Hero MotoCorp readying up bigger-engined Impulse for India

The single pet peeve of Hero Impulse owners in India has been that of the weak 150 cc engine, often found to be inadequate for the terrain that the dual purpose motorcycle is said to be capable of taming. Big-bore turning kits that improve the horsepower rating of the 150 cc-single cylinder four stroke engine are readily available while some enterprising Impulse owners have even managed to shoehorn the larger 223 cc engine from the Karizma, onto the Impulse. Hero MotoCorp seems to be taking note of customer feedback, and a bigger-engined Impulse is in the works. 

According to a quote on the Telegraph, Mr Pawan Munjal, the CEO and managing director of Hero MotoCorp, has stated that the Impulse will get a bigger engine early next year. The motorcycle will be available with two engine options. However, Mr Munjal hasn't revealed the exact capacity or spec of the bigger engine that Hero MotoCorp would outfit the Impulse with. Considering the fact that the only bigger engine that Hero MotoCorp currently has is the 223 cc motor that powers the likes of the Karizma and the ZMR, in different states of tune, it is likely that the 223 cc motor of the Karizma R will make it to the Impulse. 

The 223 cc, four stroke-single cylinder engine powering the Karizma R outputs 19.2 Bhp-19.35 Nm. The latest state of tune that the 223 cc engine features is attributed to Erik Buell Racing, which is a technology supplier for Hero MotoCorp. Comparable figures for the Impulse's 150 cc engine are 13 Bhp-13.4 Nm. Therefore, if Hero MotoCorp does indeed launch the Impulse with a 223 cc engine borrowed from the Karizma R, expect the character of the on-off road motorcycle to be transformed dramatically. The bigger-engined Impulse is likely to feature a higher price tag. 

The Hero Impulse is based on the Honda NXR BROS on-off road motorcycle that is sold in Brazil. The NXR BROS, while featuring a 150 cc four stroke engine, features slightly higher power and torque outputs. The NXR BROS is capable of running on a ethanol-petrol mix, a mandatory requirement in cars and two wheelers sold in Brazil. Also, the 150 cc engine of the NXR BROS is a short stroke unit that revs up much faster than the near square layout of the Impulse's 150 cc engine that's borrowed from the likes of the CBZ Xtreme and the Hunk.