In the years to come, the Xpulse will be discussed by many at length. It’s a good bike, something one would like to be regularly riding sans any worries.

BHPian tatafanatic recently shared this other enthusiasts.

Prelude:

An adrift rumor in the campus was some olives were garnering undue attention from the ‘other side’ when they went about tromping their bikes, this was unacceptable!! I mean if jumping from helo’s, getting cramped into rakshaaks and being ridden in ambulances didn’t pump our adrenaline enough the above most definitely did, we needed to make an impact and we needed to do it fast so we got ‘Chetaks’ and them all in maroon.

Not sure how much impressing I managed with the ‘other side’ but 6 years of ownership saw me and my Chetak go from Udhampur to Kohima, Jodhpur to Bangalore and once in spirit of adventure I took my newlywed wife from Bangalore to Guwahati. The scooter stood test of time and so did my marriage thanks to almighty!! Oh once we 5 buds rode our respective Chetaks from New Delhi to Thimphu!! That was something indeed.

In test of time, I was on deputation in Israel when my superior one Col. Benny G introduced me to the world of motorcycling, Col. G had two mint conditioned Triumph Tigers, one of which he graciously lent to me for my entire period of deputation, and in no time myself, my wife, Col. G and Mrs. Capt G became biker buddies. I vowed to get myself a Triumph one day but in hustle bustle of uniform life that followed, those vows remained a distant dream.

PS (I motorcycled entire Israel and then Jordan on the Tiger, how I managed to enter Jordan was another story but that’s classified!!, even for the Jordanians !!)

Revisiting my vows:

The day I hanged uniform for good I was all set to go for the Tiger, by now Triumph had made good in India. I had a few buddies with Triumph’s who sang praises like a canary. But then a medical complication happened, surgery followed, lengthy recuperation followed which killed the enthusiasm of becoming a biker with several restrictions on plate and hawkeyed wife keeping tabs. The best thing of the recuperation process was ‘CYCLING’ (last week we 7 pals returned cycling 2210 kms across Northeast India, more on that when I pen my travelogue).

As recuperation ended my wild travel fantasies returned from hibernation and I was all set to get wild pair of wheels, post much research and guidance from knowledgeable members on this forum the Isuzu Highlander was shortlisted, I paid the deposit and was awaiting delivery when one of my ex CO’s from maroons came visiting, post retirement he had consumed his life for welfare of veterans and as we got talking the financial crunch he was facing came evident, did some pondering and went back and forth over more pondering and cancelled the Isuzu deal (with deep appreciation I must say the dealer not only returned my deposit money but gave me cheque of 3k for veteran welfare!!) with the money for the vehicle now put to good use in able hands I got to cycling, cycling bought back the old flavor for two wheels and after a good time the brain began playing mischief so the below.

The Xpluse story:

It was clear whatever two-wheeler I’d get would be second fiddle to cycling so Triumph option was shot down. I have disdain for Royal Enfield and its brethren, albeit two of my seniors are avid RE riders, even in prime of their career they dumped official paraphernalia traveling to work and around on REs, when bike predicament was shared with them, they tried their best to sway me towards the Himalayan and if not for my diabolic disdain the Himalayan would have graced my garage as it’s a very competent machine.

The usual suspects and unusual super ‘hero’ (bike had to be an Indian brand)

Bajaj Dominar 400 – If the Chetak could travel pan India in 90’s of India then Dominar could even go to the moon I thought after a patient ear to the sublime explanation by the Sales guy, didn’t understand a word but loved the test ride, the bike fit perfect to my frame, wife hated the pillion seat though. Was keen on it but devil is in the numbers, the sales of the bike didn’t impress me much plus the Sales rep was honest enough to tell finding good hands in town and district for running maintenance was a task. Kept this option on hold

Mahindra Mojo – Chances of me encountering a Yeti in the Himalaya’s are more then scouting an operating dealership.

Jawa & Yezdi – Found them half-baked attempts made to dent RE market, I might be wrong but i didn’t really find them worth the ask in monetary terms.

TVS Sadle – Only good thing coming from the TVS dealership was the sales rep telling me to check out the Xpluse as he’d just quit Hero dealership coming to TVS in search of greener pastures!!

Hero Xpluse - From Triumph to Isuzu still has some ring to ears but from there to Hero definitely doesn’t, didn’t and won’t but I am a telling the tale, the 200 2V was disappointment as it just didn’t ring the bells of possible ownership, here I must thank the sales rep who requested me to hang around for the 2004V which was as per him free of all the niggles of the 2V and to be launched just on the anvil. That tip did me world of good.

The Xpulse:

No drama, no hoopla. The dealer gave a date, the bike arrived on the date, I took the delivery rode it to a temple of choice, took the Almighty’s blessings and Hail Mary.

Its been 4k kms of riding experience and my words of wisdom are:

The Goods:

• Smooth, nuisance free engine – As preparation rep for our Northeast cycling sojourn we 4 buddies cycled over 300kms every weekend alternating at every 150km mark, the Xpluse came as the alternate transport and after good amount of time spent on it, the bike came across as fuss free and smooth rider, has a good low grunt (albeit the engine stalls at very low speed), a decent mid-range and satisfactory high pitch (my go to speed in the hills and around is 70kmph).
• Competent braking - The odd fools come from every direction unannounced and in some urgent braking scenarios the bike gave competent response, on one occasion I had to hard brake on wet roads in crazy mountain rain’s, but it worked well.
• Easy on pockets – Now my go to speed is 70kmph so I get a good 52kmpl, I have heard some have managed better and some poorer but mean stands at 45-48kmpl, so I guess its borderline frugal. Maybe in today’s world anything below 50kmpl is crime but that’s what one pays in name of enthusiasm by cutting corners elsewhere. Spares are easy on pockets too.
• Headache free service – One good thing from Hero stable is sans drama service, if it works well in a hilly region of North India, I assume it would be better in metro’s and bigger cities, I also see a good number of models on road, so I assume the service part has been sorted by the manufacturer.
• Good built – For a dirt bike the calling is good, the body parts don’t shake when you rough it out, holds well, nothing comes falling in the harness post a ride in the hills, the machine is good fitment for purpose.
• Head turner – In the years to come, the Xpulse will be discussed by many at length. It’s a good bike, something one would like to be regularly riding sans any worries.

The Not So Goods:

• Headlight – Pathetic, the throw is horrible the reach is sad and it’s like Madam Currie walking down the stairs with a candle situation in the nights, I changed them with Nighteye. (Was changed by a member from cycling gang who runs auto accessories store, so I don’t know specifications but the throw and illumination is powerful and good).
• The missing middle stand – just as road cycles don’t have a side stand, I was told dirt bikes don’t have a middle one, now I have dropped my road bike many times thanks to being forgetful about the missing stand here I remind myself daily that it’s no use shaking my leg underneath the bike searching for the middle stand. Not a deal braker probably the competition does the same however taking the bike out from tough spots requires strength.
• Where’s neutral – another constant niggle is juggling to find the neutral. It’s tiring, irritating and at times unnerving, we are now in 2022, Cochin Ship Yard constructed INS Vikrant and Hero motors are still struggling to make a bike which sits highest in asking to get correct neutral. Pretty sad state of affairs from their engineering, however the local mechanic says he will get that sorted soon.
• The electronics display – I am too old and fussy for downloading an app and making amends considering all I want is simple display but that’s what one gets today in name of technology, the toggle switches on the display panel are outright cheap plastic and could have been better, however the illumination of the display unit is good and not imposingly bright. I am not sure what the front plastic visor does as it’s just a cosmetic feature at best.
• The Pillion comfort saga – coming from saddle of a road cycle absolutely anything with cushion is heaven but pillions who’d join me found the seat lacking comfort over say 50odd kms, probably a cushion seat cover will resolve the issue.
• Some odd pockets - In last two pics i have marked them areas where one needs to put an effort to clean, normally after ride in rains water stagnates in those nooks and crannies and i have punched a hole beneath for water to flow out
• Recommendation – Definite Yes.

Its pocket friendly at an asking price of 1.67 lakhs which is a lakh or so cheaper than the Himalayan and more coffers v/s the Duke 390 Adventure or Suzuki Vstrom 250, the saving in buying cost are substantial.

Its nimble to ride, doesn’t cause stress and doesn’t need calculus whilst overtaking, has good grip with tyres and competent braking mechanism, fitment to purpose sake it’s a very good attempt from Hero and I think it will get them good returns, I have read a bigger version with higher engine capacity is coming soon so could be something worth waiting.

Hero Motors service is headache free; I have heard tales of trouble from Bajaj and TVS owners, and I have had a wonderful experience so far with Hero motors. Maybe they learnt it right from the Japanese.

Not looking at any cosmetic changes barring a better seat cover or seat itself. A long ride to the national capital is on anvil so some more biking will happen. Till then it’s all roger.

No interesting anecdotes here but plenty on the cycling sojourn of North East which hopefully I will pen down soon and trust would be a good read as we had lots of fun and blast cycling in utmost treacherous conditions questioning our preparation apparatus of 4 odd months, as they say ‘Man proposes God disposes’!!

Some parting pics:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I am looking for a bike or scooter that can do tarmac runs and carry me to Ladakh or Spiti without a pillion and minimal luggage.

BHPian SidharthaN recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am a 44 year old, working professional based out of Delhi/NCR, have a cervical shoulder, and lower back, with slowly developing arthritis in the knees. Five feet eight inches and eighty kilos of weight.

My current ride is a 2016 RE TB UCE at 1,20,000 kms on the odo. The bike still runs till 80 without any major issues, except the pick up has slowed a bit, and vibrations have increased over the kms.

Some background on my touring. Started with a RE TB AVL for 50,000kms sold and got a P220 which was used for 30,000 kms and finally my RE TB UCE at 1,20,000kms. I would say city vs highway usage currently stands at 80/20 ratio.

However am looking to bring a new vehicle to the stable. My RE is aggravating my spondylitis and am not confident if I can venture out on the highways with it now. I know I will be advised to shift to a 4 wheeler and quit riding, but is like leaving a long standing addiction to smoking, just not have been able to give up biking altogether over the years.

My requirements are comfort to my ageing torso; I keep speeds between 80-90kmph on highways. Am looking for a vehicle which can do the tarmac and probably carry me to Ladakh/Spiti this year without pillion and minimal luggage.

Budget is 1,80,000 INR max

My shortlisted vehicles:

Hero XPulse 200 4V - This meets my requirements of upright seating, good suspension, a top end which I will have no problem with. Cheap to maintain, with hopefully available spares, and Hero not axing the model with the upcoming 300 ADV. Also in my budget. I test rode the vehicle for 1-2 kms and found it quite comfortable. The fly in the ointment is will the engine last till 1 lakh kms as my TB and we actually do not have any long ownership reports of the 200 4v.

Pulsar N160 - The latest breed of pulsars. Have owned the OG definitely male pulsar, along with the 1st gen DTSI, and a P220 down the line. Have been associated with Pulsar's for long. This seems to be a sporty commuter with advanced features and a top end of 80 kmph and definitely better tractability in the city. The slightly sporty posture is something I am not sure my knees can take in the long runs, and can the engine be stressed continuously at 90 kmph over extended time. You tube has gaga reviews of the N and F series pulsar's, but have not seen any on the roads. My budget permits till the 250's, but what is the future of these latest gen pulsar's

I am also open to looking at scooters for touring. I am a big fan of maxi scooters but that segment will be lukewarm in our country. Keeway Vieste is a good product but atrociously priced, and was destined for failure with the pricing. The convenience of gearless with adequate power is the perfect combination for cities and highways. My choices in this category.

Yamaha Aerox - Fits the bill for power with the 150 R15 mill and can keep 80-90 on the highway without getting stressed. The small tank range vs the power is a deterrent. Also have not seen a single Aerox in Delhi/NCR or anywhere much pan india, even at the dealers. What is the future with sales and spares of this model. Lack of parts availability and long term support might be an issue.

Vespa 150 - Am a sucker for retro looks and the Vespa's get you weak on the knees (which in my case will be wobbling soon). The 150's seem to have the max power and a tank range of 7 liters. Can cruise at 80 on the highways with sustained breaks. Have never ridden one so am not sure on the comfort. Will be a boon for the city and highways combined. Price is definitely on the higher side.

Aprilia SR and SXR 160 - The SR though having power has extremely stiff suspension as per feedback, have not ridden one, but has the power to pull on the highways, comfort goes for a toss. SXR is the stylish version with added comfort and same characteristics. Do not see much on the roads so same issues of long term spares availability and reliability. Also priced higher.

Suzuki Burgman - Definitely not a maxi scooter, but a wannabe, however the comfort factor seems good. Again have not ridden it, but had owned a 1st gen Access, hence can guess the power characteristics. A normal 125 scoot, will be out of breath on highways, but the streched out seating is a temptation.

If anyone has long term experiences on these vehicles kindly share. I am not planning to sell the TB and will be using it till it falls apart. I know the TB can still do what I want, but am looking at a better comfort option, with maybe slight reduction in speed.

Here's what BHPian drt_rdr had to say on the matter:

Considering your requirements, I'd say get a bike with ergonomics that put you in all-around control of the bike: upright seating and neutral placed or slightly rearset pegs.

I personally find sitting upright is just a more conducive position for relieving various stresses while riding longer distances.

And neutral peg position would allow you to stand up or slightly lift yourself with ease to avoid hits from bad road conditions. The forward set pegs on cruisers makes the sitting posture very comfortable, but also makes it difficult to lift yourself to save your back\butt over bad roads or dirt.

So, I see 3 good options for you within your budget.

Xpulse 4V> This seems to be a trial-and-error platform for Hero, but they've been making confident strides with every update. Unless I put it to the rigours of competition, I don't think I'd be worried about the engine on this. Hero's 5-year warranty is also there.

The sloping seat has been an issue for me on this and the Impulse. But you can get the flat seat from the rally kit to save you some hassles if you can handle the extra height.

Pulsar 250 N> I never liked the DTSi era pulsars and never expected to like any pulsar, but the 250 ended up getting me to respect Bajaj after checking it out and testriding a few kms. It seems to be a thoughtfully made bike with just the right compromises.

This is a low-tech bike featuring technology Bajaj is extremely familiar with. So, personally, I'd not worry much about on this. Suspension and brakes felt excellent for our road conditions. And unlike the other 250s nakeds, the seat is not sloped. I think, ergonomically, the only thing wanting on this is a taller handlebar for an easier reach.

Ronin> Seems to fit your requirements almost as if tailormade. The downside is it's a new product, but it looks like a confidence inspiring effort by TVS. Seems like they went all in on this and it shows in the robust-looking build and refined ride quality.

The seating position is very comfortable. The footpeg is slightly forward set. It's not cruiser-like, but doesn't offer a good position for standing up either. But it felt good enough for easily getting yourself off the seat momentarily if need be. I think the soft seat and the fairly soft suspension will mitigate that need quite a bit though.

Since you were also looking for the convenience of a scooter, this offers that to some extent with the promise of needing minimal gear changes because the torque is spread evenly all across the revrange and you can pick up from very low speeds even in higher gears.

Here's what BHPian SoumenD had to say on the matter:

The Hero Xpulse is tailor-made for your requirements. Hero engine should last long enough without much hassle, they aren’t very high compression/complicated as such. For long ownership you will have to wait for few years but if reviews till now are to be believed, this bike is everything you need.

Don’t worry about not seeing the Yamaha Aerox in NCR. This scoot sells aplenty down in Bangalore and other cities. Its a fun bike to ride but is stiff again to certain extent as per reviews. Plus the 5L tank range really limits its highway usability.

Do take an extended test ride of the Xpulse 4v by renting it out and check if it suits your back. If yes, go for it. There’s hardly any bike in market which is such tremendous VFM.

Here's what BHPian deep_bang had to say on the matter:

I have some back and hip joint issues for quite some time and I found that bikes are many times better than scooters in general due to larger wheels, and usually better suspension travel. So, I feel you should not go towards the scooter side.

However, if the need is for short drives only, while keeping the TB for longer rides, the scooter still works, in my humble opinion.

Here's what BHPian SS80 had to say on the matter:

Bikes mostly have 17" & higher size wheels which are good at absorbing the road bumps and feel easier on hips especially if you ride on potholes like the ones we see in Bangalore.

I don't know if others agree, no mono-shock bike can effectively absorb shocks like the dual shocks we find on commuter bikes, usually, they are stiff even on their softest setting. This is one of the reasons why I will not suggest any scooter to you - smaller wheels and single shocker in the rear.

I have used the following bikes extensively - unicorn dazzler(mono shock), discover 100 (5speed) nitrox suspension, activa(10" wheels), wego (12" wheels), Electra and lastly I am now with ct110 with SNS suspension.

Nothing absorbs potholes like my current ride, feels plush and is worth every penny, I am 33 and no longer have the urge to ride fast, although I do like riding long distances

• Buy a bike with the following features
• Dual shocks in the rear
• Preferably a new bike
• Avoid touring/tall bikes if your height is not sufficient
• Although Xpulse looks great when new, try checking out how impractical it is as a commuter and also the condition of the bike deteriorates after sometime.
• Add extra cushion to the seat and a modified (removable) backrest for long rides like Ladakh.

For a tarmac rider, Xpulse will be an overkill.

Here's what BHPian RT13 had to say on the matter:

Scooters - for anything much more than grocery runs they are a terrible idea for anyone with even a slightly dodgy back (such as yours truly who struggles with one too), let alone someone with spondylitis and oncoming arthritis. You need decent suspension trace and excellent ergonomics. Even the best maxis won’t beat a motorcycle in those departments. The Aerox is a phenomenal product but I think you’ll still pay the (health) price over distances.

The Xpulse seems the most optimal choice although I personally am not sure whether the build quality is good enough to age well over 1 lakh kms. Not the engine so much as all the plastics panels, wheels and so on. I’d say keep your expectations modest and you’ll be fine. There’s now a long travel rally version of it which might be even better for your needs.

Having said all of which, given your particular requirements, you may be best off finding a lightly used Honda CBR250 - wonderful ergonomics, beautiful engine, bombproof build quality and hallmark Honda reliability. You’ll spend half the money up front, and keep the rest for any part swapping over time. And even if it lasts you just half the miles (it’ll do much more and quite easily I’m sure), you can re-evaluate options a few years down the line.

Other options may be from the new RE Hunter lineup or the TVS Ronin, although I’d never be an early adopter of any RE product in all honesty.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Rally Kit has to be purchased separately with the XPulse 200 4V, which costs Rs. 1.36 lakh (ex-showroom).

Hero MotoCorp has launched an off-road kit for the XPulse 200 4V, priced at Rs. 46,000.

The Rally Kit includes a preload-adjustable cartridge-style front fork offering 250 mm of travel and a preload-adjustable rear mono-shock with 220 mm of travel. The new suspension gives the bike a ground clearance of 275 mm.

The XPulse 200 4V equipped with the Rally Kit gets a flatter seat, taller risers, a longer gear lever and a side stand.

Powering the bike is the same 199.6cc, single-cylinder engine that makes 18.9 BHP @ 8,500 rpm and 17.35 Nm @ 6,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

Braking is handled by a 276 mm front disc and a 220 mm rear rotor equipped with single-channel ABS. The bike rides on spoked rims shod with knobbly Maxxis tyres.

The bike is likely to be kitted out with adjustable rally suspension and off-road tyres.

Last month, details of the Hero XPulse 200 4V Rally Edition were reported in the media. Now, the first images of the bike have leaked online.

The new variant of the XPulse 200 looks like a proper dirt bike. It appears to be kitted out with adjustable rally suspension and is fitted with off-road tyres. The long-travel suspension has raised the bike’s ride height and hence the new side stand.

In these images, the XPulse 200 Rally Edition can be seen sporting a new paint scheme with the familiar Hero MotoCorp factory team colours.

Powering the XPulse 200 Rally Edition will be the same 200cc, single-cylinder engine. It makes 18.9 BHP and 17 Nm and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

Source: Rushlane

The bike will feature longer travel suspension, raised handlebars and off-road tyres.

According to a type approval document, Hero MotoCorp plans to introduce a ‘Rally Kit’ for the Xpulse 200 4V. It is likely to be called the Rally Edition.

As per the document, the Rally Edition measures 2,255 mm in length and its wheelbase is 1,427 mm. The bike will feature longer travel suspension, raised handlebars and off-road tyres.

The Xpulse 200 4V Rally Edition will be powered by a 199.6cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine producing 18.9 BHP @ 8,500 rpm.

Reports suggest that the off-road components will be offered as a kit for the standard bike.

Source: Bikewale

I can confidently say that I would take the Adventure over the current Royal Enfield Himalayan. And as for the Scrambler, it stole my heart.

BHPian petrolhead_neel recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My pick from today? The one with my lid on it!

The local Jawa-Yezdi dealership asked me if I would be interested in riding the new Yezdis off-road and volunteering for an event for them. I am not being paid, but I have full access to the Scrambler and the Adventure for two days. Today, I rode them for the first time. Here's what I think.

The Yezdi Adventure

I hated the design when it came out (so uninspiring, copying elements from the Himalayan, X). Motorcycles mean a lot more to me than just how they are technically, and something like the Adventure will never appeal to me. That said, it impressed me today. I was reluctant to ride it at first, preferring to spend my time with the Scrambler. When I did hop on it, my feelings changed. I still don't love it, but it's a very competent motorcycle. I have ridden a Himayalan extensively (and loved it, mostly). However, I can confidently say that I would take the Adventure, with no character and design language, over the current Himalayan (especially with all its issues). The Adventure has been tuned to be as impressive on-road as well, and I didn't even try that today. In terms of feel, it's very similar to the Scrambler. It seemed to be lacking the initial punch, it feels a bit more tedious in technical sections, the brakes were mushier on the one I tested... but that's mostly it. I am not a fan of the busy cockpit and this isn't the best bike ergonomically when riding off-road. Bad roads, flowy trails, mixed pavement tours should feel amazing. It does seem to heat up more than the Scrambler, but it's all very manageable. I did stall it a couple of times (the Scram didn't).

The Yezdi Scrambler

The Scrambler stole my heart. I got off my XPulse, had a good look and turned it on with very standard expectations. It surpassed all of them and how! It took me two minutes to get comfortable with it, and then it was all throttle wide open. I rode through deep sand, gravel, went into ditches and took jumps. The bike did not stutter once. You ride a wave of torque as this Yezdi glides through everything. It carries its weight very well, I had no problems in leaning the bike almost as much as the XPulse when doing 0s and 8s. I have ridden a modified Himalayan with competition level Pirellis and the Scrambler had more grip.

The front suspension is on the stiffer side, and you do need to stand up if you want to ride any sort of an off-road trail. There isn't a lot of room to move around like the Himalayan but if you do get the standing right, the bike feels one with the body. Ground clearance was a little bit of an issue, but I was probably pushing it more than what it's designed for.

This is me on the Scrambler. Unfortunately, the only time that they got it on camera is when I endo-ed it. Recovering from this wasn't too much of an issue. The bike landed on its nose, maintained its stride and went on to the next ditch a few feet away.

The engine is great. It picks right up from the low end (especially on the Scrambler) and delivers power very linearly. Until the midrange, the vibrations are very controlled. Past that, if you gun it, you will feel it in the pegs and the bar, but it doesn't mind being revved out. Gearshifts are very precise and smooth, but shifting on the fly was difficult with MX boots. I was riding the Scram like I ride my XPulse.

We went all out on these bikes today for an hour and a half, and even though it's way too early to even start a discussion on reliability, the bikes seem very well made.

The Scrambler has my heart. The Adventure comes very close, but the design ruins it for me. These bikes aren't posers. They can scramble and adventure.

I get to spend more time with them tomorrow (other riders will be coming in to test them off-road and I will be one of the riders guiding them) and I am so excited. I will pen down another post once I have collected all my thoughts and have ruminated over them.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Hero MotoCorp launched the Xpulse 200 4V in October & with my consent, the booking was converted for the new model.

BHPian shaikhmimran recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The Hero Xpulse 200 4V was launched on October 7, 2021. It has been many weeks since the much-awaited motorcycle was made available. Or was it?

I booked the Xpulse on 6th September at, perhaps, Hero's largest dealer in Bangalore - Sai Hero. However, there was a waiting period & I understandably didn't get the bike. Then the 4V was launched & naturally my booking was converted with my consent for the new model. As per the dealer, I am now first in line to receive the vehicle.

As per my last call to the dealer, I was told that there had been no dispatches to any southern states since launch and the motorcycle will be made available in Jan'22 or Mar'22. This takes the gap between the launch and availability to a whopping 3 to 6 months! Be it a launch strategy to test out the bike in certain geographies or a result of the ongoing semiconductor shortage, this leaves a lot of unanswered questions.

Why is a mass production 200 cc motorcycle from India's largest 2W maker not available in South India? I am yet to see a single bike on Bangalore roads.

If Hero knew how the supply situation would be tight, was it fair to its customers to go ahead and launch the motorcycle which cannot be supplied?

Why has no one from Hero put up a public update or one on one communication on the supply situation to their waiting customers?

As an enthusiast motorcyclist & staunch supporter of affordable adventure motorcycling, I am utterly disappointed with the experience.

Here's what BHPian AtheK had to say about the matter:

We both are in the same boat, though I consciously decided to pick the bike in 2022 so pushed my decision to book the bike, and if it is available by Jan 2022, it will be great.

That said, I concur with your view. These days all launches have generally become a farce, sad to see Hero going the same path. Hopefully, the bikes will come by Jan and not March.

Here's what BHPian SoumenD had to say about the matter:

Yes, there’s no supply to South India. There’s this video on YouTube where a guy travelled all the way from Mangalore to Gurgaon to get his Xpulse 200 4V. Being there first is a race on YouTube these days for gaining traction on the channels, probably, that’s why the guy took all the pain.

Here's what BHPian neil.jericho had to say about the matter:

Quite an appalling situation! What I have heard is that the deliveries in Kerala might begin only by the end of December 2021.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Considering the Hero Xpulse 200, but confused between the 2V and the upcoming 4V version.

BHPian iamahunter recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Coming straight to the point. I inherited a 10-year-old Honda Unicorn after my father's demise.

It’s been some time and now the unicorn has started giving out some issues. Minor issues such as starting the bike first time of the day. Runs perfectly after that, but starting the bike is a time consuming and sweaty task; generally, the ones which we do not need at the start of the journey. This is mildly irritating.

For some time now I have been contemplating replacing the unicorn with another commuter bike. Something that can do a quick grocery run, night ice-cream rides with the kiddo, take us to the nearby family meets and the office runs.

I am sure the ones who are reading will be - Activa! Right? Yes, exactly what my mind came down to as well, it’s easy! But it’s not!

So last month we did get an Activa for my Mom and I had to drive it to her place. It’s a quick 15 km ride from my place, so after taking the delivery, we 3 - me, mom and kiddo started the ride to my mom's place. By the time we reached, I and mom had concluded that the Activa is only good for the rider and not the pillion. My kiddo did enjoy standing in the front at the start, but just after 10 minutes wanted a place to sit which was difficult to manage.

My first need in the commuter is the pillion comfort, Activa clearly lacked in that department. So Activa was out of the question.

Mom suggested replacing the Unicorn with another Unicorn. She was shocked when I told her the cost of a new one. It was a simple case of expectations vs reality. She thought the new unicorn would cost the same as it did 10 years ago, possibly a 10k increase in the cost. So the expectation was 80 – 85k, but the actual cost is somewhere around 1.2L.

So if the plan is to spend that much, it then set my mind and heart on an adventure ride.

Initially, I was planning to replace my CBR with a middleweight ADV-tourer, but since that’s on hold till next year (given the new bike launches) and I have to replace the unicorn now, why not replace the unicorn with a smaller adv! And so the Xpulse comes into the picture.

So why a Xpulse and why not a Himalayan or a 390 Adventure?

Both Himalayan and 390 ADV are way above a simple replacement. They would be an actual upgrade to the unicorn and will put them in a similar category as the CBR. Simply put - consider Xpulse/unicorn are at level 1, CBR/Himalayan/390/250advs are level 2 and the CB500/Versys 650 are at level 3. So it makes sense to replace the Unicorn with the Xpulse and then next year a level 3 bike replaces the CBR.

Where the Xpulse is in the right category, it is also comfortable to ride, handles broken roads like none other(a million times better than the Activa), has enough grunt, and the engine vibes are well controlled.

So it’s going to be an Xpulse for sure. Small compact – can-do city and office ride, easy for those groceries and ice-cream runs, additionally now I can even explore what they call it “the uncharted territory” with the Xpulse.

Xpulse 2V is in the market and readily available whereas the 4V would be launching soon, by January is the communication from the showroom.

Coming to the pricing:

• Unicorn (would fetch) : 10 -12K (less as I am 2nd owner as per the RC)
• Xpulse 2V : 150k – 5k (discount) = 145k
• Xpulse 4v : 156k + 4k (price hike next year) = 160k

The 4V would have additional torque power and smoothness; however, it would cost me more than what I would get for the unicorn. Plus the discount that I am getting on the 2v means I can put on some accessories on the bike, a crash guard or aux lights may be.

My mind says “Go for the 2V as the 4V is simply not worth the additional cost”.

My heart says, “Wait for the 4v, but also want a new bike, err let the mind take the call!”

Now that the heart is kind of agreeing to the mind, the mind is confused! Mind says “I have got you till the Xpulse, you decide what to do, 2V or 4V, that you decide!”

Basically, please help me decide.

Should I go ahead and take the 2V or book the 4V!?

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:

Would suggest going with the newer 4V.

The 15k difference for the 4V is ok since there would be some issues addressed as well as the performance improvement.

The only way I would suggest the 2V is if the delivery estimates are not confirmed and you need s bike soon.

I am quite surprised that they haven't started delivering yet, so a genuine concern over delays.

Here's what BHPian SoumenD had to say on the matter:

Do you intend to keep it as long as the Unicorn? If yes, 4V is a no-brainer really. More than the bump in power/torque what I notice everyone praise is the smoothness. And the increased rear sprocket size apparently has improved the pickup as well which would help in your intra-city commutes. 15k will seem well worth it in the long run IMHO

Even I have to replace my RTR160 turning 14 this month and if I don’t end up with one of those level-2 ADVs (by your definition), Xpulse 4V is my choice for lateral upgrade/replacement especially considering the road conditions around where I stay.

Even at Rs 1.6L, I find it great VFM.

Here's what BHPian sachinb4u had to say on the matter:

I understand you have already decided on the upgrade. But I can share my experience when I was in the same boat last year. I have 16 years old Honda unicorn(2005) which is my first bike.

I was also thinking of upgrading since it's too old and there was just an urge to have a new bike.

Finally, I decided to re-register my bike and continue using it. Reasons for my decision:

• I was not facing any major issues with my unicorn, there was no maintenance except regular servicing
• My use was only for the gym and nearby rides with family for ice cream, snacks
• Any new bike wouldn't bring much value to my use of the bike
• Spent 1-2K on servicing and it rides like a new bike.
• I couldn't justify the need for an upgrade based on my use.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.