Hero MotoCorp is quite serious with its ADV motorcycles. With the Hero Xpulse 200 4V, the company opened doors to a new segment. But there was quite a lot of room for Hero MotoCorp to make the bike more ergonomically sound.
Now evolving and learning from the Xpulse 200, the manufacturer has introduced its all-new sibling, the Xpulse 210. The Hero Xpulse 210 is available at ₹1,75,800, which is around ₹25,000 more than the Xpulse 200 4V. The Xpulse 200 4V already ticks all the boxes that one expects from an off-roading machine, so is it worth those extra ₹25,000? Let us explore.
Hero Xpulse 210 – Design
At the front, there is no change in the design. You get the same headlight setup but with LED indicators, dual-tone knuckle guards, and plain black mirrors on the Xpulse 210. The windshield has also been slightly modified, molded into a wider one offering very little difference at higher speeds.
Move towards the side and that’s where you start to notice the difference. The bike features a different tank design, more like a teardrop setup that makes the rider seat more comfortable. This adds an ergonomic plus point. The beak appears attached to the fender under the tank. Upon a brief look, the engine appears right in place, all protected and sturdy.
On the rear half of the side, the Xpulse 210 follows the same design of that upswept exhaust, but here it is quite slimmer and looks more purposeful. At the rear, Hero has managed to maintain the same design as the Xpulse 200 4V, with the difference being that it gets an all-LED setup including the indicators.
Engine and Features
The new Xpulse 210 gets a 210cc liquid-cooled motor. The addition of 10cc helps the motorcycle produce more power and torque: 24bhp of maximum power, which is 5bhp more, and 20Nm of maximum torque, which is an additional 3Nm.
The engine is now mated to a 6-speed gearbox with slip-assist clutch. To keep the temperature down, Hero has incorporated a liquid cooling system.
In terms of features, the biggest change here is the new 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster that displays a variety of information such as ABS mode and trip information. With Bluetooth connectivity, it notifies about calls, and songs can be changed as well.
Ride and Handling of Hero Xpulse 210
The Xpulse series stands out with its Adventure Touring as well as off-roading capabilities. As an off-roader, it has that taller seat height, upright seating posture, rear-set footpegs, and longer suspension travel. This is all standard, but what’s changed is the riding experience.
The Xpulse 200 4V is a buzzing machine; on the highway, anything beyond 5000 rpm will make the bike buzz throughout. It wasn’t disturbing, but it did make the rider a little uncomfortable. Its 200cc engine lacked refinement.
Enhanced Performance and Highway Comfort
But Hero has turned the tables with that 210cc engine derived from the Hero Karizma, its fully faired sibling. It now sits on a new chassis. This engine performs far better on highways and off-roads. It feels more refined, and the pull is linear, unlike the Hero Xpulse 200 4V. Moreover, the Hero Xpulse 210 now gets a liquid-cooled engine that makes quite a lot of difference in the overall riding experience. This comes as a benefit when you are off-roading, especially hardcore off-roading.
Thanks to the different ABS modes and engine refinement, the bike shines on off-road trails. The difference between upgraded torque and the change of rear sprockets can be felt here. As mentioned above, the motorcycle is more linear. The engineers have improved overall acceleration and the balance of throttle and torque.
The suspension was never an issue with the Xpulse 200 4V, and the same goes here; Hero has managed to make the suspension adapt to any challenges thrown at it. Combined with the 21-inch tire and longer suspension travel, the bike is quite agile, especially on tough surfaces.
Switching to tarmac will make you feel the difference in power. The pace that the motorcycle picks up as soon as you open the throttle is when you notice this whole new experience that the Xpulse 210 offers. The addition of a 6th gear makes cruising seamless at 80-100 kph.
What Could Be Better?
Hero mentioned that the Hero Motorsports team made the motorcycle—the same team that designs Hero motorcycles for the Dakar Rallies. With that in mind, we can say the company did an amazing job. The strategy of using the same engine as the Karizma has made the motorcycle a lot better. But there are some changes which could have made the motorcycle even better.
Since the motorcycle now sits on a whole new chassis and gets a new engine, Hero could have paired it with a larger capacity tank for better range. Following that, the seat is narrow; not by much, but a wider seat could make the riding experience a little better, especially on highways.
Furthermore, the 4.2-inch TFT display offers no extra features over the standard LCD. The addition of turn-by-turn navigation or something similar could have justified its tag of ‘Adventure Tourer’.
Take on Hero Xpulse 210
So the answer is yes. That ₹25,000 premium has made a lot of difference. The flaws? No, they are not deal breakers. The Hero Xpulse 210 is an implementation of extensive R&D. It has become significantly better when compared with the Xpulse 200 4V, be it on highways, off-road, or in the city as well.
