Hero Xoom 160

The Hero Xoom 160 has been a very tempting proposition ever since it was first showcased two years ago. Finally launched, can it still hold up the promise of being the do-it-all scooter?

Scooters are no longer just a means of daily commuting. Those who grew up on an Activa and went to school on an Ntorq or Access now need a bigger scooter to continue their lives with a touch of practicality but added power and sportiness. Basically, a scooter that is useful for the family but does not make them feel the lack of a motorcycle. Something that is comfortable on weekend trips and fun to ride. This is what the Xoom 160 is promising to offer. Do we finally have an all-round scooter, or is there something missing behind these good looks?

Design

The Xoom 160 is a big scooter. It fits right into the current trend of SUVs and rugged vehicles taking over the roads. This is a proper maxi-style scooter with a strong flavour of an adventure bike. And it's not just its size and proportions; the details also help it look very different. The large fly screen, LED twin headlamps with DRLs, the adventure bike-like beak, and the large block-pattern tires on 14-inch alloy wheels make it look adventure-ready.

The side angle is where the large size can really be seen. Where regular scooters have the instrument console mounted on the handlebar, the Xoom has it in a separate pin code. Other details like the well-designed rear passenger footpeg, large air filter, and the large motorcycle-like exhaust help it look substantial. Finishing touches are offered by the slim LED tail lamp, which helps it look modern. The proportions of this scooter are almost perfect, and the Xoom 160 is one of the best-looking scooters on sale.

Colours

The Xoom 160 is available in 4 colour options -- Matte Rainforest Green, Canyon Red, Summit White, and Matte Volcanic Grey. Out of these, my personal favourite is the Summit White, and a close second is the Canyon Red. Both look very sporty and eye-catching. The matte colours, however, don't have the same road presence and look too understated.

Wheels

The Hero Xoom 160 comes with 14-inch alloy wheels with fat tyres. The front is a 120/70 - R14, and the rear is a 140/60 R14. Both of these are off-road-looking block-pattern tyres, which offer better grip on bad surfaces but are not as good as regular tyres on good city roads.

Quality

The overall quality of the Xoom 160 feels good. The scooter is well put together and feels solid. The panels align well, and there are no visible mismatches. However, the quality of the plastics could have been better, given that it is a premium scooter. Because there are a lot of interlocked panels, we can’t comment on whether or not it may start to rattle in the future.

Safety Features

The Xoom 160 comes with a single disc brake at the front, which gets ABS. The calibration is good, and it allows you to brake hard under emergency situations without the front wheel skidding and remains under control. There is no rear disc, and you don't get traction control on this scooter. Honestly, keeping in mind its power delivery, you don't feel the need for it either.

Convenience Features

The Xoom 160 is a mixed bag when it comes to features. Some features are good and modern, while others are quite outdated. Let's start with the good ones. Keyless entry is getting more common these days with scooters, and the Xoom 160 gets it too. It's well executed and easy to use. Even the key fob feels quite substantial. Get on the scooter and press-and-turn the ignition to start it. The boot can be accessed with an electronic release, and the fuel filler is also placed on the floorboard for added convenience. You can also use the key to flash the indicators and open the seat.

Now let's talk about the things that I didn't like at all -- starting with this instrument console. This is a very old black-and-white LCD display, which doesn't deserve to be on a premium scooter. The information is cramped and quite small. Hero's entry-level bikes like the Glamour have a colour LCD display, which further begs the question: why did they not upgrade the Xoom 160? It definitely should have had an LCD or a TFT cluster to go with the rest of the scooter. It has another small problem. Because the unit is so far away from you, using the button mounted next to the display becomes challenging while riding.

The Xoom 160 also comes with i3S auto start-stop technology, which I always keep switched off in the city. I prefer the engine kill switch over this tech, which, unfortunately, is missing from the Xoom 160. The second thing is that despite being an “adventure-like” scooter, it misses out on hazard lamps.

Underseat Storage

Given the large dimensions, one would think that the under-seat storage of the Xoom would be class-leading. But -- that is not the case. The large engine has taken up a fair amount of space, and you are left with storage that is equivalent to a TVS Ntorq. The 22-litre space can easily fit a laptop bag and a half-face helmet. But it will start to run out if you want to keep a large full-face helmet or try to fit multiple bags. It would have been better if the Xoom 160 offered more because scooters like the Jupiter 110 and Jupiter 125 offer a lot more. 

What you can do is mount an accessory top box at the back to create more space, which also doubles up as a pillion backrest. The front has a covered glove box with a USB charger, but that too is a small space, only to keep phones or wallets. Overall -- the scooter should have definitely offered more storage.

Floorboard Space

Unlike traditional scooters where you have a flat floorboard, the Xoom 160 is a maxi scooter where the 7-litre fuel tank is placed on the floorboard, which splits the space. It has just enough space to keep your legs. But no, you cannot carry anything on the floorboard.

Hooks And Other Storage Options

Once again, unlike traditional scooters where you have a hook to place bags on the inside apron, the Xoom 160 has no such options because there is no space to keep the said bags. This makes it even less practical.

Overall, the Xoom 160 has enough practicality to not let you complain on a daily basis, but it certainly should have done better in terms of storage options.

Rider Comfort

The riding stance of the Xoom 160 is very commanding. You sit tall, and the handlebar is also tall and wide. If I were to draw a parallel -- it does feel commanding, like you’d feel driving your urban SUV. But this stance has not compromised the approach. In fact, its seat height is very approachable. My height is 5 feet 7 inches, and I can easily get both my feet to the ground. If your height is up to 5 feet 5 inches, then this scooter is going to be very manageable. Even the balance is quite good because the 142kg kerb weight disappears once you are in the saddle.

Pillion Comfort

Your pillion is also going to be comfortable on the Xoom 160. The sitting posture is very natural, as the footpegs are set in front and are relatively low. The only complaint is that the seat can feel a little short for the pillion despite this being a maxi scooter. The grab rails are quite natural to hold and beautifully integrated into the design. An accessory backrest would have been a good option, but as of now -- the only way to get it is by installing the top box.

Engine

Having a 160cc liquid-cooled engine is a very big deal for a scooter. And that makes the Xoom 160 serious about performance with 14.6PS of power and 14Nm of torque. To achieve this performance, Hero has not compromised smoothness or refinement. The scooter starts seamlessly, and you barely feel vibrations or rumble. There is a slight buzz from the engine, which is reassuring rather than worrying.

City Performance

When you start riding the scooter, the engine never feels like it is in stress or making a lot of noise. The power delivery is absolutely smooth but not punchy or powerful. If other family members ride this scooter, they will not feel overwhelmed. The throttle has a lot of travel, so the speed can be easily modulated without feeling sharp or jerky. Roll on the throttle smoothly, and overtakes become effortless with the power coming in gently. Open the throttle suddenly, and the Xoom feels quick to respond. The engine starts feeling alive, and the speeds are picked up quickly. You will see 80kmph in no time, even in traffic. But because all of this happens without much drama, you won't feel it. The performance is not sporty but makes the ride very effortless.

Highway Performance

This is where the engine of the Xoom 160 comes alive. It happily cruises at 80kmph without breaking a sweat and has overtaking ability up to 100kmph. Even at triple-digit speeds, it doesn't feel like the scooter is fighting or resisting. It just feels, and I will say this again, effortless.

If you are looking for a sporty scooter, then the Yamaha Aerox 155 or even the Aprilia SR175 will feel quicker and sportier. But the Xoom 160 uses that power to make the riding experience smooth and adaptable for everyone in the family.

Mileage

Hero claims that the Xoom 160 will return 40kmpl. That figure, while attainable, will need strict control of the throttle. In the real world, we expect close to 32-35kmpl.

Brakes

The front disc brake on the Xoom does a good job of offering confident braking. The parking power is not sharp but progressive, making it more suited toward everyday riding by regular riders rather than outright sporty ones.

City Handling

When you have to get past traffic quickly, the Xoom 160 offers excellent confidence. It is easy to turn and remains stable with the large wheels. The handlebar offers good leverage to make quick direction changes, and combined with the smooth power, the Xoom can easily be the fastest scooter in traffic.

Highway Handling

Its stability on the highway is also excellent, and changing lanes at high speeds feels confident. Even the level changes don't bother the Xoom 160, and this is a very touring-friendly scooter. Furthermore, you can stretch your legs and use the secondary foot position if you are riding for longer distances.

Cornering

While the Xoom 160 has large tyres, they are block-pattern rubber. These offer better grip off the road but are not as good as regular tyres on the road. The Xoom feels stable while leaning and is confident to turn, but don't mistake this for a corner carver like the Aerox. The tyres simply don't offer good cornering grip.

Ride Quality

While it looks like the Xoom 160 would have long-travel and very comfortable suspension, it doesn't. It feels like a slightly sporty setup which is ready to take on speedbreakers but not anything serious like potholes and off-road. With that expectation set, it is a comfortable scooter to ride. It manages city roads with ease, and even the level changes and bad roads won’t bother the rider. The setup further becomes more comfortable when a pillion is on board. Even on the highways, the Xoom 160 settles back quickly and feels stable. It would have been better if the Xoom 160 was a bit more plush-feeling in the city, but currently, the setup is good with a pillion and out on the highway.

The Hero Xoom 160 is really a great all-rounder. It looks sporty but in a way that the family will approve. Practicality should have been better but won’t leave you complaining on daily commutes. Comfort is good enough for commutes, and finally comes the performance, which is easily adaptable to all members of the family. Regardless of whether you want to go fast or not, the scooter will feel effortless and refined to ride. Finally, after a long time, I have ridden a scooter that offers a good balance of performance and practicality. This is not just a good first big scooter but a proper upgrade over the current crop of 125cc scooters in the market.