With the exception of the original Karizma, fully-faired motorcycles from Hero have more or less been a bit of a debacle. So, when we first heard that Hero was working on a new faired bike, we expected another sloppy job to be honest. But, then, the Xtreme 200S made its debut earlier this year, and I must say that we were pleasantly surprised. Frankly, it’s not a bad effort! In fact, as you’ll see, the Xtreme 200S is actually a pretty good motorcycle.
In terms of design, the Xtreme 200S is not bad to look at. The dimensions are well-judged, and the proportions are just right. With elements like the bar-type LED headlamps and a fully-faired cowl, the 200 S looks tidy and sporty. The digital instrument cluster sits neatly on the top and comes with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. Mind you, it’s not an extraordinary design, but, nevertheless, it’s a great looking bike for its segment.
It shares its engine, chassis, and suspension with its naked sibling – the Xtreme 200R. And this means that the riding experience is more or less similar. The 200cc air-cooled unit is good for 18.2bhp and 17.1Nm of torque and delivers power in a linear fashion. The top-end is weak, but for city rides, it has enough juice.
In terms of handling, the Xtreme 200S is a very balanced product – the front-end feels amazing, while the ride quality is impressive for daily commutes. On the track, Simran felt that the 200S was very agile and always eager, however, the whole riding experience was somewhat marred by the not-so-exciting engine.
Overall, for its price, the Xtreme 200S is a great value product – it offers a mix of thrill and practicality at a very affordable price. But don’t expect it to blow your mind, for it’s a premium commuter in sporty overalls.
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