Hero HX200 RR could be launched with affordable price tag in India by the end of this year to compete against Bajaj Pulsar RS200
The entry-level premium sport bike segment has recently been flooding with new models as the price range between Rs. 80,000 and Rs. 1.1 lakh is found to be a latest attraction among first-time young buyers. Whether it be cruisers or naked motorcycles, the volume flow has been there prompting manufacturers to hustle in new products with aggressive strategies.
Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company are having sizeable market share in the capacities between 160 and 200 cc for several years. However, Hero MotoCorp, which had about 15-16 percent hold in the entry-level premium space just a decade ago, has become a distant memory.
Also Read: Flagship Hero Xtreme 200R – All You Need To Know
The important reason for losing out to the other two homegrown brands, while dominating mass market volume segments, is that Hero failed to update its flagship products like Karizma and went numb when Pulsars and Apaches raised the bar constantly in performance and equipment wise.
Despite showcasing promising concepts, Hero’s fallout with Honda was a major blow. Fast-forwarding nine years, the largest two-wheeler maker in the country is back with more focus on premium products after making hefty investments in R&D over the years.
Also Read: Hero To Focus On Premium Segment; Xtreme 200R And XPulse Launching Soon
Hero is banking on its new 200 cc platform as the Xtreme 200R is waiting to grace the market soon directly rivalling the Bajaj NS 200 and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. With the X-Pulse 200 signalling a highly affordable adventure motorcycle by the end of this year, the platform will bear a couple of other models including a faired motorcycle.
We have here rendered the faired sports tourer taking design inspiration from the HX250R concept with a bold and edgy body panels complementing the overall stance of the motorcycle. With suspension, brakes and other conventional bits taken from the Xtreme 200R, the tail section adorns the look of the HX250R in one render and the other mimics that of the Xtreme 200R.
It will use similar hardware as the Xtreme 200R and comes powered by the BS-IV compliant, 200 cc single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke engine. Coupled with a five-speed constant mesh transmission, the engine is capable of pumping out 18.4 PS of peak power at 8,000 rpm and 17.1 Nm of peak torque at 6,500 rpm.
Hero could upgrade the engine to closely match the specifications of Bajaj Pulsar RS200 as well. But it is highly unlikely, as we predict a price tag of around just Rs. 1-1.1 lakh (ex-showroom) by heavily undercutting the competitors like Yamaha R15 V3. It is expected to be launched by the end of this year as Hero eyes a strong series of contention with the upcoming 200 cc motorcycles.