Hero XPulse 210 Review: Finally A Highway Machine?

The XPulse 210 might look similar to its predecessor but has received its most significant changes yet.

The Hero XPulse 200 is among the very few impact motorcycles out there. It gave the Indian bikers a taste of adventure, a taste of dirt and introduced them to a whole new world of motorcycling. No wonder then, the Hero XPulse is among the most popular off-road motorcycles on sale in India with over 3 lakh units being sold. But the Hero XPulse 200 was showing its age and the adventure bike needed an update, and for the same reason, Hero MotoCorp has introduced the new XPulse 210. 

Now you might wonder just 10cc more and you aren’t wrong. But Hero claims the improvements made on the new XPulse 210 are way more than the 10 cc increment. The engine produces more power and torque, the frame is completely all-new, the suspension hardware has been updated and gets a bunch of new features. So is the Hero XPulse 210 the proper update which we have been waiting for so long?

Highway Performance 

The main highlight is the engine, yes the displacement gap is low but power and torque significantly higher than the previous model at 24.3 bhp (4.4 bhp more) and 20.7 Nm (3.4 Nm). The first thing you notice is how easily and eagerly this motor likes to revv. The biggest issue with the standard XPulse was its underwhelming highway performance, and to a certain extent it has been resolved on the XPulse 210. 

One can cruise between 120-130 kmph on the new bike, but there is one big issue and that’s vibrations. You can feel it on the handlebar, tank and seat, which kind of limits the performance of the bike. The 6th gear makes this engine feel less strained but the vibrations restrict the XPulse 210 from becoming a proper mile muncher. 

Now this leads me to the thought, why didn’t Hero directly launch the XPulse 250? Hero engineers informed us that the 210 cc engine development started much before the 250 cc engine was worked upon. In fact the XPulse 210 was supposed to be launched earlier but COVID delayed the plans. I personally feel that the 250 cc engine will be a great fit on the XPulse 210 platform as it will improve its highway performance tremendously. Will we see a Hero XPulse 250?, while there’s no official word yet, we think the project has already started, but the launch is a few years away at the very least. 

Hero engineers informed us that the 210 cc engine development started much before the 250 cc engine was worked upon. In fact the XPulse 210 was supposed to be launched earlier but COVID delayed the plans. I personally feel that the 250 cc engine will be a great fit on the XPulse 210 platform as it will improve its highway performance tremendously. Will we see a Hero XPulse 250?, while there’s no official word yet, we think the project has already started, but the launch is a few years away at the very least. 

Off-road Performance 

The Hero XPulse always was a very good off-roader and the key aspect was its lightweight nature and very good weight distribution. The new XPulse 210 carries on the above ethos but makes it better. The first thing you notice is how natural the standing up position feels, the handle bar is at the right height, the foot peg position has been altered and it now sits right beneath the rider's butt and the above gives you more confidence while off-road riding. The new bike is heavier than the XPulse 200 but not once did I feel the weight of the bike being a barrier. 

The extra performance also helps you ride the bike faster and the extra pull can be felt as I stalled the bike in 2nd gear and yet it managed to pull through an inclined surface. Suspension hardware is also completely new and it helps in improving the off-road performance, especially the addition of the linked monoshock. The longer wheelbase helps with stability and the XPulse 210 is very friendly towards novice riders. 

Another interesting detail is the off-road mode in the ABS that allows the rider to disengage ABS on both the wheels, something that we haven’t seen on any offroad motorcycle in this segment before. The Hero XPulse 210 in my book is a friendlier option off-road even when compared to the  XPulse 200 4V and even with my limited skills, I had fun on it. 

Anything Else? 

The styling of the bike is similar to the XPulse 200, but the new bike looks bigger in proportion than the older bike and I am a big fan of the Azure Blue shade which seems to be inspired from the Honda Africa Twin. The fuel tank shape is different and the radiator shrouds make the bike look premium and the centre panel and tail section is slimmer than before. 

Another interesting addition is the TFT screen on the top-end variant, the display size is good and the layout is easy on the eyes. The various details can be toggled through a new switch cubes on the left hand switch gear. The XPulse 210 also gets 3 ABS modes, and as mentioned before you can disengage ABS on both the wheels. A neat addition is a grab rail below the headlight to help you pull the bike from the front if you’re stuck while off-road riding. 

The new chassis not only helps in off-road riding, but even on fast corners, the XPulse 210 doesn’t disappoint. Once you get the hang of the 21-inch front wheels, it’s a delight around corners and quite an enjoyable bike. The linked monoshock has also made the ride quality of the XPulse 210 more sophisticated and it absorbs bumps and undulations in a very polished manner. Which means, you don’t have to brake for speed bumps or broken roads, just gas through them. Talking about brakes, the stopping power is adequate, but a bit more bite would have been welcome as you can clock some good speeds. 

Verdict 

The Hero XPulse 210 at the end of the day remains a good effort, but is not the wow motorcycle that we expected from the brand. The bike is available in two variants and our pick is the top-spec variant at ₹1.86 lakh (ex-showroom), it justifies the extra cost with the added safety of dual-channel ABS. It remains a great off-road machine as it’s easy to ride, approachable and very nimble. So if you’re planning to kickstart your offroad riding journey on two-wheels, our suggestion will be to spend the extra money and get the XPulse 210 as it’s more beginner friendly and also more engaging to ride as a motorcycle. 

While it manages higher top speeds owing to the bump in power and the additional 6th gear, the XPulse 210 is far from a highway tourer and we feel Hero missed a big opportunity here. The new bike is what the Hero XPulse 200 4V should have been in the first place as currently with the 250 cc engine in its portfolio, the Hero XPulse 250 would have been a more apt successor to the XPulse 200.

Photography By Anand Malepu