Good news! The Hero Xpulse 200 may be closer to an India launch than ever and to make things better, it has brought a friend. The standard Xpulse was spotted alongside the touring-oriented Xpulse 200T. Both motorcycles were sporting Rajasthan registration plates and looked production-ready. One of our sources close to Hero MotoCorp have said that both motorcycles will be launched by the end of December.
Styling
These new official pictures of the Hero Xpulse 200 give us a closer look at the bike’s design. And it fits the part of a dual-sport motorcycle to the “T”. The round headlamp looks retro and lends an old-school feel to a design that is more inclined towards function than form. The raised fenders, upswept silencer, and the motorcycle’s tall stance make it evident that the new Hero bike is ready to tackle a variety of terrain. Yes, degrading road surfaces during the monsoon do fall under “variety of terrain”.
Engine
One of the biggest shortcomings of the Impulse was its puny engine. Hero are looking to set that score even by using the latest 199.6-cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that also powers the Xtreme 200R. In the Xtreme, it produces 18.4 PS at 8,000 rpm and a peak torque of 17.10 Nm at 6,500 rpm. Considering the Xpulse’s off-road-biased character, we can expect the engine to be in a different state of tune with stronger low- and mid-range torque. Word on the street is that the Xpulse’s engine is likely to be fuel-injected.
Equipment
Unlike, the analogue-digital instrument cluster we saw in the new Xtreme, the Xpulse will feature a fully-digital instrument cluster. To complement the motorcycle’s dual-sport nature, Hero have also added a windscreen to protect the rider against the wind while on long rides. To keep the rider and motorcycle safe during use on rough terrain, Hero are offering knuckle-guards and a bash plate. Braking is handled by a disc apiece at the front and rear. To keep you safe during panic braking, the motorcycle is equipped with ABS as well. Rubber on the carburetted model is most likely to be CEAT while the 200T will feature MRF tyres.
The Touring-oriented Model: Hero Xpulse 200T
We are happy to say that the test mule looks a lot like the 200T showcased at EICMA 2018. Unlike the adventure-focussed model, this one comes with 17-inch alloy wheels and also appears to have a lower ground clearance and saddle height.
Price
Both the Xpulse 200 and the Xpulse 200T will be launched in December and are expected to be priced around Rs 1 lakh. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that the Xpulse 200 is priced under Rs 1.25 lakh. As for a launch date, we are yet to receive official confirmation, but the fact that Hero are testing the motorcycles without any camouflage indicates that the day is not too distant in the future.
Also read: UM dual-sport motorcycles spied in India
Image Source: Automotive and Machinery Enthusiast’s Message Board
Story: Joshua Varghese
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