Hero Xtreme 125R Long Term Review: Conclusion

Likes

The roomy seating ergonomics of the bike has been the highlight for me so far. It has a spacious seat, and it is decently cushioned, so you settle onto it in a natural way. Moreover, the handlebar is far enough to make you crouch a little but not uncomfortably so, and the fuel tank recesses are deep enough to facilitate grabbing onto the tank with your thighs very easily. Overall, it is a great combination of sporty yet comfortable seating position.

It is also a dynamically sorted motorcycle. The chassis is fairly communicative which, along with the low 136kg kerb weight, lends the bike with commendable agility, making traffic manoeuvres or switching lanes an effortless affair. Backing that up is the suspension setup, which is tuned to deliver sharp and composed handling dynamics. While that brings in some compromise in terms of comfort as the ride quality feels a bit firm. However, it never reaches the point where it starts feeling harsh.

The engine performance and refinement are two other things which keep leaving me impressed. For a 125cc offering, the Xtreme has good mid-range punch, and that means riding it in the city is easy and, to some extent, fun. This is accompanied by a super light clutch and a slick-shifting gearbox which further add to the ease of accessing the engine performance. But more than the acceleration, the refinement is something that needs to be appreciated. It feels fairly smooth and devoid of major vibrations even at speeds of 90kmph, which is close to its limit, and has just the right amount of gruffness to feel alive.

And this doesn’t come at the cost of fuel efficiency. Despite my spirited manner of riding, which is almost always, the Xtreme 125R always returns close to 55kmpl of mileage and that translates to a range of close to 550km from its 10-litre fuel tank.

Dislikes

The only major concern I’ve had with the Xtreme 125R is the sub-standard quality levels. We have had the bike for a year now and the turn indicator button has stopped functioning. There was a time when the horn button had also stopped responding to my inputs, but it somehow started working again.

Another issue is the major rusting on some of its metal components, such as the top of the front forks and exhaust pipe header. This is despite the motorcycle always staying in a covered parking and almost never being subjected to incessant rains. Owing to the high humidity here in Mumbai, metal components do tend to oxidise faster, but one year is too soon for that to happen. While this doesn’t pose any functional problem yet, it is a clear indication that the bike might not age too well going forward. For owners, maybe an extra layer of protective anti-rust coating will help.

Should You Buy It?

Yes, you should, if you want a 125cc commuter with a dash of sporty character and distinctive looks. The last few months I spent with the bike were mostly delightful, especially in terms of handling and seating ergonomics. The other aspects, including the engine performance, braking, and ride quality, are also pretty impressive, especially when you consider its starting price of Rs. 89,000, ex-showroom. Yes, we have faced minor reliability-related hiccups, but they aren’t big enough to be deal breakers. And given Hero’s vast service network, getting things fixed should never be an issue.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi