Hero MotoCorp’s Xtreme 125R ushers in a new direction taken by Hero MotoCorp in the premium 125cc commuter motorcycle space. The idea behind the Hero Xtreme 125R is to target the young, aspirational generation of buyers who’d want a motorcycle that looks appealing, while packing enough power without a hefty penalty on fuel economy. Here are the top five highlights of the bike.
Design
Youthful and contemporary are words that best describe the new Hero Xtreme 125R. The company’s departure from staid commuter motorcycle designs to something as eye-catching as this bike is a welcome change. This was also necessary given how 125cc customers have lapped up the TVS Raider 125, which is the Xtreme 125R’s chief rival.
Some of the design highlights that stand out include the aggressive headlight cowl with LED position lights placed above it. The fuel tank is chunky and we like how the tank shrouds extend all the way to the side panel and the tail section, appearing as one unit. Other design bits like the stubby exhaust end can, the multi-spoke alloy wheels and the bright colours should appeal to the younger generation.
Features
The Hero Xtreme 125R’s features list is decent. The bike has an all-LED light setup and a reverse-style LCD that’s seemingly plucked off the Xtreme 160R’s parts bin. We wish Hero would’ve offered a different instrument cluster with more features.
Engine
Hero MotoCorp has developed an all-new engine for the Xtreme 125R. It is a 125cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that produces 11.5bhp and 10.5Nm. The engine is paired with a five-speed gearbox. The Xtreme’s power figure is slightly higher than the TVS Raider’s and Hero MotoCorp claims that its engine can deliver 66kmpl.
Hardware
The Xtreme 125R has a steel diamond frame with 37-mm telescopic fork attached at the front and a monoshock at the rear that’s sourced from Showa. It is currently the only other 125cc bike with a monoshock, the first being the TVS Raider. The bike rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, shod with MRF tyres. The rear, 120-section tyre is the widest in its class.
Braking duties are taken care of by a disc brake at the front and a drum brake at the rear on the base variant. It gets an Integrated Braking System or IBS that offers tandem braking. The top variant gets single-channel ABS and we’d say it is a welcome feature given the unpredictability of our roads.
Price and competition
The base variant of the Hero Xtreme 125R is priced at Rs 95,000 while the top variant will set you back by Rs 99,500. These prices are ex-showroom. The base variant of the Hero Xtreme 125R is priced at par with the TVS Raider but it's more expensive than the Honda SP125 which is priced at Rs 90,000, ex-showroom, for the disc-brake-equipped variant.
