Hero Xtreme: Long Term Report 2

Hero Xtreme: Long Term Report

The odometer showed 3,100 kilometres when I took charge of the Hero Xtreme and as we speak, the number stands at 4,100 kilometres. Weirdly though, I accumulated a major chunk of these 1,000 kilometres in just two rides over two weekends. While one of these was the routine ride to my home in Raigad, the other was a very interesting trip to Bhandardhara, in Nashik. This ride turned out to be a revelation as it established the Xtreme’s capabilities as a multipurpose tool. But more on that later.

Though it is nowhere as spirited as other 150cc motorcycles, the Xtreme has adequate power to keep my 13 kilometre commute interesting. It has a clean power delivery and abundant low-end torque, which makes crawling through traffic a hassle-free experience. It effortlessly takes on the potholes, speed bumps and all other obstacles that city traffic can throw at you. Add the plush seat to the equation, and you have one of the most comfortable 150cc commuters that you can buy. The only flaw worth mentioning is the notchy gearbox.

However, commutes are not the only things that the Xtreme can take care of. The plush seat and the fairly upright riding position mean that the Xtreme is a very capable tourer too, held back only by its lack of outright grunt. On the ghat sections of Bhandardhara, where the broken roads serve as a competitive stage for Indian Rally Championship, the Xtreme soldiered on without complaining. The suspension dutifully soaked up all the shocks, as if it were dealing with just one of those modest potholes from the urban environment. Even after taking it off-road, the engine served dollops of low-end torque, gently pulling us through mud and slush. Even the pillion I took along to Nashik appreciated the ease with which the Xtreme overcame all the torture, while keeping us comfortable.

On the fuel efficiency front though, the Xtreme hasn’t been very kind to me. While it returned 43kmpl during my weekday commutes, the highway hauls proved to be less economical. The constant belting on the NH17 and the NH3 saw the Xtreme return 39.5kmpl, giving it a real-world range just shy of 480 kilometres.

The Xtreme’s service light has come on, which means that an oil change is in order. Also, the headlamp bulb has stopped working, which is something that I plan to take care on my own.