Hero Xpulse 210 Review - the friendly dual purpose bike you always wanted

It was seventeen years back when Hero (Hero Honda) answered a long due call from adventure seekers. The Impulse dual-purpose motorcycle took everyone by surprise. But, it wasn't something I could outrightly recommend. Fast forward to 2019 and the Xpulse hit showroom floor - this one was a far better offering and I was happy to see updated iterations over the years, including the latest 4V set-up. But its 'dil mange more' for us Indians and Hero did not disappoint. At the recently concluded Bharat Mobility Global Expo, they launched the Xpulse 210. On paper, it seems like a serious upgrade but is that so? Here's my experience and verdict from the beautiful state of Rajasthan. Don't forget to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and automotive updates.

Punch, delivered

I'll be sure to get to the main point right away. The Xpulse 4V is a great motorcycle stand-alone. But show it a day-long highway stretch, and the bike will complain. With the Indian motorcycling segment having matured in the past few years, most of us want to cruise around the ton mark, even when riding two up with a pillion. The new 210 does just that and still has ample poke left for overtaking faster moving vehicles.

With the throttle pinned, it will even kiss the 140 km/h mark and this is a good 20km/h more than the 4V version. The added 6th gear also ensures good economy and lower revs. For instance, you are sitting at just over 7000rpm at 100km/h mark and at this engine speed, there aren't too many bothersome vibes filtering in from the handle bars or the seat or the pegs. Lovely!

For your reference, here at the top speeds I saw with my weight (100+ kg) on the Xpulse 210
1st : 47km/h
2nd : 65km/h
3rd : 85km/h
4th : 107km/h
5th : 124km/h
6th: 141km/h (before running out of road)

But more than this, its the way the 210 behaves when ridden around countryside roads or twisties. You don't feel the lack of torque in the lower rev band and the extra 30% power output and 20% peak torque does translate into a bike that feels energetic. I could laze at lower revs during the early morning part - 40th in 4th felt easy and so did 50 in the 5th gear. The larger rear sprocket is one of the reasons for this.

We were riding on traffic free mountain roads and with the sun just about coming out from the peaks in the backdrop, the ride was enjoyable. A big reason for this is the fact that 70% of the torque is available to you from as low as 3000rpm.

As the day progressed, I saw the other (wilder) side of the bike - past 7k on the tacho, the Xpulse 210 does feel like an all together different machine - the new engine is that good! And the exhaust note too complements the excitement. Plus, this is a liquid cooled motor - very helpful for the months ahead of us.

And off the road? Well, lets jump to that section now...

Behaves better

Yes, the Xpulse 4V was a great tool in the right hands but the new one is simply phenomenal. The dynamics actually overshadow the powertrain and the frame-suspension set-up could be at home on a engine much bigger and more powerful.

For starters, suspension travel at both the ends has gone up - you now get 210mm of travel up front and 205 at the back. Plus, the forks are bigger now - 41mm as compared to 37mm on the 4V. What does this mean?

I hadn't been off the road for months and yet, the Xpulse 210 infused ample confidence to attack trails in a spirited manner. 80+ on no roads is no joke! And then, a natural off-road section around our lunch spot showcased the Xpulse 210's updated off-roading abilities.

While I did skip the hard-core part, I decided to ride into an unknown broken forest patch only to emerge unharmed. Jokes aside, standing on the pegs, using the 2nd gear torque and simply riding over boulders, shrubs, rocks et al led to an adrenaline rush moment. The switchable ABS also allows the rider to remove rear tyre ABS, thereby locking the wheel for

Back on countryside roads and then the highway run to Udaipur, I loved how the Xpulse 210 felt so comfortable. The point is, a lot of owners might not even use the bike for off-roading but for highway stints or the annual pilgrimage to Ladakh. This is where the bike truly shines. It eats up undulations, the suspension literally floats over broken tarmac and ergonomics are comfortable enough to cross states without a break.

That said, the Xpulse 210 is a tall bike and anyone who is under 5'10" will not be able to place both feet firmly on the ground. But, being a light bike (10% lighter than the next more expensive adventure bike), if you do drop it, picking it up will be manageable.

More kit

The Xpulse 210 has a premium of about Rs 25,000 compared to the Xpulse 4V. For this extra money, Hero is offering not only a more engaging engine but added features too. In comes an assist & slipper clutch, TFT speedometer with more tech, dual channel ABS with 3 modes and a tweaked design. The new Xpulse 210 can also be kitted with official touring accessories including saddle bags, tank bag and hard panniers. Likewise, for those seeking epic levels of adventure, you can purchase knobbies, rally seat, handle bar risers and more! Even the exhaust on the 210 is higher up, thereby allowing you to cross deeper streams if required.

And then there is the unique front bar that allows others to pull you up more quickly if you are stuck! You also get a rear carrier - this felt heavy and should take a lot of load easily. Lastly, the bike also gets a metal bash plate to protect the engine from debris and even rocks. Like before, hand guards and LED lights remain a standard feature - the lights by the way, work very well when its dark outside.

One downside? The 2025 Xpulse 210 will only be sold via Hero's Premia dealerships and their current network is limited!