When we went to the launch of Xpulse 200 and 200T, Hero gave us a big surprise. It launched a third motorcycle out of nowhere, which again uses the same chassis and engine. Hero Xtreme 200S made its way in the Indian market as the fourth premium offering from the manufacturer.
For your information, NO, it does not look like Xtreme 200R. Yes, it can somewhat be called as a fully faired version of the naked Xtreme, but still looks a bit sportier. I would like to call it a treat to the eyes as well as your pocket since it comes in affordable at just Rs 98,500 (ex-showroom).
So, we got to ride the Hero Xtreme 200S at the Buddh International Circuit. The right place to try out the motorcycle? Read our first ride review to get the answer!
Design
The muscular sharp edges and the Racy Red colour immediately got my like. It is actually better looking than its other faired bike. What it offers more is the full LED headlamp, which is another sporty bit offered.
The lamp cowl gets position lamps flanked by headlamps on either side. Although, the side portion might slightly remind you of the ZMR. Don’t you think, eh?
A lot of naked street bikes have their faired version with just the front portion integrated. Some look awfully bad, but this actually looks very well planted. I would give more points to the design rather than its engine performance.
Engine Performance and Acceleration
Xtreme 200S uses the same 199.5cc air-cooled 2-valve engine, that comes on the Xtreme 200R. The engine tuning also stays the same, which sort of irked me. The engine delivers 18.1 BHP at 8000 RPM and 17.1 Nm of torque at 6,500 RPM while being mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
LIke its naked street counterpart, the grunt is loaded at the lower end. From standstill to 4000 RPM, there is much-much power delivery on hand. But again, the mid-range is a bit weak, post 4000 RPM. The power delivery goes down a bit and at full-rev, it will take some time to reach your desired speed.
These traits indicate that it is built for the urban commute, where the riders need most of the torque at low RPMs. The occasional speed bursts on empty stretches are appreciated on the Xtreme 200S.
We were able to take the bike up to 105 km/hr, but its top speed stands at 120 km/hr. Being a 200cc motorcycle, it feels easy cruising near triple digits. But, it feels out of breath as it progresses from 100 km/hr to its top speed.
Just like the Xtreme 200R, you will feel desperate want for the 6th gear. Despite being a city-aimed sportsbike, additional gear would be very much appreciated. Another gear would have helped the bike with higher top speed and cruising speed.
A performance-filter is used in the exhaust system, which gave a roaring exhaust note. I found the sound throatier than punchy than the R.
We cannot tell you right now, how it behaves in the real world conditions. For that, you will have to wait for a detailed road test review, which will be coming up soon.
Handling
Here’s a thing that I liked about this bike. Just as I swung my leg over the bike, got it off the stand, I instantly realized its just so light. Tipping the scales at 149 kgs, it glides easily and leans into corners even better. BIC racetrack gave us a good chance to test this, and it surely passed the test with flying colours.
Its flickable nature will be helpful while rushing through the traffic. The 37mm DIA telescopic forks and 7-step preload adjustable monoshock is tuned for a balanced suspension setup.
The riding posture over here is relaxed, with not too rear set footpegs. It uses a single-piece handlebar, which is placed lower. Aggressive riding posture is also easily accessible on the bike.
Good for the daily riding over damaged roads, and also performed well while leaning into corners. Xtreme 200S uses MRF Zapper tires, but with radial design at the back. The grip of the tire was decent, which we will further get to know in our detailed review.
Braking
For braking purposes, a 276mm front disc brake and a 220mm rear disc brake with single-channel ABS are used. The initial bite of the front brake was just about average. The rear disc did not lock up easily and gave me enough confidence.
Verdict
Well, we would call Hero’s latest attempt to bolster the sales in the 200cc segment a good one. Especially, after the poor sales of Karizma, Xtreme 200S with the other 200cc motorcycles might produce some good sales.
The fully faired bike will squarely go against Gixxer SF, which is of the same kind under a Lakh.
But given its performance, I would still take a look at Apache RTR 160 4V. At the same price would you prefer a 150cc Suzuki, a 160cc Apache or a 200cc Hero?
Basically, it is the Xtreme 200R with some clothes, making it look even attractive. The LED headlamps and a new fully digital console make it an even better deal than the Xtreme.
So are you willing to spend around 7,000 bucks more for the fully faired sportsbike?
