Hero Xpulse 200 FI Long Term Review: Introduction

Introduction

The Hero Impulse was a revelation. It single-handedly put me on a dirt track. And after I had spent many months frolicking on dirt, I wanted more power. So much that I almost put my life savings into a proper dirt bike.

Thankfully, the wife prevailed. And I say that because now I have landed myself the Hero Xpulse 200 as my long term. Not only is it way more affordable than a proper dirt bike, but I also don’t need to load it onto a pickup truck to get to a dirt trail either; I can simply ride it there, legally.

As for the power, the Xpulse makes significantly more than the Impulse. And even though the output figures are nowhere as high or terrifying as a dirt bike, it turns out; it is all that I can manage safely. So, it’s all worked out well.

The Bike

Now, to the bike in question. The Xpulse 200 for most buyers would be the only bike in the household. So, it has to be more than just a dirt bike with a number plate. It has to be comfortable on the road and easy to live with; it has to be fuel-efficient and commuter-friendly, and it should be easy to maintain. It should also be able to haul a pillion, and it must never break down.

To find out how it does on all these parameters – and through the thick and thin of life at BikeWale – we have one for the course of many months. And though we will bring you monthly updates on the motorcycles, here is a crash course on what it’s all about.

The Xpulse is heavier than the Impulse. But, it gets a new frame, bigger wheels, fatter tyres, and disc brakes at both ends, all of which have been upgraded to make the former better at on and off-road work. It gets a suite of high-tech features as well; high-tech by 200cc commuter standards, that is.

The air-cooled engine is fuel injected; the head and tail lamps are LEDs; there’s USB charging, and the Xpulse gets a fancy all-digital display as well. We will get to the details regarding each of their respective performance in our upcoming reports, but for now, we are happy with the bike’s seating egos, accessible seat height, and surprisingly light controls, especially the clutch pull.

What’s next?

Next report, we will tell you how the Xpulse is to live with on a daily basis.

Bike Stats

Odometer: 2210km

Kilometers ridden this month: 389km

Fuel Efficiency: 37.4kmpl

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi