Aiming to tap into the rising popularity of performance bikes in the country, Hero MotoCorp had launched Xpulse 200 and Xpulse 200T in May. In the first month of sales, the entry level off-road motorcycles registered sales of 1,026 units. In comparison, Royal Enfield Himalayan registered sales of 1,192 units in the same month.
Xpulse twins are essentially upgraded versions of Hero Impulse that was discontinued due to lacklustre sales. Although the Xpulse twins have a lot in common, they are designed for different purposes. Xpulse 200 features a trendy design and is meant for off-roading whereas Xpulse 200T features modern-retro design and is meant for touring.
Xpulse 200 has some distinguishable features that make it suitable for off-roading. These include upright riding position, protective windshield, 220 mm ground clearance, upswept exhaust, protective bash plate, strong steel chassis, knuckle guards, 10-step adjustable gas charged monoshock rear suspension, and large tyres.
On the other hand, Xpulse 200T is designed for long rides with its comfortable & ergonomic flat seat, wide rear tyre, and 7-step adjustable monoshock rear suspension. Features that give 200T its retro flavour include round LED headlamp and retro styled fuel tank.
Features common to both bikes include fully digital instrument cluster, smartphone connectivity with call alerts, turn-by-turn GPS navigation, LED headlamp, USB charger, luggage plate with bungee hooks, disc brakes at both ends, and single-channel ABS.
Xpulse twins are powered by a 199.6 cc, air cooled, single cylinder engine that generates max power of 18.4 PS @ 8000 rpm and max torque of 17.1 Nm @ 6500 rpm. The engine is Carburettor based, but the one on Xpulse 200 comes with the option of programmable fuel injection. FI engine provides more responsive power and torque, as needed for off-roading. Engine is mated to a 5-speed constant mesh transmission.
Hero Xpulse 200 is offered in five colour options – Sports Red, Panther Black, White, Matte Green, and Matte Grey. The first two colour options are available in base variant whereas the latter three are available in top variant.
Price of carburettor based variant is Rs 97,000 whereas the FI variant costs Rs 1.05 lakh. Xpulse 200T is offered in four colour options – Sports Red, Panther Black, Matte Shield Gold, and Matte Grey. It is priced at Rs 94,000. All prices are ex-showroom Delhi.
