THE UNSUNG HERO

The 2023 Xtreme 160R may fly under the radar, but it's got everything in store to turn its segment on its head.

- SHIVANK BHATT

The first Xtreme 160R from 2020 was a wonderful motorcycle, and we at autoX absolutely loved it – so much so that we ended up awarding it our ‘Best of 2020’ award. We had concluded back then that the Xtreme 160R is a motorcycle that gets the basics right – be it performance, handling, fuel efficiency, or price, it offered a perfect balance of what’s expected of a 160cc premium commuter.

Now, for 2023, Hero has introduced a new and updated version of its potent 160cc roadster to make it even more irresistible. Dubbed the Xtreme 160R 4V, the new version has a 4-valve cylinder head, upside-down front forks, a more aggressive stance, and new features and equipment.

The changes sound promising on paper, but how much of a difference do they make in the real world? We spent a day riding this new version at Hero’s test track in Jaipur to find out.

HEAD FIRST

The biggest change here is, of course, the engine. You may think that it’s the same old 163cc unit with a 4-valve head, but that’s not the case. This is an entirely new engine with virtually all-new internal components. And it also gets an oil cooler now. The power output has seen a bump of around 1.5bhp, as this engine produces 16.6bhp. The torque figure has also gone up by 0.6Nm to 14.6Nm in the 4V version as compared to the 2V. The gear ratios of the five-speed transmission have also been tweaked. However, in the process, the 4V has gained a few kilos, as it weighs around 144kg – 5kg more than the 2V version. The increase in weight, however, doesn’t hamper the performance – the 160R 4V is still a quick motorcycle.