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2025 Hero Xtreme 250R: Observations after a day of riding

20th March 2025, 13:00 by R Patil

You can effortlessly cruise at triple-digit speeds with the engine comfortable chugging along at 6,000 rpm at 100 km/h in the sixth gear. There is ample power in reserve for quick overtakes and the engine continues to pull even at 120 km/h

The Xtreme 250R is powered by a 249 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that puts out 29.5 BHP @ 9,250 rpm and 25 Nm @ 7,250 rpm and comes with DOHC tech. This unit has been derived from the 210 cc engine on the Karizma XMR 210 but gets a longer stroke. While the two engines might look familiar from the outside, Hero has also made updates to the internals in the 250 cc mill on the Xtreme 250R. The engine output figures are right on par with the KTM 250 Duke which boasts similar output numbers (1 BHP more compared to the Xtreme 250R) at identical revs.

To me, the engine is the highlight of the Xtreme 250R's package. It feels more torquey, exciting and characterful compared to one on the Karizma XMR 210. The low-end response is decent but it fully comes to life post 5,500 rpm. There is a noticeable uptick in performance and the engine pulls strongly up to 8,500 rpm. Hero claims the Xtreme 250R to be the quickest in its class with 0-60 km/h and 0-100 km/h times of 3.2 seconds and 8.5 seconds, respectively. I managed to hit 0-60 km/h in 3.6 seconds and 0-100 km/h in 9.1 seconds as per the inbuilt timer on the instrument cluster.

You can effortlessly cruise at triple-digit speeds with the engine comfortable chugging along at 6,000 rpm at 100 km/h in the sixth gear. There is ample power in reserve for quick overtakes and the engine continues to pull even at 120 km/h.

In city conditions, the motorcycle can be easily ridden at 20 km/h in third gear, below which there is slight resistance from the engine. The Xtreme 250R comes with a light slip and assist clutch. I felt the reach for the clutch lever (and even the brake lever) is a bit far, though, and that hinders your ability to shift quicker when riding aggressively. The gearshifts are smooth for the most part but require some effort to downshift during spirited riding.

The weather during our ride was chilly for the most part and the fan mostly remained shut. The time it came on, I noticed minor engine heat on my inner calves, nothing excessive to be a deal-breaker. I feel adding adjustable levers, a quickshifter and a better set of tyres will surely enhance the riding experience of the Xtreme 250R.

Refinement & NVH

Right off the bat, the refinement of this engine is impressive. The motorcycle remains vibe-free until you cross 7,500 rpm. Post this, there are slight vibes felt in the footpegs, but I would classify them as the ones that add to the character of the motorcycle making it feel more lively and engaging to ride. That being said, after riding through bad patches of road later in the day, I could notice slight vibes from the plastics around the fuel tank at high revs. The exhaust has a bassy note and makes people take notice of you riding something exciting.

Suspension & Handling

The Xtreme 250R is underpinned by a steel-trellis frame, suspended by chunky 43 mm USD forks and gas-charged monoshock with six-step preload adjustability. The overall setup is on the firmer side but does a good job of absorbing small bumps. Sharp bumps will register themselves, though, and the ride feels busy on uneven concrete roads. Enter smooth tarmac and the suspension setup shows its capabilities.

The ride at triple-digit speeds is stable. Show it a set of corners and the Xtreme 250R again shines with its ability to hold its line. I did encounter a few mid-corner bumps and while the motorcycle dealt with it with poise, it did slightly throw me off the seat on a couple of occasions. The wide handlebar allows you to make quick direction changes both in the city as well as the twisties. The limited grip from the tyres does hamper the motorcycle's cornering ability, though. We'd strongly suggest that you upgrade to grippier rubber if you intend to push the bike hard in corners.

Braking

The braking setup on the Xtreme 250R includes 320 mm and 230 mm Bybre discs at the front and rear, respectively. While the stopping power is decent, the lack of bite and feel hampers the confidence. Additionally, the lack of grip from the tyres means the ABS kicks in sooner than you expect. This again limits you from making full use of the dynamic capabilities of the chassis.

Closing thoughts

The Xtreme 250R is one of the better products in Hero's stable, something that should gain aspirational value as more people experience it. This is a quality that has been missing from the brand's earlier premium products. The Xtreme 250R has the performance and handling to back its streetfighter looks. All it needs is better finishing, tyres, brakes and a few extra features to complete the package. But that might be difficult for Hero to provide at its current price. That being said, Hero might introduce a higher variant of the motorcycle somewhere down the line.