Bike Review: Hero Xtreme is bang for your money!

The updated Hero Xtreme packs in a lot of goodies which amplifies its value for money quotient even further, says Faisal Ali Khan of MotorBeam.com

Hero MotoCorp has been refreshing all its bikes one by one. The company recently updated the Xtreme and although changes aren't vast, it injects much needed freshness in Hero's top selling 150cc motorcycle.

The Xtreme dates back to 1999 when the CBZ was launched, becoming the CBZ Xtreme in 2006.

After Hero parted ways with Honda, the CBZ name was dropped resulting in the bike being called only Xtreme.

The biggest change to the 2014 Hero Xtreme is the styling. The new bike gets multiple changes which makes it look more edgy than before. A new headlight with LED parking lights give it a new appearance at the front while the panels flow smoothly to the rear with sharp detailing.

The tail is where the Xtreme looks the best, the bike features LEDs with the indicators now being separate from the light assembly.

The instrument cluster is all new as well. The bike gets a semi-digital console as the tachometer is still analogue which is actually a very good thing.

The Xtreme gets a side stand indicator (with engine shut off if you get into gear with the stand down), engine immobiliser and a 12V charging port under the seat.

There is also a service due reminder on the console. The switchgear remains the same as before.

The Hero Xtreme continues to draw power from the same 149cc, 2-valve engine which outputs 14.4 PS of peak power at 8500 RPM and 12.8 Nm of torque at 6500 RPM.

This Honda developed motor is very refined and has good low and mid-range punch.

It offers the Xtreme slick performance, resulting in 0-100 km/hr coming up in 19.39 seconds as per our VBOX runs.

The NVH levels are good but once you get past 6000 RPM, the motor is audible. There are some vibes at certain points of the powerband and the same can be felt by the pillion on the footpegs.

The 5-speed gearbox is a smooth shifting unit and the top speed is 114 km/hr. The mileage offered by the Xtreme is 45 km/l which is good for a bike of this segment.

The Hero Xtreme uses a diamond tyre frame and weighs a healthy 146 kgs. There are no changes to the chassis but the bike now carries wider rubber which offers improved grip while cornering. Handling is good but turn-in isn't quick because of the weight.

Where the Xtreme truly shines is the ride quality, it absorbs bad roads in its stride with ease. Braking performance is good and so is high speed stability.

The Hero Xtreme does pale in comparison to newer products in the segment. The bike uses an old chassis which can't even take a monoshock, thus the Xtreme uses traditional twin shocks.

However, when you look at the price of the bike which is Rs 78,750 (on-road price in Mumbai), you realise this Hero offering provides a lot of bang for your money.

With Hero's wide service network, proven mechanicals and a lot of goodies, the Hero Xtreme does make its case strong.