Hero XPulse 300: What the bigger engined, high performance version could look like

It’s no secret that Hero MotoCorp is considering a more extreme version of the XPulse 200, with possibly with a bigger engine and more performance on tap. This makes sense given the fact that the recently launched XPulse 200, which while being a competent off roader still lacks outright power that makes it feel strained at triple digit speeds on the highway. So, if Hero MotoCorp does launch a high performance XPulse with better off road hardware and also a bigger, more powerful engine, what will it look like. Italian motorcycle designer Oberdan Bezzi has just put together an XPulse 300 render based on the Hero XF3R sportsbike concept. The render shows a really focused on-off road bike, and actually will make you think about why Hero didn’t come up with such a bike in the first place. Here, check it out.

The motorcycle, called the XPulse 301, retains the overall stance of the XPulse but is more extreme in every aspect. It looks a lot more edgier, in true adventure bike style. The tank, seat, fairing, mudguard and virtually every body part has been given a redesign for the more focused, ADV look. The engine is a liquid cooled, 300cc single cylinder unit, which should have about 30 Bhp on tap. Well, this is the kind of performance that the current XPulse could do well with. The front mud guard is set much higher and the bike now uses long travel upside down front forks. At the rear, the monoshock suspension is retained. Looking closer, the XPulse 300 looks like a cross between the lines of the BMW G 310GS and the Hero XPulse, with some elements of the XF3R thrown into the mix. If Hero does end up launching such a motorcycle, expect the asking price to shoot up to nearly double that of the XPulse 200, which is very competitively priced at about Rs. 1.3 lakhs, on-road.

As things stand today, the Hero XPulse 200 is the most affordable adventure bike sold in India, and makes for a great city commuter that can handle most weekend trails in and around the city. It’s a fun, affordable 200cc bike that is light enough even for beginners although we’d have liked to be 10-15 kilograms lighter. The bike is available in carbureted and fuel injected form. Long travel suspension at the front and rear is standard, and the great suspension tune is one of the highlights of this motorcycle. The engine is a 200cc, air cooled motor with about 18 Bhp-18 Nm on tap, and is paired to a five speed manual gearbox. The XPulse is also offered in a less extreme, road-focused variant called the XPulse 200T. The 200T rides on smaller wheels and gets a higher bikini fairing to deflect wind at highway speeds.