Following on from the Karizma XMR 210 and Mavrick 440, the new Xtreme 250R is Hero's next foray into the luxury category, and it's a significant one because it introduces a new quarter-litre engine, Hero's most powerful yet.
Hero Xtreme 250R engine refinement, performance
New 250cc engine derived from Hero's existing 210cc mill
Well, I say new engine, but in reality, this is a stroked-out version of the 210cc motor we've seen in the Karizma. So the capacity is up to 249cc, and you get 30 horsepower and 25 Nm. All of these stats, together with other elements of this motorcycle, make it clear that it was benchmarked against the KTM 250 Duke - in other words, it aims to be the sportiest 250cc bike available.
To that end, the engine pulls cleanly and firmly across the rpm range; it's very tractable at the bottom end, and there's a good dispersion of torque throughout the rev range, with performance obtained by revving the motor almost all the way to redline. So, while the Xtreme feels swift and performance isn't an issue, that doesn't mean this engine is ideal.
This is the most powerful road engine Hero has ever manufactured, therefore it's breaking new ground. This is especially obvious in the refinement sector, where the organization has yet to master the process. Among the bikes present for the media ride, some were extremely smooth, others were a little buzzy, and some were quite harsh and vibey. The Xtreme we rode for the majority of the day had no vibrations at the handlebars, but there were a couple through the seat, tank, and footpegs; portions of the bodywork near the front of the bike buzzed when revved.
Hero Xtreme 250R ride and handling
Xtreme 250R's ride has a hard edge to it, unlike its smaller siblings
The Xtreme 125 and Xtreme 160 are smaller members of the Xtreme family, and they feel more like sporty commuters. The Xtreme 250R appears to be more of a naked sport bike, which is most noticeable in the suspension configuration. The smaller Xtremes manage to provide some plushness in their riding style. The ride on the 250R is harsh, especially at low speeds, and the setup has a hard edge to it - it feels firmly damped.
This improves when speeds increase or with a bigger rider on board, but overall, this will not be the most comfortable bike to live with on a daily basis - the ergonomics are neutral and comfortable, but the ride quality does not seem luxurious. Furthermore, there are others in this market that feel equally athletic while providing better ride comfort.
On the other hand, the firm setup works well with the trellis frame to provide a fun handling package. The Xtreme 250R feels quick and agile in the twisties, responding happily and predictably to rider inputs. It also boasts gripping MRF Nylogrip tyres (albeit the front isn't radial), and this nice chassis combination, along with the rather rapid motor, makes the Xtreme a reasonably entertaining bike to ride on the wide road.
Hero Xtreme 250R quality, fit and finish
The design is striking but doesn't come together very well, quality could improve too
Hero claims that the Xtreme is aimed at people who value catching attention as much as they do the riding experience, hence it has been designed to be visually appealing. There are definitely some components and accents on the bike that catch your eye, but I'm not sure the entire design comes together cohesively - it has some muscle, which is wonderful, but some sections feel a little cluttered and overdone.
The step up from the rider's seat to the gasoline tank appears abnormally large, and the fuel tank section itself is heavily layered, with several various colours, textures, and graphics competing for space. The radiator shrouds are also a little overstyled, and when you get a closer look, you can see where the Xtreme was built on a budget.
Some unattractive welds can be found around the headstock, which is unfortunate because they are directly in your line of sight when viewing the instruments. Certain portions of our bike's frame had a poor surface finish and messy welds, but critical touchpoints such as the switchgear felt quite good.
Hero Xtreme 250R price and verdict
Xtreme 250R is a good value proposition in the 250cc space
The Xtreme 250R, priced at Rs 1.80 lakh, is significantly less expensive than the Suzuki Gixxer 250 (Rs 1.98 lakh-2.17 lakh) and the KTM 250 Duke (Rs 2.28 lakh). However, it isn't as well-equipped; it lacks a TFT screen and a quickshifter, but it does have a simple LCD display, all-LED lighting, and ABS in two settings. In terms of instrumentation, the top model has the same rather basic monochrome LCD display as the Karizma, and it would have been good to see a TFT or, at the very least, a colour LCD unit.
