retains the signature styling elements of the Xpulse series of motorcycles, however, not a single panel has been carried over from the Xpulse 200. The new add-ons make it look larger and more modern. Upfront, it carries over the Xpulse 200 4V’s headlamp design but the new unit is a Class-D LED projector unit. The off-road fender gives it a sharper and more in-your-face look. A slightly larger windshield has been added and is quite functional as well. Hero has also added a metal grab handle just below the headlamp, which could be used to pull out the motorcycle if you manage to get it stuck somewhere—which is a lifesaver. The fuel tank has a new design and the large tank shrouds give the motorcycle a more ADV-inspired look. These shrouds also manage to hide the coolant tank and radiator. The seat starts off narrow near the tank and widens towards the tail. The rear side panels are sleek and the exhaust is nicely tucked behind the right rear side panel.
The Xpulse 210 now gets a 4.2-inch colour TFT display that offers Bluetooth connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation, music control, plus call and sms alerts. It also gets switchable ABS with three modes; Road, Trail, and Off-road. Whereas the ABS stays fully activated in the Road mode, switching to Trail disables the rear wheel’s ABS. The Off-road mode is the one that disables ABS completely for both wheels. I tried out all three modes and found that switching between them is pretty easy.
The Xpulse 210’s engine is based on the Karizma XMR’s 210cc, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder powerplant. It produces 24.6PS at 9,250rpm and 20.7Nm at 7,250rpm in this particular application. However, the powerplant has been adapted to suit the Xpulse 210’s off-road nature. A 14-teeth sprocket up front and a 46-teeth unit in the rear are unique to this motorcycle. The engine is refined and feels energetic in the lower and middle rpm ranges where it would spend its most time. The new engine behaves well on the highways as well and now one can easily cruise all day long at 100kmph. With my weight I was able to push it till 130kmph, but it felt like a stretch. Off the road is where the engine really shines, just stow it in second or third gear and you’ll be able to get through most of the trails.
The half-duplex double-cradle frame paired with 41mm front forks and a link-type gas-charged rear monoshock brings a world of difference when compared with the Xpulse 200 4V. The bike behaves more like an enduro. 210mm of front and 205mm of rear travel make sure every undulation, rock, jump or the bad patch of road is absorbed with poise and the 220mm of ground clearance allows for worry-free riding. If you somehow manage to land your motorcycle in a ditch, the bashplate should take care of the engine protection. The chassis is flexible enough to take on the harsh terrain.
The 21-inch front and the 18-inch rear tyres are 80:20 off-road biased and do a good job of gripping not just on roads but also on light dirt trails. However, if you are into serious off-roading, you will have to opt for a more focused set of tyres. Our time with the Xpulse 210 also consisted of highway riding where the off-road focused suspension performed well despite my heavier build and held the lines well on the corners. Load it with luggage and the suspension will show some minor signs of softness.
Braking on the Xpulse is handled by a 276mm petal front disc and a two-pot caliper while the rear is a 220mm petal disc with single-pot caliper and I must say they well. On the road, they feel progressive and seem to work well with the long travel suspension and off road they provide enough bite to not let the ABS kick in too often.
Summing the ride up, I feel the Xpulse 210 is a product that has used the learnings from the previous generation of the bike as well as Hero’s rally exploits and has turned into a much more accomplished machine. The engine is paired well to the capabilities of the suspension, it now handles well on and off-road and is more touring-friendly. At a starting price of ₹1.76 lakh which is about ₹20,000 more than the Xpulse 200 4V, the Xpulse 210 is offering great value-for-money and is more fun than ever.
