THE LONG GAME

The Xpulse 210 promises better touring ability on top of its city and off-road versatility. Does it deliver?

- WORDS KARAN MATHUR PHOTOGRAPHY HIYAN CHAUHAN

If the Maruti 800 was the car that put Indians on the road, the Impulse was the motorcycle that inspired them to get off it. The concept was clear from the beginning – build an affordable, dual-purpose motorcycle to take riders to unexplored trails on Sunday and then take them back to office on Monday.

However, something was missing. The Impulse had the grunt for what it was built to do, but it lacked the zest for anything more. You could take it to trails close-by because it worked well within the confines of the city but not so much for going beyond them. While it kept up with the times, rival motorcycles in the same price bracket outpaced it in terms of features and refinement.

Now, Hero MotoCorp seems to have had enough. They've built a motorcycle that aims to leave no stone unturned. But does it really?

DOES IT LOOK THE SAME?