Swift City Slicker
THE HERO XTREME 160R HAS BEEN WITH US FOR JUST ABOUT three months and is close to completing 2,000 km. It is being used for my daily commute to and from work and it has been quite a fun and practical motorcycle to use in the city. This is mainly owing to the bike’s comfortable riding position and the smooth character of the engine. The bike still manages to catch a lot of attention on the road on account of its electrifying design language.
What I really appreciate is how friendly the engine is while riding in stop-and-go traffic, which is further made effortless by the light clutch action. The engine is in its element when cruising in third and fourth, in the mid-range at speeds between 45 km/h and 60 km/h. It does feel slightly stressed after 6,500 rpm and a slight buzz is felt at the handlebar and pegs, but nothing that will ruin the ride experience.
The bike’s body panels are all intact and fit in place well with hardly any vibrations or noise while riding, thus indicating that the NVH levels are still at a minimum. If I had to nitpick, I would say that the gearbox has room for improvement and could be slicker. Apart from that, the negative LCD screen is not easily visible in the afternoon when the sun is shining bright on it.
Overall, I would say that the Hero Xtreme 160R can be placed somewhere in the middle of the 160-cc segment in terms of performance. It might not be the best motorcycle for highway runs, but is a tough contender when it comes to being the swiftest and most agile city slicker. We will continue testing to bring you further updates.