Xpulse 200 has always been a special dual-purpose machine in our country. In terms of its displacement, pricing and most importantly, off-the-road capabilities, there is nothing that comes close to it at the moment. But keep in mind that this is a dual purpose motorcycle and if this bike lacks anything then it needs to have engine refinement and mid range and top end performance. The bike was like feeling when you get off the highway. This happened last year when Hero introduced the BS-VI version of the Xpulse 200 .. but this year the company has made even more efforts to improve this outstanding machine. This is Xpulse 200 4V ..
When Hero says it takes feedback from its customers seriously, we want them to believe, because, of course, the company did it with Xpulse. Take, for example, the 2V BS-VI Xpulse 200 that was released last year, some felt the switchgear needed to be switched around – things like rocker-style highbeam switches are shutting down for some reason, so, step by step Hero will address the Xpulse 200 4V This problem has been solved by changing the switchgear around, and although it is not very special to look at, it all looks durable and good to use. Then there are the headlights on older BS-VI bikes that seemed to be the weakest. Hero has come up with a tweaked unit that seems to be about 20 percent brighter than before, but I can prove that there is still room for improvement on this front. In addition to this other run-of-the-mill stuff cosmetic changes like some new stickers on the tank and panel and even new paint color options that aim to refresh things a bit and it worked.
Now the most significant change with this motorcycle has to be the engine. The name of the bike 4V means 4 valves .. which is 2 more than the old Xpulse model. Adding 2 valves reduces the pressure on the valvetrain and allows the engine to run its business much smoother and cleaner, especially at high revs. Which may sound trivial .. but it doesn’t end there .. The oil cooler is a bit bigger to help the engine handle better .. The gearing ratio has been changed and even the rear sprocket has got bigger in size and now has 7 teeth more power and torque than before. To deliver well .. and all this translates to Xpulse being much more highway-friendly and a better touring machine.
The added power and torque spread much more evenly across the powerband. The first two gears of the Xpulse Five-Speeder are really small and more suitable for off-road riding situations. You will often find yourself in third place when you are patrolling the city at city speeds, while fourth and fifth gears are more suitable for speeding on long and open highways. One of the great things about the Xpulse 4V is that now that the engine is much more refined, it sounds a bit annoying as you go up the powerband, but it certainly feels less pressure than before. The bike goes out of line much faster and even at low speeds the in-gear acceleration feels much more vibrant. Pick the speed on the open road, the motor does not feel from its components like before, and you can hit at a speed of 80-90kmph at 6,500rpm and hold it very comfortably. The 100kmph speed also seems very manageable, and saves some more energy to overtake on vehicles traveling at that speed, but it feels extra work to cross the 110kmph mark in just over 7,500 revs. Another admirable thing is that hardly any vibration is felt around the 100kmph mark – which makes the hero’s efforts in this front admirable.
The diamond-type chassis is still the same as before, and if you run the older XPulse 200, you’ll know it’s never going to be a bad thing. The suspension unit on both ends and even the brakes with single-channel ABS have been taken from older BS-VI bikes that were out last year. The instrument cluster is the same, only the Bluetooth connection software has received an update.
Off-the-road, the Xpulse remains as impressive and capable a machine as ever – it still has the attitude to go anywhere, it’s lightly simple in technique, and more importantly a lot of fun to ride. The suspension is meant to deal with rough objects off the road, but we all know that the condition of our roads here in India can test the limits of any and all suspension units. This is a bike that really makes a lot of sense for a country like ours because it is very good at dressing rough things. Whether you’re intentionally hitting the bump or not, this bike is very forgiving, it’s great. And now with the new update Hero Bike has further strengthened the dual purpose proof. This is a perfect learning tool if you are used to off-road riding. More experienced riders will love the Rally Kit – which gives you better ground clearance, better propeller tires, adjustable front suspension, flat bench seats, extended levers and more.
Another thing worth mentioning with the Xpulse 4V is its seat padding – and it makes a difference. It’s much stronger now. And as soon as you go out on a long journey, your back and your back will not cry out for mercy. And that’s something that has literally helped make Xpulse a better machine in the long run.
Now that the Hero Xpulse has truly excelled offroad, it has never been known as a great highway commuter. Now what height has the company addressed this particular car? Yes, it is. Now it’s not just the engine, gearbox or even the new ration and sprocket, but much more about how it comes together with the little bits like the seat, which makes the Explos a better motorcycle than the previous 2 valve repetitions. Considering all these new changes and bits come in at just Rs 6,000 more than the old 2V model, this is a steal. Hero has certainly sweetened the deal with this one.
