The new Hero Xtreme 160R 4V looks more muscular than the 2V model. The beefed-up design lines, taller and bulkier tank design and split seat add a sporty character to the motorcycle's overall look. With the gold inverted fork and sporty colour options, the motorcycle looks fresh and aggressive.

The Xtreme 160R 4V is equipped with a BS6.2-compliant 163.2cc air-/oil-cooled single-cylinder engine that produces 16.9PS and 14.6Nm, which is 1.7PS and 0.6Nm more than the 2V model and as a result, the acceleration is quicker than before. It is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.

Thanks to the 4-valve head and oil cooler, the engine feels more energetic and lively than before. Tractability has also improved meaning you can cruise around in fifth gear at city speeds, and the bike handles it pretty well. This should also improve the overall mileage.

The addition of the inverted fork at the front, coupled with the 7-step adjustable monoshock at the rear, has given the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V sportier handling dynamics. The bike feels stable when riding through the corners at high speeds and you can trust the front even more, compared to the 2V model, when leaning into fast turns. Even when going over bumps and potholes, the suspension remains composed. 

With the new seat and revised tank profile, the bike feels more engaged. It has also helped with the bike’s handling, and ability to change directions quickly. The brake setup has remained unchanged from the 2V model and we feel that the addition of dual-channel ABS would have improved the already decent braking performance.

The Xtreme 160R 4V also comes with a revised and more spacious split-seat setup which now provides a better and sportier riding posture with a slight forward lean, in line with the bike’s sporty feel. With decent padding, the seat now feels better, as the previous one was heavily padded and made you feel like you've sunken into it. It is now more comfortable for longer rides as well. The pillion seat is now flat and the sleek split grab rails add to the pillion's comfort.

It has a seat height of 795mm, which is suitable for riders of average and tall heights. Even shorter riders, who may have to tiptoe, will eventually get used to the bike.

The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V comes equipped with an all-LED lighting setup. It features a negatively lit instrument cluster that includes a speedometer, odometer, trip meter, tachometer, digital clock, gear position indicator and fuel gauge. 

The Hero Xtreme 160R comes in three variants: Standard, Connected 2.0, and Premium. The Connected variant features an e-sim that tells the bike’s location, it also gets geo-fencing and sends SOS alerts in case of an accident. It also has the turn-by-turn navigation feature which requires the Hero Connect 2.0 mobile app, though it may not be as reliable as Google Maps. The negatively lit digital instrument console is difficult to read in harsh sunlight, and its cluttered layout could have been improved or Hero could have offered a larger TFT screen.

Surprisingly, the top-of-the-line Premium variant lacks many features compared to the Connected variant as it doesn’t support the Hero Connect app and its features. The Premium variant only gets call and SMS alerts via Bluetooth.

The updates on the new Hero Xtreme 160R have made it a better bike than before. It feels quicker, rides around the corners exceptionally well, and the seat is more comfortable. However, the connected variant being Rs 9,000 more expensive than the standard Xtreme 160R, without dual-channel ABS, doesn't feel justified. If Hero had added dual-channel ABS in the same price range, it would have been better. Nonetheless, it still is a good bike overall and if you are looking for a fast and fun 160cc bike, the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V is worth considering.