Hero Xtreme 200R bookings open in India
Hero dealerships have started accepting bookings for the Hero Xtreme 200R. Booking amounts range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000. The Xtreme 200R, shown at the 2018 Auto Expo, is expected to be launched in the first week of June. Deliveries should begin after that.
The Xtreme 200R marks Hero's return to the entry-level performance motorcycle segment. The bike is powered by a 200cc engine producing 18.4PS and 17Nm that is based on the Achiever 150's engine but has been developed further in-house at Hero MotoCorp's CIT (Centre for Innovation and Technology) at Jaipur. Hero MotoCorp tells us they have worked specifically on improving the engine's refinement levels further, which should be among the best in class.
In terms of styling, the Hero Xtreme 200R somewhat reminds us of previous iterations of the Xtreme that were on offer with a 150cc engine. That said, the Xtreme 200R does look more appealing and is an aggressive looking naked with all the design cues found on current generation entry-level performance machines like tank extensions, a compact tailpiece with split grab rails and a belly-pan fairing.
Hero's CTO Markus Braunsperger (left) with Hero Product Planning lead Malo Le Masson at the launch of the Hero Xtreme 200R
The Xtreme 200R uses 37mm telescopic forks up front, which are beefier than the Karizma ZMR's and are expected to aid handling. The Xtreme 200R uses a monoshock at the rear which again should help in enhancing the bike's stability and handling. The instrument cluster is an analogue-digital one and looks similar to the previous Xtreme's, with a digital read out flanking a large tachometer. The headlight is not an LED unit though the pilot lights and tail light are all LEDs.
The Xtreme 200R comes equipped with disc brakes at both ends but ABS will be offered as an option only. More importantly, Hero has equipped the Xtreme 200R with single-channel ABS only, to keep costs in check. As far as the competition is concerned, the Hero Xtreme 200R will face off against the TVS Apache RTR 200 and Bajaj Pulsar NS 200 as also the Yamaha FZ25 and KTM 200 Duke.
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