5 Exciting upcoming Hero bikes in India - XPulse 200, New Karizma…

From the product perspective, Hero MotoCorp has had a decent 2018 as the company launched new models of the Splendor and Passion range of bikes, which were followed by the introduction of the Hero Xtreme 200R and the Destini 125 premium family scooter. However, the company had to push back its most anticipated bike, the Hero XPulse 200. Apart from the ADV, here are a few more bikes that the company plans in the next couple of years.

The Hero XPulse 200 made its global premiere at the EICMA last year in Milan, Italy, while it debuted in India at the Auto Expo this year. The entry-level adventure tourer is based on the Hero Xtreme 200R platform and shares the engine, chassis and other components with the naked bike. The ADV is expected to launch in March 2019 in India. It could be priced around INR 1 lakh (ex-showroom).

Although Hero MotoCorp hasn't released the power figures of the XPulse 200, we expect it to be in the same ballpark of the Xtreme 200R. Powering the Hero XPulse 200 will be a 199.4cc, single-cylinder, SOHC, air-cooled, 2-valve motor that will be mated to a five-speed gearbox. On the Xtreme 200R, it produces 18.1 bhp of power and 17.1 Nm of peak torque. The engine on the XPulse will be tuned differently to offer improved low-end and mid-range performance to suit the ADV characteristics of the bike.

In terms of equipment, the Hero XPulse 200 will feature a fully-digital instrument console, LED headlight, single-channel ABS and the works. Suspension duties will be carried out by long-travel telescopic front forks and a rear mono-shock, while braking will be aided by disc brakes at both the ends. If the Xtreme 200R is anything to go by, the XPulse 200 is likely to offer a plush ride quality over broken surfaces.

The Hero XPulse 200T is the tourer version of the XPulse 200 ADV, which debuted at this year's EICMA in Milan, Italy. If reports are to be believed, Hero MotoCorp will launch both the motorcycles, XPulse 200 & XPulse 200T, simultaneously in the domestic market by March 2019. Being a tourer, we can expect the XPulse 200T to retail at around INR 95,000 (ex-showroom).

In comparison to the ADV, the Hero XPulse 200T features conventional front forks in place of the spindle offset units on the ADV; however, the rear mono-shock is carried over. To aid long-distance touring, the XPulse 200T comes equipped with a tall windscreen. Another significant change is the availability of 17-inch alloy wheels and road-biased tyres, instead of the 21/18-inch wire-spoke wheels and knobby tyres set up on the ADV.

Both the motorcycles were spied testing in India for the first time in November. The Hero XPulse 200T will be powered by the 199.4cc air-cooled, 2-valve engine that does duty on the Xtreme 200R. Hero MotoCorp could use a different state of tune and taller gearing to aid the touring capabilities if the motorcycle. The motor makes 18.1 bhp and 17.1 Nm on the Hero Xtreme 200R, mated to a five-speed transmission.