[drt_rdr]

Made a couple small changes.

[nasirkaka]

Guys, was also looking at used bike market for an Xpulse. Few are available, some in BS4 and a few in BS6. Wanted to know if there is any real world difference between the BS4 and BS6, esp with regards to engine smoothness. If the difference is not very stark, BS4 models are available at lower price points. Sort of confused, owners may be able to help with the dilemma. TIA.

[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

Guys, was also looking at used bike market for an Xpulse. Few are available, some in BS4 and a few in BS6. Wanted to know if there is any real world difference between the BS4 and BS6, esp with regards to engine smoothness. If the difference is not very stark, BS4 models are available at lower price points. Sort of confused, owners may be able to help with the dilemma. TIA.

I know carbs are out of fashion and coming from the stables of Honda/Hero are feared for reliability concerns and expensive pricing but still I'd suggest you have a look at one of the BS4 Carb'd variants.

The FI on Honda/Hero are one if not the most reliable units on the market albeit their premium pricing, so you simply can't go wrong with one. But the heart aches for a Carburettor.

[nasirkaka]

I know carbs are out of fashion and coming from the stables of Honda/Hero are feared for reliability concerns and expensive pricing but still I'd suggest you have a look at one of the BS4 Carb'd variants.

Issue is there are not many carbed bikes on used market. I guess FI is sold more numbers even on the BS4 models. Another observation is people are asking much higher prices for used bike. At the same time, difference of around 15-20k from the OTR price does not make much sense considering re-registration, insurance transfer, etc will have added cost. Seems like Xpulse has good resale value.

I wanted to check with fellow owners if there is really a big difference between BS4 and BS6. All reviews say BS 6 is much free revving and smoother but cant take them too seriously.

[ast.ggn]

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

I wanted to check with fellow owners if there is really a big difference between BS4 and BS6. All reviews say BS 6 is much free revving and smoother but cant take them too seriously.

Going by the engine problems due to overheating or extended usage, it makes sense to go for BS6 only. It has an oil cooler, should run better than Hero's BS4 experiment.

[nasirkaka]

Going by the engine problems due to overheating or extended usage, it makes sense to go for BS6 only. It has an oil cooler, should run better than Hero's BS4 experiment.

Makes sense. BS4 also had some issues with ABS. Recently i test rode a BS6 and it felt smoother compared to BS4, although i can say for sure, as the BS4 which i test rode was almost a year back.

[ast.ggn]

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

Recently i test rode a BS6 and it felt smoother compared to BS4, although i can say for sure, as the BS4 which i test rode was almost a year back.

I rode a BS6 (part of Urban Nomad's group) sometime back, the bike was brand new and still running a bit smoother.

From my observation on BS4, engine behaviour changed after the bike had run for 7-8k kms. It is lot free revving now as compared to initial days and after engine has properly run in.

[motonomad]

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

If the difference is not very stark, BS4 models are available at lower price points. Sort of confused, owners may be able to help with the dilemma. TIA.

Until recently I felt so too after trying two different BS6 ones, but my motorcycle (BS4, March 2020) came back from third service and it feels much smoother than before. Haven't faced the heating issue even during 4-5 visits to the dirt track post that, though the change in weather may have some part to play. Plus even if you face some issue down the line, the warranty period is unusually long so not a big worry. Sure the newer, BS6 version would be better considering they felt the need to make a change and add oil cooler but if the price difference in used market is significant, I would say you can consider BS4.

About the ABS, the issue was fixed with a part replacement under warranty. Works absolutely as it should now.

Between the FI and Carb, I would suggest FI unless you want to tinker around with the carb. The throttle response is slightly better and if you plan to go off road, you will have to replace the decorative plastic bash plate on carb with the aluminum one from FI.

[nasirkaka]

Thanks motonomad for your inputs.
I was only exploring the used market option as at times we come across some good deals. But in my limited research, does not look like the case with xpulse. Firstly, not many of them are available in Bangalore, and even if they are, the owners are asking for prices not very far from a new bike. Add the hassle of RC transfer, insurance transfer, etc. So most likely may go with a new one.

[petrolhead_neel]

I see a lot of people (especially media houses) claiming that the BS6 XPulse is better in every way. Talking to riders suggests that it might not be so. The BS6 is definitely smoother and more refined, but it does make less power and torque. While the difference in numbers may seem insignificant, it does actually make quite a difference in the smaller, lower powered bikes. Was talking to a rider who claimed that BS6 felt smoother, but lacked the punch of the BS4. Also, the BS6 is one and a half seconds slower to 100. Hero's rally guys are using a modified BS4, with an oil cooler and various other performance mods like a different clutch by Hinson.

My BS4 bike is at 3.5k, and refinement levels have gone up significantly. Mid range has a superb punch and also sounds very neat. I have pushed the bike quite a bit (crowded city, flowy trails, open highways) but I haven't faced any heating issue whatsoever. Maybe I was lucky and got one of the good ones! A friend is getting a BS6 soon, will be interesting to compare.

Loving the bike so far.

Neel

[SoumenD]

Was going through an old thread (link (Why does my bike need a battery to run while kick-starting?)) on battery issue and started wondering hows the case with XPULSE Fi? As in, do we always need a battery in running condition inspite of having the kick start?

Reason I ask this is, my current ride(RTR) was lying around with a dead battery for 3 years while I was abroad and kickstart was good enough to get it going everytime I was in Bangalore for holidays. Of course the electronics(clock & odo) didn’t work but never had starting problems thanks to the kickstart. This is the reason I was more interested in XPULSE as it comes with a kickstart. But if FI model still needs a running battery everytime we kick-start, the whole point of looking at kickstarter as a criteria becomes moot.

Can someone please clarify?

[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

Was going through an old thread (link (Why does my bike need a battery to run while kick-starting?)) on battery issue and started wondering hows the case with XPULSE Fi? As in, do we always need a battery in running condition inspite of having the kick start?

Reason I ask this is, my current ride(RTR) was lying around with a dead battery for 3 years while I was abroad and kickstart was good enough to get it going everytime I was in Bangalore for holidays. Of course the electronics(clock & odo) didn’t work but never had starting problems thanks to the kickstart. This is the reason I was more interested in XPULSE as it comes with a kickstart. But if FI model still needs a running battery everytime we kick-start, the whole point of looking at kickstarter as a criteria becomes moot.

Can someone please clarify?

Irrespective of EFI or Carb, if you have digital/micro processor ignition then you need a battery for the Motorcycle to run as your ignition runs on DC Current.

Some Motorcycles can be fired up with some effort, but that's just asking for trouble.

Kickstarter helps when the battery is weak, but is not of use when it comes to a completely dead battery.

[SoumenD]

Originally Posted by ashwinprakas

Irrespective of EFI or Carb, if you have digital/micro processor ignition then you need a battery for the Motorcycle to run as your ignition runs on DC Current.

Some Motorcycles can be fired up with some effort, but that's just asking for trouble.

Kickstarter helps when the battery is weak, but is not of use when it comes to a completely dead battery.

So what’s the case with Xpulse 200 FI? Does it have a digital/micro processor ignition?

[petrolhead_neel]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

So what’s the case with Xpulse 200 FI? Does it have a digital/micro processor ignition?

Yes.

Besides, the Kickstarter on the Xpulse is really bad. At least on mine. I've never had to use it yet, but I've tried it out a couple of times and the bike doesn't want to start at all. What could be the reason for this?

[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

So what’s the case with Xpulse 200 FI? Does it have a digital/micro processor ignition?

Obviously Yes in the case of EFI's.

Do give this a watch;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5DT61D_Qw

My Pulsar is carburetted but has a DC CDI, the manual explicitly says not to ride the motorcycle without a battery as it can cause component damage, this is due to current from stator being erratic even though the attached capacitor does convert AC current to DC.

And from common household devices we know that DC electronics are not happy when run on erratic current.

Originally Posted by petrolhead_neel

Besides, the Kickstarter on the Xpulse is really bad. At least on mine. I've never had to use it yet, but I've tried it out a couple of times and the bike doesn't want to start at all. What could be the reason for this?

A fellow bhpian who owns a XPulse did mention that his kickstarter once got stuck which I again blame on Hero's QC, but generally reserve the kick start purely for emergencies.

The notion that first start of the day should be only done by kickstart is outdated and from the time that motorcycles came with stronger mechanisms being kickstart only. With modern motorcycles you should limit use to the self starter and only depend on a kick starter in case of emergencies.

Even on my kickstart only CT100B, I push start most of the time, cause frequent use of kickstarter does wear down the kickstarter seal, not an issue per say as it is operational wear and tear, but again I'm too lazy to replace it and smaller bikes are effortless to push start.

As for your particular case its nothing to fret about, even at times when using self starter it takes a cycle or two for the motor to fire, so don't worry about it.

Regards,
A.P.