Hero Xpulse 200T 4V: Road Test Review

Styling and Quality

Immediately, the Xpulse 200T comes across as a much fresher-looking motorcycle as compared to before. It is a neo-retro motorcycle and has some really cool design touches. The headlight and tank are identical to the Xpulse, but the 200T now gets a bikini fairing. This, along with the cool-looking fork gaiters, gives the 200T some much-needed character at the front. Then, of course, you get Petal discs at the front and rear that make it look extremely sporty. If you notice, Hero has also made sure that the cylinder head is painted red to match the exterior colour of the bike.

Overall this is a smart-looking motorcycle and now looks even better with the new two-tone shades. The only thing that goes against it marginally is that the motorcycle feels compact in dimensions, and with taller or larger riders, it might end up looking even smaller.

The 200T is a well-made motorcycle overall, and one can see that in its cycle parts. However, there is one area that is an eyesore, and that is the switchgear. The plastic quality used for the switch gear feels a little cheap, and that really stands out like a sore thumb. What is also not up to the mark are the markings on the switch gear, which feel like they will get erased in no time at all. Since the switchgear is the most touched and felt part of the motorcycle, we would have appreciated better quality here.

Ergonomics and Comfort

The 200T is a sporty commuter. So you get a flat-ish but high-mounted handlebar and footpegs that are set somewhere in the middle. With a saddle height of just 795mm, the Xpulse 200T is also very accessible for those who are not very tall. So commuting in the city is a breeze thanks to the easy riding position and the low seat height.

But talking about comfort, the 200T has an issue, especially when you talk about the seat. For starters, it feels narrow even for slightly larger riders. So the edge of the seat starts digging in after a short while of riding. Then there is the cushioning. It’s not firm enough, which means the uneasiness is amplified. Overall, the seat leaves a lot to be desired and is something that will have to be altered if one wishes to be comfortable on long rides.

And then we come to the rider triangle. As we mentioned, Hero has tried to give an in-between riding position with the 200T. Basically a mix of sporty and commuter; However, it feels more confusing than ideal. The footpegs are slightly more rear-set than the average commuter riding position but not enough to feel comfortable during spirited riding. And being a little more rear-set is not an ideal commuter riding position either.

Performance and Handling

On the engine front, the Xpulse 200T now gets the 4-valve update that has been available on the Xpulse 200 for a while. Now, this is a tried and tested motor. If it can hold up the punishment dished out to its dirt bike variant, it can definitely take on the urban environment. So how well does it work in the 200T?

The 199.6cc motor isn’t the most refined unit out there, but it’s more buzzy than vibey. Right off the bat, the motor makes a bad case for itself thanks to a fueling issue at slightly under 2000 rpm. At minimal or off-throttle, it gets snatchy, and the jerking can get a little annoying. But once past that, it’s all smooth sailing. With 18.3bhp, 17.35Nm of torque, and just 153kg to lug around, the 200T feels sprightly.

Acceleration is brisk, and even revving the motor to as high as 9000 rpm to have some fun is no issue at all. But fun and games apart, all its power is made under 8000 rpm, and it’s best to keep the engine between 3 to 7000 rpm for optimal performance.

While it’s not a screamer of an engine, its forte is tractability. The 5-speed gearbox has pretty closely stacked gear ratios, and before you know it, you are already hunting for a sixth cog as early as 85kmph. But it’s because of the short ratios and meaty midrange that one does not have to shift gears too much, which is a boon in city conditions.

The 200T will trundle along without hiccups at 25kmph in fifth gear and go all the way up to 120kmph without any issues. Now that is some impressive performance. However, don’t expect blazing performance on the highways, with the 200T definitely better suited for urban conditions.

The 200T gets the same diamond frame chassis as the Xpulse. However, it gets 17-inch wheels, which give it newfound agility. On the suspension front, the 200T gets 37mm front forks that also get a fork brace for better stability. At the rear, the rectangular swingarm is suspended by a 7-step adjustable monoshock. While it’s set up just right, it’s further aided by the grippy MRF Revz tyres. The 200T feels light and extremely flickable, maneuvering through traffic. Going through corners, there is plenty of grip to play with. The footpegs also offer plenty of cornering clearance, so you can really get your lean on.

Coming to the ride quality, The Suspension setup on the 200T is a little on the firm side, but Hero has done a splendid job of getting the damping spot on. The 200T absorbs bumps and potholes with aplomb, and one rarely has to slow down for them. What is impressive is how quickly the bike settles down after hitting a bump and feels extremely stable even on longer stretches of bad roads.

Features and Technology

Getting to the features, the 200T gets a fully digital display which is the same as the Xpulse. The display offers two trip meters, an economy display, Bluetooth connectivity for call alerts, along with turn-by-turn navigation. The LED headlight is now 21 per cent brighter and is definitely improved over the previous bike. As for convenience, you also get a USB charger which is placed under the seat.

Fuel Efficiency

The 200T turned out to be pretty frugal when it came to fuel efficiency. Ridden in moderate traffic, at 60kmph, the 200T returned an efficiency of 43.18kmpl. With a fuel tank capacity of 13 litres, the Xpulse 200T should easily manage over 550km. When used for commuting, this would mean fewer fuel stops.

Should you buy it?

Overall, the new Xpulse 200T comes across as a good motorcycle with more good bits than bad. With the update, Hero has tried to work on certain flaws and tried hard to give the motorcycle its own identity rather than just be a shadow of the more popular Xpulse.

However, the 200T still does not do enough to make it stand out against its much-established competition. The Xpulse 200T is priced at Rs. 1.25 lakh. This goes head-on against the Honda CB Hornet priced at Rs. 1.37 lakh, which is more expensive but feels like a bigger and more premium motorcycle.

The Xpulse 200T then makes sense for those who like everything about the dirt-oriented Xpulse but need a friendlier and more accessible version of it.

Photos by Kaustubh Gandhi