Hero Xpulse 200 4V
I re-acquaint myself with the Hero Xpulse 200 4V at the 2023 Pune Off-Road Carnival
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE been travelling extensively to create captivating reels and photographs for evo India. However, due to the frequency of my travel, I have not had the chance to take my long term Xpulse 200 4V out as much as I would like to. Nonetheless, I still use the Xpulse as my primary mode of transport for my daily commute to work, which is barely a two-kilometre journey. Despite the abundance of Xpulses on the road, it still grabs eyeballs, particularly among children. I attribute this to its raised stance and big wheels, which make it stand out on the roads. Navigating through the city traffic in Pune can be quite an adventure, and the Xpulse is the perfect bike for the job. Pune is currently ranked as the sixth most congested city in the world, making the Xpulse’s ability to take on rough patches and uneven terrain all the more valuable. While most two-wheeler riders avoid these broken patches on the road, I get excited when I see them because I know I can easily glide over them, thanks to the Xpulse’s 21-inch front wheel and long-travel suspension setup.
I used to think that the Xpulse needed more oomph, especially for long-distance touring and the desire for more power remains. However, after using it extensively in the city, I have come to appreciate the agility and lightweight chassis of the bike. These features are more important in the city, where one needs to manoeuvre through traffic, and the ability to do so with ease gives the Xpulse a significant advantage. With maintaining constant pace and giving minimal throttle inputs, the Xpulse manages to return over 40kmpl which is impressive. So, as much as I
want more power on the open highways, the fact that the bike is so frugal and can keep pace with traffic in my city, I won’t complain too much considering my wallet has been quite happy since I’ve gotten the bike.
To spend some quality time with the Xpulse, since it’s been neglected so much in recent times, I took part in the Pune Off-Road Carnival 2023, held at the Pro Dirt Adventure Park. It was a thrilling experience as MX enthusiasts from all over the country come together under one roof for some crazy off-road action. The organisers had planned several exciting events, with time attack and flat tracking being the highlights of the day. I participated in the time attack media category and managed to finish third! While my time was not great, and it took a lot of effort to finish the lap, the Xpulse performed well, and it was me who was holding it back. I realised that I need to train more and practice to refine my skills, and make the most of the Xpulse’s abilities.
I had an absolute blast with the Xpulse at the event, pushing myself to the limit by taking it out on the flat track for a few laps. It proved to be one of the most challenging yet exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had on a bike. I couldn’t help but notice that many of the participants at the event were riding Xpulses. This clearly indicates that there is a growing demand for affordable adventure motorcycles in India. It’s high time other manufacturers take note of the trend set by Hero and invest in this segment.
While I am a huge fan of the Xpulse, there are some issues that I have encountered with the bike. Specifically, the headlights proved to be inadequate when I was riding back from the Off-Road Carnival in the dark. The limited illumination from the headlights restricted my speed and made it challenging to navigate the road ahead. With this report I hope to find more time to ride the bike and polish up my skills to an extent where it might be time for me to phone Hero and ask them for the rally kit. That sounds like fun. ⌧
Abhishek Benny (@abhishekbenny1)
It’s high time other manufacturers take note of the trend set by Hero and invest in this segment
Date acquired September 2022
Total mileage 2070km Mileage during test 330km Costs Nil Overall kmpl 42