Hero Xtreme
India’s original 150 gets yet another make-over. What’s it got?
ALL-NEW? No. What’s new are the redesigned body panels. Scratch under the surface and the chassis, cycle parts and even the Honda-derived engine are the same. The tank looks smaller now thanks to the removal of the tank cowls. These make for a sleeker appearance, though the fuel tank looks a tad too small now. The turn indicators are now mounted conventionally, and not on the bikini fairing.
WHAT ELSE? The part analogue, part digital dash has been redesigned, and looks straight out of a spaceship with its radical design. There are new additions, like a glow-ring around the key slot, a WHAT IS IT? The Xtreme is Hero MotoCorp’s flagship 150cc machine, and has just received yet another update. Over time the Xtreme has lost some of its sheen despite being the country’s first proper 150 way back in the late 1990s in the form of the Hero Honda CBZ. side stand indicator that kills the engine if you engage gear with the stand down and a service light. A unique feature is the mobile charging point under the seat.
FUN TO RIDE? The Xtreme has always been a light, nimble motorcycle, and that has not changed with the new bike. The Xtreme is thus fun to ride even today, especially carving through traffic. The vibrations from the tank at high revs spoil the party and take away from the peppy feel. The riding position leaves something to be desired since with the extended seat you are unable to grip the fuel tank properly. The 240mm front disc brake could do with more feel and bite.
POWERFUL? The 149.2cc air-cooled, singlecylinder engine puts out 14.2bhp and 12.8Nm of torque, which is on par with the competition and good enough to propel the bike to 60kmph in a claimed 5.7 seconds.
EFFICIENT? Fuel efficiency is on par with the competition, which means you can expect the Xtreme to return about 50kmpl in the real world. This makes it a worthy option for those upgrading from a scooter or a smaller motorcycle.
VALUE? The Xtreme retails at ` 66,516 exMumbai, which is almost ` 3000 less than the outgoing version. You can also get a rear disc brake equipped version for an additional ` 4000, which still undercuts some of its competitors. The new features and price drop mean the Xtreme is a great value proposition in the 150cc segment even today, especially with the Hero brand name.