Hero XPulse 210

When Hero launched the Xpulse 200 a few years ago, it became an instant hit among bikers. But while the Xpulse 200 gave us plenty of weekend adventures, it always felt like it needed just a little more. More power on the highways, more comfort for long rides, and a bit of extra polish. That’s where the new Hero Xpulse 210 comes into the picture.

We spent some solid time riding the new 210, both in the city and on trails. It left us pleasantly surprised. The bike looks sharper, feels stronger, and rides in a way that makes it more versatile than its older sibling. It still has the same DNA of being an adventure-ready machine, but now it feels more grown-up and capable in many areas.

Let’s break it down into different parts, and we’ll share how the bike feels in real-world riding conditions.

• The Xpulse 210 looks more premium than the older 200. When parked, people notice it because of its tall stance and sharp design.
• The high mudguard, angular fuel tank, and slim tail make it look adventure-ready. The small details like the windscreen, bash plate, and luggage rack add to its rugged personality.
• The tank-seat area feels slimmer, so gripping the bike with your knees is easy.

• This slim shape also helps when standing on the pegs off-road. In traffic, sliding around on the seat feels simple and natural.
• The overall build feels more solid and well-finished than before. There are no loose panels or rattling sounds while riding.
• The paint and quality of materials look better and more polished.
• Hero has clearly worked hard to make the bike feel premium.

• The Top variant gets a 4.2-inch TFT display with Bluetooth. Meanwhile, the Base variant has a simpler LCD console instead.

• The bike now has dual-channel ABS with three modes, including Road, Trail, and Off-road. Switching between these modes changes how the bike behaves on different surfaces.

• On the road, ABS gives you safety and better control in sudden situations. On trails, ABS is less intrusive, and you can lock the rear wheel for slides. In off-road mode, the ABS switches off completely, which gives you more freedom.
• The Top variant also gets knuckle guards, a tall windscreen, and a tail rack. These features are useful if you go touring or carry luggage often.
• The instrument cluster shows navigation and phone alerts, which is very handy.
• However, in strong sunlight, the screen becomes hard to read. It’s a small drawback, but not something that spoils the overall experience.

• The new Xpulse has a 210cc liquid-cooled engine, borrowed from the Karizma but tuned differently. It makes about 24.2 bhp and 20.7 Nm, which is a noticeable step up from the 200.

• Riding in the city, we could feel how much easier it is to ride in a higher gear at lower speeds. We were happily rolling in third gear at 30kmph without the engine feeling stressed.
• On the highway, the bike feels more at home than before. Cruising at 90–100 kmph feels easy and natural.
• Overtaking trucks is smoother and doesn’t always need a downshift. Once you go beyond 110 kmph, the engine feels a bit strained.
• The six-speed gearbox is a big improvement over the old 200. On the older bike, it always felt like one gear was missing. On the new 210, the extra gear makes long rides calmer and less tiring.
• Between 5,000 and 7,000 rpm, the engine feels lively and energetic.
• The exhaust note in this range reminds you of a proper dirt bike. Opening the throttle here makes the ride playful and fun.

• The suspension setup is where the Xpulse 210 really shines. The 41mm telescopic forks at the front and progressive monoshock at the rear offer plenty of travel to handle rough patches.

• In the city, we could fly over speed breakers or broken roads without slowing down too much, and the bike soaked it all up like nothing happened.
• We took it on a rocky trail, and while the bumps were plenty, the bike stayed composed and didn’t throw me off balance.
• Even when we missed spotting a pothole and hit it harder than expected, the suspension didn’t bottom out easily. That gives you confidence to ride a bit more aggressively off-road.

• For a tall bike with a 21-inch front wheel, the Xpulse 210 is easy to handle. It is not as sharp as a naked street bike, but it feels stable and predictable.

• In corners, the bike feels more planted than the older Xpulse 200. You can lean into bends with confidence, and it doesn’t feel shaky or vague.
• The front brake has a softer feel, which is useful while riding off-road. There’s a softer front brake that avoids sudden wheel lock and gives you more control on dirt.

• The rear brake feels progressive and offers good bite. In Trail mode, the rear brake allows you to slide the bike easily and have more fun off-road.
• Sitting on the Xpulse 210 feels natural. The seat is wider and softer than the 200, and you get that upright, commanding posture, which is perfect for city commutes and highway rides.
• Our rider was around 5’11”, and while standing up on the pegs, the bar position felt spot-on. We didn’t need to hunch forward awkwardly, and gripping the bike with our knees felt effortless.
• Even shorter riders around 5’6” should manage the bike fine, though the tall seat might take some getting used to at first.
• The pillion seat is flat and long, which makes it decent for two-up riding. Getting on is a bit tricky since the bike is tall, but once seated, it’s reasonably comfortable for short tours.

The 2025 Hero Xpulse 210 is a big leap forward compared to the Xpulse 200. It fixes a lot of the limitations of the older bike while keeping its adventurous soul intact. If you’re mainly looking for a bike to commute daily, ride on weekends, and occasionally hit the trails, the Xpulse 210 does it all. It’s not a hardcore touring machine like bigger ADVs, but for its price and purpose, it delivers excellent value.