Hero XPulse 200 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan: Comparison Review

• Published On: 24 April 2020
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Hero XPulse 200 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan: Price, Dimensions, Features, Specifications, and Color options.

The two-wheeler Adventure Motorcycle segment in India has grown quite exponentially in the past few years. Adventure Touring Motorcycles like Royal Enfield Himalayan 2020, Himalayan 650, and many more are surely the proverbial jack of all trades. They are easily manageable in city traffic, tours and are build to survive frequent long-distance trips. Hero, on the other hand, has introduced XPulse 200 under the ADV segment. Hero XPulse might not have the touring genes like the above-mentioned motorcycles, but it is surely game for off-road adventures. 

Check out our comparison between the BS6 models of Hero XPulse 200 and Royal Enfield Himalayan. Find out if the more affordable XPulse 200 is a good alternative to the Himalayan.

Hero XPulse 200 Fi vs Royal Enfield Himalayan: Price in India

The BS6 Royal Enfield Himalayan is priced in the range Rs 1.87 lakh - Rs 1.91 lakh (ex-showroom). While the price for the BS6 Hero XPulse 200 is yet to be revealed. However, it is expected to get a price hike of Rs 10,000 overs it previous BS4 model. The BS4 model with Fi was priced at Rs 1.07 lakh (ex-showroom) while the BS4 model with a carburetted engine was priced at Rs 99,500 (ex-showroom).

Hero XPulse 200 Fi vs Royal Enfield Himalayan: Dimensions

Being lighter than the Royal Enfield Himalayan, XPulse 200 is easy to lift up when stuck in rocky terrain or in mud/sand. Its shorter wheelbase also helps. When the front wheel deflects over an obstacle, the XPulse 200 regains composure quicker as compared to the Himalayan. Both adventure motorcycles feature an upright riding position but offer a different riding experience. The 800 mm seat of the Himalayan lets you sit lower with a taller handlebar, offering a commanding riding position. Off the road, the high set handlebar and narrow tank allow you to stand in an upright position for better control. While in the case of Hero XPulse 200 fi , the low set fuel tank slopes gently into the seat. The flat seat has a lot of space for the rider to move around but is narrow compared to the Himalayan, and feels rather firm. While the handlebars are wide and offer more leverage, it is difficult to stand up and ride. Overall, the XPulse 200 has a riding position more suited for city commute while the Himalayan’s riding position is suited for travelling long distances on the highway.

Hero XPulse 200 Fi vs Royal Enfield Himalayan: Features

BS6 Hero XPulse 200 comes loaded with features. It gets a LED headlamp and a LED taillight along with a full-digital instrument console. The console gets a gear position indicator, average speed, trip time, and Bluetooth connectivity. It pairs to the Hero RideGuide app and shows turn-by-turn navigation on the instrument console. While the Himalayan misses out on the LED headlamp, it still gets a LED taillamp and hazard lights. There is an analog instrument console with an additional digital display. The display shows the gear position, time, ambient air temperature, odometer, trip meter, and an additional toggle switch for the switchable ABS. 

Hero XPulse 200 gets a 21-inch front tyre and an 18-inch rear tyre. Suspension duties are taken care of by telescopic with double DU bush upfront and a 10-step rider-adjustable mono-shock towards the rear. While the Himalayan gets a 21-inch front tyre and a 17-inch rear tyre. The Himalayan BS6 remains a capable off-roader, suspended by long-travel suspension units at both ends. 

In terms of braking, Himalayan is superior as it gets a front 300mm disc with a twin-piston floating caliper and a 240mm disc with a single-piston floating caliper on the rear wheel.

The dual-channel ABS setup and wider tyres offer better retardation and shorter braking distances. While the XPulse 200 gets a front 276 mm petal disc with ABS and a 220 mm petal disc on the rear wheel. Though the brakes offer a better feel, the ABS is intrusive. 

As for safety features, Hero XPulse 200 Fi gets single-channel ABS as standard while the Himalayan gets dual-channel ABS as standard along with switchable ABS.

Hero XPulse 200 Fi vs Royal Enfield Himalayan: Engine Specifications

Both these adventure motorcycle get BS6 compliant fuel-injected engines. Royal Enfield Motorcycle Himalayan makes its peak power and torque at a lower rpm than the Hero XPulse 200. All engines are mated to a 5-speed constant mesh transmission.

Hero XPulse 200 Fi vs Royal Enfield Himalayan: Color Options 

BS6 Hero Motorcycle Xpulse 200 is available in five color options – White, Matte Green, Matte Grey, Sports Red, and Panther Black.

While the BS6 Royal Enfield Himalayan was earlier available in three color options namely White, Black, and Sleet. It has now been introduced in three more color options namely Grey, Blue, and Red.

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