Hero XPulse 200 & XPulse 200T spied testing for the first time
The Hero XPulse 200 and the XPulse 200T have been spied testing for the first time in India, courtesy Autocar India. The Hero XPulse 200T debuted at the EICMA in Milan, Italy on 6 November.
The completely uncamouflaged test mules of the Hero XPulse 200 and the XPulse 200T are carbon copies of the prototypes showcased at the EICMA 2018. While the XPulse 200 is an adventure motorcycle, the Hero XPulse 200T is a long-distance tourer. It offers a comfortable seat and relaxed ergonomics.
The Hero XPulse 200 made its Indian debut at the Auto Expo in February 2018. The XPulse 200, being an ADV, features a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear wire-spoke wheel setup, that pair with knobby off-road CEAT tyres. On the other hand, the Hero XPulse 200T will come with 17-inch alloy wheels.
The XPulse 200T test mule was paired to 100/80-17 MRF Nylogrip Zapper FYM front and 130/70-R17 MRF REVZ-S tyres at the rear. The XPulse 200T featured the same smoked windscreen as seen on the XPulse 200. However, the tourer had a flatter handlebar, unlike the raised unit on the ADV.
The test mules of the Hero XPulse 200T were spied in two paint schemes - wine red and matte black. The XPulse 200T features a fully-digital instrument cluster, which is similar to the one on the XPulse 200. The ground clearance of the 200T is lower by 30 mm, hence the saddle height on the tourer will be comparatively lower as well. This should add to the overall comfort as the rider won't need to tip-toe while maneuvering.
Reportedly, the Hero XPulse 200 test mule was a carburetted version (non-BS6 version) with CEAT Gripp tyres. Hero MotoCorp had revealed at the Auto Expo 2018 that a top-end fuel-injected variant could come with Metzeler tyres. Both the bikes will feature a single-channel ABS system. The instrument cluster also supports turn-by-turn navigation with Bluetooth Smartphone integration.
Powering the Hero XPulse 200 and the 200T is the 199.6cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that powers the Xtreme 200R as well. It produces 18.4 bhp of maximum power and 17.1 Nm of peak torque on the Xtreme. The engine is mated to a five-speed gearbox. The motor will be tuned differently on the ADV and the tourer based on their application.
[Image Source: AutocarIndia.com]
