Go anywhere on a budget…
It’s getting more and more difficult to ignore the Hero brand of motorcycles in SA. Think Hero, think Dakar, think Ross Branch… Well then…. You get our drift?
Hero enjoys huge success globally with their commercial motorcycles. Why they entered the Dakar fray in 2017 is a mystery. Maybe it’s simply because – they could.
Who knows? But it must surely be paying dividends.
Back in 2017, Joaquim Rodrigues and C.S Santosh climbed up the finish ramp at the Automobile Club of Argentina, ensuring that the Indian manufacturer attained the distinction of achieving 100 percent success in the iconic Dakar Rally in its debut appearance. After completing the 9,000-km run today across Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina it was time to pop the champagne.
Fast forward a couple of years – and, when Yamaha bowed out of the event, Hero Motor Corporation snapped up the Kalahari Ferrari to race for them – and with a podium in 2024… Ross made some good history for the Indian bike maker.
But – we digress. This feature is about the Hero X-Pulse 200, and more importantly the new multivalve Stealth model that has just hit our shores.
We’ve featured the original 2-valve X-Pulse before when our GS Trophy winning mate Brandon Grimstead dragged it off and completed Iron class in the Roof Of Africa. And we’ve ridden the little bike several times since then – every time with a smile.
But the real torture test for that bike was when it was handed to The Bike Show’s Donovan Fourie who was told to “Ride the wheels off it.”
He did just that and he crashed it, lent it to all sorts of people who fell off it – we’d never use the word abuse… but – ya 12000 kilometres and a bit later it’s back at our offices for this feature.
And it still starts and purrs along quite happily.
The latest addition to the X-Pulse Family is the four- valve Stealth model that boasts a 10 percent power increase, better oil and air cooling..
But the engine is not all that is new.
Hero, in collaboration with their factory in Germany and design partners in Italy have made a whole new model.
It has beefier suspension, wrap-around handguards, a USB plug in the dash and a cool new LED headlamp that features the family H. Cool huh!
Throw in the fact that only thirty of these black bikes will be brought into SA and you have a pretty unique motorcycle.
It’s a 200, but is by no means, just another commercial bike. If you own one of these in India, you are a “Person of substance”, people over there aspire to own these machines.
And we get it!
It’s got a cool LED display, disc brakes with ABS up front, Electric start and even a point to point nav system and bluetooth!.
What’s not to like?
We roped in our two junior members and sent the Foley brothers out to see what they thought and to compare the two bikes.
It was all pretty scientific… “Dad, they are only 200cc four-strokes – how much fun can they be?” Well go and find out, was the answer and off they buzzed onto our local test tracks…
And they were gone for an awfully long time.
No seriously, best we go looking for them.
We’ve got a little spot where we can do laps, with bumps and flats and jumps… and that’s where we found them swapping bikes and laughing away.
“Man, dad these bikes are so easy to ride, light, small and just – easy! Heaps of fun!” Not quite what we were expecting.
Kyle the younger, but bigger of the two just grinned.
“The bikes aren’t super fast, but they are cool” and he took off again.
Tristin who is marginally more experienced was more pragmatic.
“Both of these bikes feel really solid, they don’t shake or vibrate, they are comfortable with enough torque to get you around in the gravel.”
“We tried and – the suspension doesn’t bottom anywhere, they are really surprisingly capable – even for big guys like us!”
Permission was granted for a few impromptu drag races – the new Stealth had a bit of an edge with less worn out tyres, so the hookup was better in the dirt. It is quicker than the older model. From pull away right up to the top.
And the two valve is no slouch, it brought the fight.
Top end runs – The Stealth is quickest at 132 kph flat taps, with the twin valve managing 125 kph.
And this despite the fact that the Stealth had a mere 160 odd kilometres on the clock, so indications are that it will run a bit faster once everything loosens up.
But a bike like this is not about speed. It’s about getting from A to B without fuss and a smile on your face. We know lots of people who have big, powerful bikes, but also have a smaller bike that they use as a runabout.
This is one of those.
As for which the guys preferred?
The Stealth has the edge. It’s more powerful with better suspension and brakes than the 2-valve. And the new looks give it that little bit of “Houding” that will appeal.
A go anywhere, fun to ride mini adventurer. And the fact that the red one is not destroyed after 12000 hard kilometres bears testimony to this brand’s attention to quality.
Some interesting news:
- A more enduro version will be available later this year in the form of the X-Pulse PRO
- Hero builds the Harley Davidson 440 in partnership with HD USA, bringing out their own version, slightly different styling, but same bike under the skin in the form of the Hero Maverick 440.
- Hero is focusing on improving their Euro 5 homologation and concentrating on the USA and European models with bigger capacity bikes. Several Hero dealerships have already been appointed in these markets.
The X-Pulse currently retails at R49900.00
The new Stealth will cost you R54900.00
