Hero MotoCorp unveiled what it called an advanced, premium motorcycle in the form of Xtreme 200, something that the company said is the result of research at its Center of Innovation and Technology at Jaipur.
The Xtreme 200R, which will likely be priced in the ‘affordable premium’ category of around Rs 1.25 lakh, will start selling across India from April.
It said it will start bookings for the Xtreme 200R “soon”.
“I have always been a firm believer in the transformative power of technology, and I truly believe that all the mobility solutions in the future will be driven by technology and innovation,” said Pawan Munjal, Chairman of Hero MotoCorp.
“In keeping with this spirit, our engineers at the Hero Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) have been constantly engaged in developing future technologies for our customers around the world. The all‐new Xtreme 200R is the result of this endeavour.”
The company said it will unveil many more products this year, and some of these will be put on display next week at Delhi’s Auto Expo.
While Hero MotoCorp continues to be the dominant market leader in the commuter segment, it is now focusing on the Premium segment with higher‐powered motorcycles.
“The Xtreme 200R is a bold and focused step towards re‐shaping our presence in the premium segment,” said Malo Le Masson – Head of Global Product Planning.
“This is only the beginning. From 2018 onwards, the focus for Hero MotoCorp in motorcycles is the premium segment, and we will continue to bring more products in this category,” he added.
The company, India’s largest two-wheeler maker, has not been very successful at holding on to its mind share among the youth as it faces tough competition from the likes of KTM, Bajaj, Yamaha and Honda.
Masson said the Xtreme 200 will certainly appeal to the youth.
XTREME 200R DETAILS
The bike is powered by an all‐new performance‐oriented BS‐IV compliant 200cc engine.
It produces a maximum power output of 18.4 PS @ 8000 rpm.
In comparison, the KTM Duke 200, priced at around Rs 1.75 lakh, delivers 24.60 bhp @ 10,000 rpm and the Bajaj Pulsar NS200, priced at around Rs 1.1 lakh, delivers 23.20 bhp @ 9,500 rpm. The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, which is also priced in the Rs 1.2 lakh range, provides 20.70 bhp @ 8,500 rpm.
As for torque, the Xtreme 200 offers 17.1 NM @ 6500 rpm, while the Duke 200 provides 19.20 NM @ 8,000 rpm and Pulsar NS200 gives 18.30 Nm @ 8,000 rpm. The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V offers 18.10 Nm @ 7,000 rpm.
The Xtreme races from 0‐60 km/h in 4.6s seconds, compared to 4 seconds for the Duke 200 and 3.95 seconds for the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V.
The Hero model has a top speed of 114 km/h compared to 135 for Duke 200 and 129 km/h for the TVS RTR 200.
Hero said it has given the engine additional balancers to cut ‘first order’ vibrations at higher speeds.
The company said it has equipped the Xtreme with a “lightweight” yet stiff frame “which offers precise handling in tight corners and utmost stability at high speeds”. It did not specify the kerb weight, however.
“The carefully tuned Ergonomic‐riding triangle between the handlebar, seat and foot‐pegs offers perfect balance of agility and comfort,” it said.
It has 276 mm Front Disc and 220 mm Rear disc brakes with optional anti-skid features.
It also comes with a 7‐step adjustable mono‐shock suspension, which, the company said, adds to ride handling and cornering stability.