Late Charge

It took Hero four years to put the Xtreme 200R into production. So, is it a case of too little, too late, or does it really pack something special?

- Shivank Bhatt

There was a time, not too long ago, when we called a 150-200cc bike ‘sporty and powerful.’ But in the last three years or so, this notion has changed drastically. These bikes have now become a default choice for urban commuters instead of boy racers. You see, earlier, it used to be just about fuel efficiency, but now customers are happy to trade a few drops of petrol for a bit of fun and performance. And that’s why we have so many motorcycles in the premium commuter segment nowadays.

The latest product to join the fray is Hero’s all new Xtreme 200R. Sure, it’s taken them a long, long time to put it into production, but let’s not forget that it comes from the stable of the country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, so there are a lot of expectations riding on it. The question then is – does it really meet those expectations? Let’s find out...

Balancing it out

It seems that, with the Xtreme 200R, Hero’s aim is to achieve a balance between performance and efficiency. And a quick look at the bike’s specifications makes the point quite apparent. The engine of the Xtreme 200R is a 199.6cc single-cylinder unit without any fancy elements – a simple 2 valve arrangement is used for breathing, fuel is supplied via a carburettor and the engine is cooled using good old air. Despite that, the power and torque figures are respectable – it produces 18.2bhp at 8,000rpm and 17.1Nm at 6,500rpm.