Positives And Negatives Of The Hero Xtreme 160R

So a couple of months back, Hero MotoCorp invited us to its world-class Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) facility on the outskirts of Jaipur. The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the new Hero Xtreme 160R. The new bike is Hero’s latest offering in the highly competitive premium 160cc segment. We also got a short spin aboard the new motorcycle but it was for a very brief time and hence, this isn’t a proper first ride report, but rather our initial impressions. Our road test report of the Hero Xtreme 160R will go live on Wednesday. For now, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the bike:

Pros

Styling 

While Hero is renowned for its robust and frugal engine, styling isn’t exactly its forte. While Hero did improve with the Xtreme 200S and the 200R, the Xtreme 160R has to be the most beautiful motorcycle in its portfolio. Hero designers have given the bike a muscular look with sharp edges. The party piece in the styling department is the compact and robotic-looking all-LED headlight. Another interesting detail is that the tank panel and the centre panel of the bike is a singular unit, giving it a clean look. 

At the back, you have a petite LED tail light that flows into the rear section and has a smoked finish which we really liked. The Hero Xtreme 160R is definitely among the most striking-looking motorcycles in its segment. We are glad that many styling elements from the Hero Xtreme1R concept bike were carried forward into the production bike. Also Read: All the Important Details Of The Hero Xtreme 160R Discussed

Refinement

Ever since Hero commenced its solo journey, it’s primary focus has been developing new motors for its commuter portfolio which comprises its bread-and-butter offerings. Hero’s first high-displacement motor was the 200cc unit on the Xtreme series and later the XPulse. The 200cc motor delivered decent performance, but didn’t offer anything drastic or radical compared to its rivals. As for the 150cc segment, the older Xtreme Sports engine was a disappointment, to say the least. However, Hero engineers have upped the ante with the Xtreme 160’s motor. 

As I started riding, the first thing I noticed was how refined the engine felt, in fact, it’s among the most refined motors in its segment. It’s no slouch when it comes to performance either with Hero claiming it can accelerate from 0-60kmph in 4.7sec. While I couldn’t verify this claim, the bike did feel peppy in terms of acceleration. You can check out its real-world numbers in our road test which will go live on Wednesday. 

Dynamics

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Apart from the refinement, what really impressed me in my short ride was the balance of the bike. The new chassis is very communicative and this allows you to attack corners with confidence. The main stand on our bikes was removed and for good reason as the Xtreme 160R allows you to lean the bike effortlessly -- the main stand would have scrapped very easily. Apart from the well-sorted chassis, the fat tyres also play their part in instilling confidence in the rider. The bike we tested was the twin-disc variant and it offered a sharp bite with good progression. 

Cons

Firm ride

Suspension hardware on the Hero Xtreme 160R is the segment norm: telescopic fork and a monoshock unit. While most of our ride was on neatly paved roads, on some small undulations, the rear felt a bit stiff to my liking. Again, as I said before, this was a short ride and we couldn’t change the preload settings of the bike. The real test of the bike will be in the real world. 

Price

The Hero Xtreme 160R is priced at Rs 99,950 for the single disc brake variant, while the double-disc brake variant retails for Rs 1.03 lakh (both prices, ex-showroom Delhi). You might think I’m being harsh on Hero as it undercuts the Suzuki Gixxer and the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. Yes, it undercuts both bikes by a few thousand rupees but we were expecting a bit of disruptive pricing from the brand. The Hero Xtreme 160R is a fine motorcycle but it doesn’t get some striking segment-first features, which we were expecting to compensate for the huge delay in this highly competitive segment. 

So these were our first impressions of the Hero Xtreme 160R. Our road test report will go live on Wednesday so make sure you follow ZigWheels to stay updated on all the latest happenings from the automotive world.