The Hero Xpulse 210 is one of the only two proper dual-sport bikes available in India, apart from the Kawasaki KLX 230. These bikes are supposed to be all-rounders, which are equally suitable for city riding, off-roading, and some calm-paced touring. However, most owners use these motorcycles mainly in the real world, either commuting to the office or running some chores. So, if you were to buy the Xpulse 210 mainly for these purposes, how often would you visit the fuel pump? We tried to access that through our real-world fuel efficiency test of the motorcycle.
The Route
In our mileage test, we ride the same 10km loop five times, because anything less than a 50km run might not be enough data to give accurate results. This 10km loop comprises a good mix of moderate to high traffic, a few traffic signals, some of which are over 60seconds long, and approximately 3km of wide open stretch. These elements are very close to what an average Xpulse 210 owner will put their motorcycle through on most days of riding.
The Test
During the test run, we try to mimic the riding style of an average Xpulse 210 owner to get the most accurate result, not the highest, mind you. The point is to neither be too conservative nor go ripping the bike at every given opportunity. The general riding style in this test, especially for bikes like the Xpulse, is not to rev the engine too high in any gear and try to short-shift. On open straights, we try not to cross speeds of 70-75kmph. The engine is turned off at signals longer than 30 seconds. And jerky throttle inputs are strictly avoided.
The Results
After following all the aforementioned parameters, the Xpulse 210 returned a fuel efficiency of 34.2kmpl, which is not really high but not too low either. If you take its 13-litre fuel tank into consideration, you’re looking at a range of close to 445km. So, if your daily commute distance is 34-km, like me, you’d have to refuel the bike every 10 days, considering you visit the pump as soon as the bike hits the reserve fuel capacity of 2.6 litres.
Of course, the figure will vary depending on your riding style and traffic conditions on your route. In fact, we expect the fuel efficiency to be higher by 2-4kmpl if one cruises on the highway at steady speeds of 80-90kmph, with gentle throttle inputs and minimal gear changes.
