Hero Xtreme 2014 Mileage

I own a 2013 hero xtreme. I can differentiate this particular model with other models only by the availability of kick start and elimination of the word cbz on my bike.

Throwback to 2013, i have narrowed down few popular options like the pulsar 150 which is the segment leader and the fz from yamaha.

After a lot of discussions we decided to go for the hero xtreme which i feel would be a bit different in terms of owning and looks too in the market.

Even today i use my bike for daily office commute and rare highway rides. The machine performs really well till date without any serious troubles.

Talking about he mileage which would be the primary thing an average middle class Indian looks for. I was really satisfied with the efficiency figures it returns. My daily office commute would return me above 50kmpl which would not go beyond 55.65kmpl. Whenever i take it to my hometown which would be a highway high speed ride, the mileage would go down to a least of 37kmpl which is a very rash and high speed mileage. If you maintain a good speed like not exceeding 80kmph then it would give you around 40-45kmpl on highway.

Overall the mileage part is quite satisfactory and in-fact more than what we can expect from a 150cc 149kg machine.

Coming to the service and maintenance cost, till date there were no serious issues and no major replacements except the regular brake pad changes along with chain sprocket kit replacement. Fed up with the hero service i moved to a road side mechanic from 45000kms on the odo. Recently opted for motul 5100 10w 30 engine oil after using the hero genuine oil for 50k kms. The performance is very good. But vibrations are still persistent on the handle bar and the foot pegs. I am able to cruise like anything and i could feel the difference between the hero and the motul oil. I want to stick to motul though its costly on the pocket.

Brake pad replacement would cost me around 300 for the hero genuine pads and if i get them replaced from the showroom then the labour would cost me 150. The service from hero is not at all satisfactory for me. They don't allow me to get the bike serviced in front of me. They always insist me to take the bike in the evenings which i feel they are doing nothing except the oil change and a neat wash. I couldn't feel any difference in my services from hero. Really fed up with a lot of complaints and decided to step out of the showroom guys.

I visit a road side mechanic and the entire labour would cost me rs.350 which includes the general service and any other replacements too. If you want to get any part replaced then hero people will blow up your mind with labour cost for each part replacement. They used to charge me 350 for service, 150 for brake pads, 50 for greasing and if i insist then to clean the chain and they would charge me additional 150 for chain cleaning.

I don't know what the shit they are charging 350 as a general service.

Pros:

-looks (though subjective)

-performance

-comfort

-mileage

-low on maintenance

-of course, its a hero which is a long lasting (depends on how you maintain)

Cons:

-vibrations (hell! a lot)

-high speed stability

-stock tyres are bad at performance.

Changed to mrf masseter's and trust me you don't need an abs for your bike. I had tested them in heavy rains also. Till date i didn't face any single skidding on any terrains but the tyres wont last longer as the stock zappers do. Both tyres costed me rs.4000 in hyderabad.

Overall the ownership is quite impressive, easy on the pocket with very very less disappointments.

About the Reviewer

I purchased from m/s century bikes, vadodara in aug 2015 and have used my bike for more occasional travel as well as daily commute. Dealer offers nice backup for service related matters, it has 6 free services with a 5 year warranty. I got a free battery which got covered in 18 months warranty period with the help of dealer (the company denied at first for some technical reasons).

Ride quality is ok (not good not bad), it is smooth between 25 to 50 kmph. It got to start only with a choke on (whether it is morning or evening) that's a major drawback since you cannot maneuver smoothly in traffic when the choke is on. After about 2 kms ride you can put off the choke and it goes on smoothly after that, however the problem arises here, if you commute to your office 5 kms away, the first two kms just eat up the extra fuel pumped in by choke. So you don't really enjoy the ride in daily commute in short distances.

Apart from that, the sitting and maneuverability of vehicle is ok if you got height more than 5 ft 8 inches. Less than that it is difficult to handle the vehicle as it is quite heavy and bulky.

For long distance travel, this bike is good for speeds ranging 50 to 60. Beyond 60, it cannot endure the wind resistance. Hence, you might try a stop and go approach, and travel as much as you can.

Fuel efficiency is very good. My bike gives a mileage of about 60 kmpl in city (mainly due to my driving pattern-less brakes, no aggressive pickups, speed as per normal traffic in left lane, always in gear, minimum clutch use).

After sales service is good and mostly all the dealers follow the company's policy of providing timely free services (they call you up for reminders).

Price wise, it costed me around rs 75,000/- all inclusive, so you might buy if you can afford.

Looks wise, it has sharply chiseled features, looks attractive from behind. It has real sports bike looks from side and rear (aggressive looks in other words). From the front, it has ok looks (not so attractive)

As far as maintenance is concerned, i have still not faced any issues or cost (as the regular 6 free services till 1.5 years from purchase keep your vehicle in good condition. I might add, even after clocking 10,000 kms for 2 years, the fuel efficiency is still as good as new i.E. 60 kmpl.

The power factor is a plus point, it has a good torque in 1st and 2nd gears. But during the drive [in a mild or heavy traffic], you face a little difficulty for shifting between 3rd and 4th gears. Also the shifting from 2nd gear or 1st gear to neutral is a challenge. It is difficult sometimes. Probably you get it right after practice. I might add, i have got a lever welded to extend the gear stick so that gear shifting can be done with the heels too. Shifting gears by front end of the foot is very difficult in daily use. A piece of lever can be welded easily as many local mechanics do it for a nominal charge. If this gear lever job is not done, i bet you will not enjoy your daily commute and do away with your bike in a month.

Pros:

Value for money for a daily commute purpose if your travel distance is at-least 20 kms a day. It proves a boon due to its comfortable seat, smooth drive and fuel efficiency.

Good dealer and company support.

Good for travel in city, on highway and off roading.

Killer looks, nice electronic arrangement on console [wont get spoiled in rains too].

Cons:

Gear shifting is tedious in mild or heavy traffic, not recommended for heavy traffic areas [stop and go traffic].

In the end, i would suggest if you got to travel a lot, this is wonderful bike, value for money and for long term usage. Don't forget to buy and use a helmet along with the bike. Xtreme is rock.

About the Reviewer