Hero Xtreme 160R 4V is turning up the heat in the 160cc motorcycle segment. Hero Xtreme offers some unique features over its rivals which we will talk about in this in-depth review.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V Engine And Performance
Engine-
Let us start this review with its engine. Xtreme 160R comes with a brand new 160cc single-cylinder oil-cooled 4V engine which produces 16.9HP at 8,500 rpm and 14.6 NM of torque. Hero claims that this engine is completely new and is more powerful whilst being more fuel efficient. In terms of power figure compared to its rivals it slots completely in the middle as the TVS Apache 160r just edges out the Hero by 0.6HP but the Apache produces its peak power at a higher rev range meaning the Hero Xtreme’s power feels more accessible most of the time.
Additionally, In the flesh the first impression was extremely positive as the engine was as smooth as marshmallows dipped in cream only after 7,000 rpm we felt a very mild vibration in the right foot but it was negligible. Extra smoothness could be because of nano FRIX coating, no complaints with the refinement of this unit. Hero claims it is the quickest bike in its segment, quickest from 0 to 60, quickest from 0 to 100 and quickest to its top speed which might just be true as it is the lightest and has a shorter gear ratio.
Performance-
In first gear it goes upto 38Km/h, the second takes you to 58Km/h, third gear takes you to 82 Km/h, fourth to 109Km/h and Finally the fifth gear will top out at speed indicated 121km/h. Thanks to shorter gearing it makes city driving a breeze, it will easily ride at 15 km/h in third gear without any knocks. Riders can easily cruise at 90 km/h all day in fifth gear at around 7,000 rpm.
Engine response-
Although we didn’t get to race it with the Apache or the Pulsar to test Hero’s claim, it feels it could be quickest in its segment. Overall the powertrain feels confident and peppy, especially after 5,000 rpm, it climbs up to rev range very smoothly and power delivery is quite linear, it achieves its top speed without any fuss and we do not doubt their claims of it being the “quickest to its top speed” claim.
Ride Quality, Handling, and Braking
Riding Position-
Right off the bat it has a very comfortable riding position, it is only slightly sportier than the Xtreme 160R 2V. Shorter riders would definitely be able to ride it comfortably as the seat height is just 795mm which is 5mm less than the Apache 160r. However, with a ground clearance of 165 mm, it is 15mm less than Apache’s 180mm.
Handling-
In terms of the rest of the hardware, it comes with a 37mm KYB USD fork in the front and a 7-step adjustable Showa mono-shock in the middle. Both the wheels on the Hero are R17 inches. The front has a tire width of 100mm which is supported by 276mm Petal disc and the rear wheels are 130m in width with 220mm petal disc.
All of the suspension magic and chassis tuning translate to the road quite well. Hero has tried to make a bike with a character that defines the best of both worlds and for the most part, they have delivered. The ride is comfortable yet confident not only in a straight line but also on the bends, quite easy and flickable at medium to low speeds as well. In other words, it is well-balanced and is ready to take on the Indian roads with a knack for stability. It also does an exceptional job of absorbing the bumps.
However, there are certain things that need addressing. Although the tire width is more than its competitors in the same segment, the quality of the rubber is sub-par, and under heavy braking, the big disc brakes outdo the tires. For the enthusiasts, we would advise changing the tires to get a better braking performance and more grip.
Mileage–
Additionally, the mileage figures are unclear at the moment, we would need a long-term report to get a better idea of the mileage figures, but we expect it to manage 50 KMPL on the highway and 40-45KMPL in the city.
Variants, Features, and Price
Variants and Features-
Hero has confirmed three variants for the Xtreme 160r the Standard, the Connected, and the Pro. The standard variant doesn’t get the USD forks or connected features which comprises 25+ telemetric features. The connected variant is essentially a standard variant with connected telemetric features. The pro variant also doesn’t get the connected telemetric functionality, but it gets the USD forks and more color options this is to keep the costs down.
However, all of the variants get a digital instrument gauge and Bluetooth connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation. There is also a USB-A port neatly tucked under the instrument cluster for charging your devices.
Build-
The build of the Hero is up to the mark, they have improved the quality significantly compared to the previous offerings, the panel gaps are minimal and consistent, and the switch gear feels sturdy and is made of good quality plastic, but they are still not as good as Honda or TVS but it comes very close. Even the paint quality is great, the glitter in our neon shooting star color was shining through.
Pricing and Color Options– Price ranges from Rs.1.27 lakhs (Ex-Showroom Delhi) for the standard and goes up to 1.36 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom Delhi) for the pro with the connection being in the middle of the pack. It comes with four color options Matt Slate Black Pro, Neon Shooting Star, Matt Slate Black Standard, and Blazing Sports Red.