The ever-growing desire amongst rider’s to explore new places has boosted the demand for adventure tourers lately. Until recently, catering to this requirement in a small and affordable package was the Hero XPulse 200 only. But earlier this month, Honda too entered this arena with its new CB200X. Now, the Xpulse and CB200X have their respective strong and weak points and we elaborate on them in this specification comparison.
Design
The Xpulse 200 is clearly the more rugged and purposeful-looking of the two. With a tall stance, large wheels, and minimalistic body panels, the Xpulse looks ready to take on all kinds of terrains. On the other hand, the CB200X looks like a quintessential road-biased tourer. The angular side panels, a compact headlamp, and a tall windscreen collectively make it look similar to the bigger CB500X. While the CB is available only in three colours, the Xpulse comes in a choice of five paint schemes.
Features
Starting with the illumination setup, both bikes get a full-LED headlamp and tail lamp. The Honda looks fancier with knuckle guard-mounted LED indicators, as opposed to the Xpulse’s conventional blinkers. However, the latter has an upper hand with a Bluetooth-enabled LED console that offers a turn-by-turn navigation system. While the CB too gets an LCD, Bluetooth functionality isn’t available. But there’s a minor yet nifty bit in the form of a hazard switch, that’s missing on the Xpulse.
Engine
Powering the Xpulse is a 199.6cc, oil-cooled motor that produces 17.8bhp of power and 16.45Nm of peak torque. The CB200X, meanwhile, shares its 184.4cc, air-cooled motor with the Hornet 2.0 that makes 17bhp and 16.1Nm. The transmission setup includes a five-speed gearbox in both bikes. While there’s a minimal difference in performance numbers, the CB200X has a substantial weight advantage. Tipping the scales at 147kg, it is around 10kgs lighter than the Xpulse.
Hardware
Being more inclined towards adventure riding, the Xpulse is equipped with a 21-18-inch spoke wheel combination, unlike the CB200X’s 17-inch wheels at both ends. Even the suspension travel at the front and rear is substantially more in the Xpulse. Although, the CB gets more premium upside down forks up front. As for the braking hardware, both bikes remain identical here with a 276mm disc at the front and a 220mm rotor at the rear.
Pricing
Hero has pegged the Xpulse 200 at Rs 1.21 lakh. The Honda CB200X is way more expensive at Rs 1.44 lakh (both prices are ex-showroom, Delhi). Although the CB200X looks modern and sportier, the Xpulse 200 is a more practical package for several reasons.
