Hero XPulse 200 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan: Spec Comparison

We compare these two entry-level ADVs on paper

Hero MotoCorp has launched the XPulse 200 at Rs 97,000 for the carb variant and Rs 1.05 lakh for the fuel-injected variant. At this price point, these are the most affordable adventure bikes you can buy in India. The next option is the very capable Royal Enfield Himalayan which costs Rs 1.79 lakh. We compare these bikes to see which one offers better value. On paper that is.

Also read: BMW G 310 GS vs Kawasaki Versys-X 300 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan vs Hero Xpulse 200: Spec Comparison

Features:

The Himalayan is the larger bike of the two here and has the more functional bodywork. Its headlamp mounts also serve as mounting points for auxiliary fuel tanks. You also get a windscreen, a raised front beak, sump guard and a small rear rack. The semi-digital instrument console gets a fuel gauge, gear position indicator, ambient air temperature and even a compass. Its 15-litre fuel tank is good enough for a range of 540km. It gets a conventional halogen powered headlamp and LED tail lamp.

While the XPulse’s overall design might not be as functional as the Himalayan, it is hardy enough to withstand offroad falls. Like the Himalayan, the XPulse 200 gets a windscreen, raised front beak, sump guard, tiny rear rack and even knuckle guards. When it comes to more modern features, the XPulse 200 impresses. It gets an LED headlamp and tail lamp, an underseat USB charger and a fully digital instrument console. This blue backlit console displays the fuel level, gear position, journey time, average speed and distance to service. It also gets Bluetooth connectivity and shows turn-by-turn navigation on the screen.

Both bikes get spoke wheels fitted with tube tyres so a puncture would have you dragging the bike to the nearest tyre repair shop. Feature-wise it is the XPulse 200 that impresses the most here.

Also read: Hero XPulse 200 And 200T: In Pictures

Engine:

There is no substitute for displacement and the Himalayan amply proves that with its 411cc motor which is more than twice the size of the Himalayan. In our tests, the Himalayan FI did the 0-60kmph run in 4.33 seconds and 0-100kmph run in 11.69 seconds. Now we are yet to test the XPulse 200 but expect it to run closer 0-60kmph times to the Himalayan. On paper though, it is the Himalayan that trumps the XPulse.

Underpinnings:

When it comes to underpinnings both bikes have their strengths and weaknesses. Both bikes have their suspension developed by personnel having off-road race and rally experience. The XPulse 200 has a huge weight advantage over the Himalayan and that should make the bike easy to manoeuvre over tricky off-road sections. However, the Himalayan's low seat height makes it easier to place both feet on the ground compared to the XPulse. In terms of kit, the Himalayan is the superior one and should lead you further off road. Even in terms of braking, the Himalayan gets dual-channel ABS compared to the XPulse’s single channel layout. When it comes to hardware, the Himalayan clearly has an edge over the XPulse 200.

Pricing and Verdict:

The Himalayan commands a Rs 74,000 premium over the fuel injected XPulse 200. That is a substantial amount but then for that price, you do get twice the engine capacity, more power and torque and more capable hardware. There is no denying though that the XPulse 200’s pricing makes it a very sweet deal that's hard to ignore. Also, the Himalayan’s past reliability issues are something you do need to factor in when wanting to buy one. To their credit, we did recently ride a new Himalayan which felt vastly more reliable than the first lot of bikes. So if you crave more performance and touring ability, it’s the Himalayan for you. For everything else, the XPulse is your best bet for a budget ADV.