Hero Xtreme 250R: Xtreme measures

Like the XPulse 210 we featured recently, the all-new Hero Xtreme 250R was also launched at the Bharat Mobility Expo earlier this year. We tested this latest 250 cc motorcycle around the innately beautiful city of Udaipur to find out if its stunning styling — which looked even better in the real world — represents its overall performance, too.

It didn’t take too long for me to appreciate the Xtreme 250R’s design. True to its name, the motorcycle looked fast from every angle: its sharp headlight, the muscular tank, and even its short and stubby tail, everything added to it. It was the first time I saw the motorcycle away from the spotlights, and I can confidently say that this is the best-looking Hero motorcycle ever.

The Xtreme 250R is powered by a single-cylinder 249.03 cc liquid-cooled engine, which makes 29 bhp at 9,250 rpm and 2.55 kg-m at 7,250 rpm. It is surprisingly relaxed at city speeds, and I could find my way out of Udaipur’s streets while it was in the fourth gear. A few kilometres later, as the traffic cleared and the roads briefly widened, I finally got the chance to to stretch the Xtreme’s legs.

To my utter surprise, as the tachometer hit 5,000 rpm in the sixth gear and the speedometer indicated about 80 km/h, the Xtreme 250R sent vibrations throughout the bike — from its handlebar, tank, seat, to even the footpegs. That was disappointing but as the road quality further improved, the Xtreme showed its true calibre. I checked the stats on the onboard LCD to find out that it did 0-60 km/h in 3.6 seconds, hitting the 100 km/h mark in just under 9 seconds, and it even recorded a 153 km/h top speed on this run. Post 120 km/h, its vibrations greatly reduced, too.

How’s it on bad roads? For a motorcycle that Hero claims to be the fastest in the 250 cc segment, the Xtreme 250R tackles bad roads with ease. Only the big potholes and speed bumps made the rear bounce but otherwise, the 43 mm USD forks and rear mono shock worked well. A quick change of direction on a set of tight turns revealed the rear tyre’s evident reduction in grip mid-corner. If tackled at slower speeds, the issue didn’t exist but on a fun motorcycle, that’s probably not the path I would choose. While the tyres weren’t up to the mark, the brakes worked fine during our testing. The Xtreme 250R comes with two ABS settings: Road and Race; the latter improves stopping distance, claims Hero.

I rode the motorcycle for around 200 km, after which its 11.5-litre fuel tank finally hit reserve, signalling it was time for me to head back to base. Apart from its solid performance and decidedly sharp looks, the Xtreme 250R scores well on ergonomics too. It never felt cramped — and there was enough space for me to get into a commanding posture when I needed to be in complete control. It’s great to know what Hero offers with the Xtreme 250R at ₹1.8 lakh, ex-showroom. Its performance, handling and styling all work in tandem to make this a hugely likeable package.

© Motoring World

Published on April 12, 2025