Hero Xpulse 200 4V Pro – Road Test Review

Styling and Quality

The standard Xpulse 200 4V and Pro version look identical in terms of styling, with a round LED headlight, transparent visor, upswept exhaust, small tail rack, and slim single-piece seat. However, the Pro model stands out with its exceptionally tall stance, thanks to the long travel suspension. Furthermore, it dons a striking white, red and black paint scheme with a red colour engine head casing, which adds a nice touch to the overall black setup.

On the quality front, the Hero Xpulse 200 4V does a decent job. It gets a lot of plastic all over which makes sense when you plan to ride a motorcycle of this kind off-road and the odds of dropping it are high. The panels have a decent amount of flex and shouldn’t burn a deep hole in your pocket if they were to be replaced. However, we feel the bike still has areas of improvement just like before. One of them is the switch-cube quality and its packing. We rode the Xpulse 200 Rally in the rain and the engine kill switch, as well as the headlight switch, would malfunction often and needed to be pressed multiple times to take the right command. While the instrument console didn’t show any major signs of moisture accumulation, the screen still got foggy at times which made it difficult to read the numbers.

Ergonomics and Comfort

The rally setup on the Xpulse 200 Pro changes the ergonomics significantly. While your seating posture remains upright with the handlebar well under your reach and the footpegs properly center-set, the seat height that makes a huge difference. With a seat height of 891mm, as against the standard model’s 825mm, you'll be seated higher than most sedans and some SUVs. So, the distant view is quite clear, commanding and relatively easier to get a glance of. Now, if you were to stand up on the footpegs, that would probably make you seem the tallest rider out there and thanks to the handlebar risers, you won’t need to bend forward to get additional leverage. But with such a tall height comes the task of tip-toeing. I’m 5’10” and had to tip-toe every time I rode the Xpulse 200 4V Pro. But you get acquainted with it over time and find the balance point as well by shifting your weight to either side when riding in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Speaking of comfort, the Xpulse’s seat is narrow so you can put your feet down easily. But that compromises the comfort a bit. If you are commuting on this bike and riding it anywhere between 25-30km, then the seat’s slimness won’t be noticeable. It gets evident only once you are on the saddle for more than an hour but again, the stand-up ergonomics are comfortable enough for you to get on the pegs for a minute, catch some air and be back with your bottom on the seat.

Performance and Handling

The Pro version shares the same 199cc single-cylinder oil-cooled motor as the standard Xpulse 200 4V, producing 18.9bhp and 17.35Nm. The engine is well suited for commuting as it packs a nice punch in the lower revs, accelerates gradually but quickly, and isn’t intimidating. You can even manage to be around mid-range in the city without the motor feeling sluggish or gasping for more gas. However, it lacks top-end performance, feeling out of character and uncomfortable at higher revs. Although the engine can do above 100kmph, it isn’t the ideal speed or even something that feels natural to the bike. So, if you are planning to keep the Xpulse 200 4V Pro as a do-everything, go-everywhere bike, then the touring aspect may not feel up to the mark.

But if you are a newbie to off-roading, then the Xpulse 200 4V Pro is what could be an ideal choice. Firstly, the power and its delivery won’t scare the wits out of you in case you give the bike a little too much gas and the rear tyre starts slipping more than you want to. The bike is light enough to pick up easily if you were to drop and there isn’t a lot to break on it since the build is quite simple. Plus, there are three ABS modes, which means you can learn and progress gradually before turning the ABS completely off while training in the mud and or rocky terrain.

The gear shifts need a little extra effort since the lever setup is longer than usual to accommodate ADV boots. So, if you are planning to ride it in your regular shoes then the gear and rear brake lever will need a conscious input and you might even witness a false neutral at times.

The Xpulse 200 4V’s handling has always been on the lazier side due to its 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheels. The setup isn’t the most agile one but it offers stability at high speeds and the ability to jump or ride over potholes, small to medium-sized rocks, and even speed breakers without budging. You may not even need to slow down as the long travel suspension absorbs all the bumps without sending any jolts to the other end. Oh, did we tell you it is fully adjustable? Yes, a commuter/beginner motorcycle with adjustable front forks and monoshock. But we left it as it was because the default setting felt just fine. But as we mentioned earlier, flat footing on the Xpulse 200 Pro version is difficult unless you are six foot plus. Moreover, for how tall and high you sit, the balance feels slightly off and you would find yourself steering it right and left very often in crawling traffic. The tall stance has affected the center of gravity and balancing the bike at low speeds gets tedious.

Features and Technology

The Hero Xpulse 200 4V Pro comes with a decent list of features. It gets an LED headlight, a fully digital instrument console, three ABS modes (road, off-road, and rally), a USB charging port, and smartphone connectivity. The latter gives you access to turn-by-turn navigation. These are some essential and handy features that a commuter bike should ideally have as they add to the convenience of it.

Fuel Efficiency

Similar to the standard model, the Xpulse 200 4V Pro version returned a fuel economy of 32kmpl. This should give it about 416km of range. But these figures could vary with your riding style and the conditions as well.

Should You Buy It?

If we were to list down the positives of the Hero Xpulse 200 4V Pro, there are quite a few. It is a lightweight and peppy commuter with enough power at the lower end to keep you happy throughout. The commanding vision with the tall stance makes it extremely easy to navigate through the traffic. With ample suspension travel you don’t have to worry about chopping speed when riding over potholes, speed breakers, or even bridge joints. Plus, it is adjustable so you can always tweak how the springs respond if you plan to learn off-roading.

With the bare minimum bodywork, there’s not a lot to break if you drop it, which is bound to happen when riding in the dirt or loose surfaces. The upright seating posture is quite comfortable and the seat itself has enough room for you to move around. The availability of ABS modes and smartphone connectivity is a nice touch making the Xpulse 200 4V Pro even more convenient to live with.

However, we feel the engine needs another gear to make the most of its performance at the higher revs. The current setup limits the top-end character and makes the engine very buzzy as well as longing for breath. The build quality and packing could improve as we noticed some switches malfunctioning and cluster too collecting moisture on the inside.

Overall, the Xpulse 200 4V Pro costs just Rs. 8,000 more than the base model and offers superior hardware, more usability, and the same performance. We even give it bonus points for the uber-cool red and white paint scheme. So, should you spend Rs 1.55 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) on the Hero Xpulse 200 4V Pro? Definitely!

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi