There are some merchandise that simply do not attraction regardless of having all the fitting components. Take the Hero XPulse 200T for instance. It appears similar to its much more profitable sibling, the Xpulse 200, in a extra accessible package deal. But it by no means actually took off. To counter this, Hero has up to date its road-focused XPulse with a brand new 4-valve engine and added a little bit of visible aptitude to spice up its attraction. With these updates, will the XPulse 200T 4V lastly have the ability to outgrow the shadow of its large brother?
To present you an concept of how a lot the Xpulse 200T has slipped beneath the radar, most individuals who requested me about it wished to know if it was an all-new bike! They’re fairly bowled over once I inform them that this mannequin is on sale since 2019. The brand new colors, particularly the engaging Lime Funk Yellow paint possibility (one among three new colours for this yr), really present the bike with that much-needed pizzazz.
Match and end ranges are respectable, apart from some unpleasant wires behind the LED headlight and a mirror that got here unfastened in simply 500-odd kms of using. Just like the Xpulse, the gear place indicator is sort of slick and goes clean as quickly as you pull within the clutch, making a little bit of undesirable confusion.
For 2023, it will get just a few visible tweaks, reminiscent of a brand new colour-matched entrance visor, which does a great job of streamlining the look of the bike whereas defending the sprint from the weather. The fork gaiters lend the entrance finish some visible mass and it not appears slim. General, these modifications make the Xpulse 200T 4V stand out, and it’s not the unknown commuter that flies beneath the radar.
After utilizing it in and round Mumbai, the place good roads are a rarer sight than a Rolls-Royce, the suspension was put by way of its paces and I am actually completely happy to report that the majority Besides dangerous potholes, the 200T pulled off nearly all the pieces. He got here in his personal means. The suspension (based mostly on the predecessor Xtreme 200R) stays the identical and lacks the lengthy journey figures of the common Xpulse. Its rider triangle is sort of balanced and even after using all day, I didn’t really feel any downside in any of my joints. Nonetheless, what retains you from spending greater than an hour on the bike is the seat, which rapidly turns into uncomfortable and proved too slender for my XL-sized keister.
After using our long-term Xpulse 200 and 200T back-to-back, I noticed what a distinction a 17-inch wheel set-up could make when it comes to lightness and agility. The 200T feels wonderful in nearly each state of affairs you set it in. Whether or not tackling the congested “roads” of Mumbai or navigating your means on a curvy stretch of street, this bike is, in quite simple phrases, comfy to journey.
The brakes are sharp although on Mumbai’s slippery roads, it’s straightforward to lock up the rear wheel (because of the lack of a slipper clutch). The addition of dual-channel ABS would have been welcome too. However, the engaging worth is among the many USPs right here, which is why Hero caught to the straightforward single-channel system.
The brand new 4-valve engine is carried unchanged from the XPulse, save for longer remaining drive gearing (courtesy the 3-tooth shorter rear sprocket), and its sheer portability makes it simpler to journey within the metropolis. Its sturdy mid-range efficiency can be spectacular and there’s no have to downshift for speedy overtaking. The 200T additionally has an Eco mode on the sprint, though, in our time with it, we could not really feel any distinction within the bike’s efficiency.
The gearbox is exact for probably the most half, however there have been occasions once I struggled to search out impartial. One other quirk I seen was that the engine threw off a noticeable quantity of warmth on my proper leg. This might be resulting from the truth that we had been testing a model new bike that was nonetheless on the street, and Mumbai had unusually scorching climate.
Whereas the engine is sort of refined as much as 85/90kph (round 6,500rpm in high gear), past that it feels fairly tense and vibrations begin by way of the foot pegs, tank and handlebar. The engine is sort of small and you will not see something above 120 kmph on the speedo. Regardless of its quick gearing, the 200T 4V returned a decent 44.9kpl (metropolis and freeway mixed).
So who precisely is the XPulse 200T 4V for? For those who plan to get out on the freeway rather a lot or go bombing trails on the weekend, this isn’t the bike for you. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re in search of a snug commuter to deal with your day by day commute and that does not mix into the ocean of two-wheelers, then this one is a powerful contender.
The engine is fairly refined and offers distinctive gas effectivity contemplating its displacement. And whereas it isn’t probably the most profitable providing, it’s engaging at ₹1.36 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The worth tag helps with this. There is no such thing as a pure rival to the 200T 4V, however it sits between the TVS Apache RTR 160 and the 200 4V when it comes to worth and efficiency. The TVS pair have higher end, however they’re not likely comfy for larger riders, which is why the 200T 4V makes a powerful case for itself as your fashionable metropolis bike.