Hero MotoCorp launches three premium bikes

Pune: Hero MotoCorp, India’s largest two-wheeler maker, on Wednesday expanded its premium bike portfolio by introducing three new motorcycles – the XPulse 200, XPulse 200T and Xtreme 200S to cash in on the growth of premium bikes in the country.

The XPulse 200, India’s first 200cc adventure motorcycle, is priced at Rs 97,000 with the fuel-injected variant of the XPulse 200 bearing a sticker of Rs 105,000. And the XPulse 200T tourer costs Rs 94,000 at Delhi showroom. These bikes compete with Suzuki Gixxer SF, prices for which start at Rs 98,076.

The new trio follows the Xtreme 200R launched in the second quarter of FY19.

“With our customer base spread across three continents in Asia, Africa and South and Central America, we are now riding into the next phase of our bold ‘premium’ journey with a range of new, technologically advanced and aesthetically appealing motorcycles,” Pawan Munjal, Chairman at Hero MotoCorp, said.

These premium motorcycles have been designed and developed by engineers at the Hero Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT), he said.

“With these motorcycles, we now have one of the youngest product portfolios on offer and I am sure, our new motorcycles will appeal to the youth around the world,” Munjal boasted.

Over the next 12 months, the domestic two-wheeler industry in India would go through a tectonic shift with the implementation of new safety and emission norms.

“We are completely geared up for this transition and to lead the industry into the next growth phase in the world’s largest two-wheeler market as well as in our global markets,” Munjal said.

The Xtreme 200S is a fully faired version of the Xtreme 200R. At Rs 98,500, it is Rs 7,600 more expensive than the Xtreme 200R that costs Rs 90,900. While the Xpulse 200T costs Rs 94,000, the XPulse 200 carbureted version costs Rs 97,000 and the fuel-injected version Rs 98,500.

The Xtreme 200S is targeted at riders looking for ‘character and comfort’ in their daily city ride. It is not a sporty motorcycle.

However, Hero has said that the fairing will give the 200S better wind protection on the highway than its naked sibling – the 200R. The 200S uses the same chassis and geometry as the 200R.