Hero XPulse 200
THE LAST OF THE FOUR BIKES HERE IS BY FAR THE MOST AFFORDABLE; retailing at just Rs 1.05 lakh (ex-showroom), the Hero XPulse 200 costs a massive Rs 2.44 lakh less than the BMW, almost Rs 2 lakh less than the KTM and even manages to make the RE feel expensive. If you are on a tight budget and want a tough, goanywhere motorcycle, this is the one for you. Of course, at this price point, compromises will have to be made, the most prominent being performance.
The 199.6 single gets an oil-cooler with its 2020 BS6 update and puts out 18.1 hp and 16.5 Nm of peak twist. Getting to 100 km/h from a standstill takes close to 20 seconds and, while the motor feels decently strong through its mid-range, it starts feeling quite stressed at anything over 6,500 rpm. The XPulse will cruise all day between 80 and 90 km/h, beyond which things get quite vibey and overtakes on the highway call for careful planning and aggressive downshifts.
Although it may not be ideal for covering long distances on the highway, the XPulse is a fantastic tool for those who want to hone their skills off road. It is the only bike here with rally-spec 21- and 18-inch spoked wheels, and the telescopic fork and preload-adjustable monoshock get 190 mm and 170 mm of travel respectively. The large wheels effortlessly roll over everything in their path and the suspension works extremely
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well with the steel diamond-type frame, whether flying over massive speed-breakers with the throttle wide open or attacking the gnarliest terrain you can find. ABS is not switchable, but since it is a single-channel system, working only on the front wheel, the rear is always ready to slide around. Fuelling is spot on and it is extremely easy to dial in the required amount of throttle, with no apparent snatchiness or flat spots anywhere. This predictable character makes the XPulse the ideal choice for a first-time off-roader who wants an affordable adventure bike with which to get comfortable riding through rough or loose terrain, before graduating to something heavier and more powerful.