Hero has finally launched the BS6 XPulse 200 which has received a price hike of Rs 6,790 from the BS4-spec model but it’s still the most affordable adventure bike in India, even after throwing in the Rally Kit, which takes it to a whole new level.
Hero has finally launched the BS6 XPulse 200 in the country today for a price of Rs 1,11,790 (ex-showroom Delhi). The price of the BS6 Hero XPluse 200 has increased by Rs 6,790 from its BS4 fuel-injected model but it still remains India’s most affordable adventure motorcycle. The next most affordable adventure motorcycle would be the BS6 Royal Enfield Himalayan but the BS6 XPluse 200 is about Rs 80,000 cheaper than that. The motorcycle will start reaching dealerships in the coming weeks and deliveries will commence soon too.
Hero has already been accepting bookings for the BS6 XPulse for quite a few months now and the launch would have happened much earlier, if not for the Covid-19 crisis and the resulting lockdown. Like many other motorcycles, the BS6 compliant 200cc engine of the XPulse has seen a drop in numbers in order to comply with the updated emission norms. The BS6 XPulse 200 now produces 17.8hp at 8,500rpm and 16.4Nm of torque at 6,500rpm. In comparison, the BS4-compliant model made 18.4hp at 8,000rpm and 17.1Nm of torque at 6,500rpm.
Moreover, while the BS4-spec model could be had with either a carburettor or fuel-injection, the BS6 model is fuel-injected only. There are some other updates as well. The header pipe now doesn’t run next to the engine as in the BS4-spec model but is now directed downwards to go under the engine and back up to the muffler, which continues to remain in the same place. This would normally change the ground clearance of the motorcycle but the belly pan has been redesigned to make space for the new exhaust piping. However, the ground clearance of the motorcycle is still rated at 220mm.
All these changes will inevitably have an effect on the kerb weight of the motorcycle which is now 157 kg as compared to 154 kg of the BS4-spec model. Another major update on the BS6 XPluse 200 has been the addition of an oil cooler. The original concept motorcycle showcased at EICMA and even the bike on display at Auto Expo 2018 had an oil cooler present on them. Hero however did not offer it on the BS4 bike. It is however now back on the BS6 model after Hero has had time to test it out properly in the national rallying circuit before putting it on the production bike.
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With the BS6 update, the company is now also offering a specially developed ‘Rally Kit’ for the XPluse 200 that will be available at dealerships very soon. The Rally Kit brings a comprehensive set of modifications – longer travel suspension, Maxxis knobbies, a taller rally seat, a longer side stand, handlebar risers and an extended gear shifter pedal – all this for just Rs 38,000. The rally kit increases the suspension travel from 190mm/170mm (front/rear) to 250mm/220mm, with the front fork also being adjustable for compression and rebound. It also increases the ground clearance from 220mm to 275mm.
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The Hero XPluse 200 is already a very capable off-roader and now with the Rally Kit, it’s even more so. Even with the Rally Kit put on, the XPulse is still a more affordable offroad motorcycle than the Himalayan by nearly Rs 40,000. The XPulse 200 also out does the Himalayan when it comes to sheer off-roading prowess but long distance highway cruising is still expected to be a shortfall of the BS6 XPluse 200.
