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Hero Xtreme 250R vs rivals: Which one would you pick?

10th April 2025, 20:30 by R Patil

Here's a closer look at how the new Hero Xtreme 250R stacks up against its 250cc rivals. Which one would you pick?

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hero Xtreme 250R

What you'll like:

• Bold design manages to grab attention on the road
• 249cc liquid-cooled engine puts out 29.5 BHP and 25 Nm. Performance is impressive with top-notch refinement
• Well priced. Undercuts the competitors that offer similar levels of performance
• Sorted ergonomics with a nice balance between sportiness and comfort. Spacious rider's seat offers good comfort over long distances
• Great handling characteristics thanks to a balanced chassis and firm suspension
• Feature list includes LED projector headlamp, LED taillamp, LCD colour display with phone connectivity, lap & drag race timer, turn-by-turn navigation, dual-channel ABS with 2 modes and USD forks

What you won't:

• Fit and finish could've been better. Multiple uneven panel gaps affect the perceived quality of the product
• Brakes are average and don't offer confidence during hard braking
• Tyres tend to lose traction on hard acceleration and limit you from exploring the full dynamic capability of the motorcycle
• Ride quality can feel busy over poorly finished road surfaces
• At 11.5 litres, the Xtreme 250R has one of the smallest fuel tanks in its segment
• Misses out on TFT display and the process to toggle between ABS modes is unnecessarily complicated

Review Link

KTM 250 Duke

Ownership Review

Bajaj Pulsar N250

What you'll like:

• Well-rounded, good-looking sporty commuter package packed with features and practicality
• Nicely priced. Undercuts most rivals in the segment
• Addresses almost all the weak points of its predecessor, while still retaining the solid fundamentals such as the engine and chassis characteristics
• Packed with features such as slip-and-assist clutch, upside-down fork suspension, digital instrument cluster, turn-by-turn navigation, LED projector headlight, switchable traction control, ABS modes, integrated USB charger, etc.
• Tractable engine with oodles of low-end torque coupled with good gearing and very light clutch makes riding effortless and adaptable to varied usage
• Refined engine with NVH levels rivaling Japanese 250cc commuters
• Deep and bassy exhaust note
• Mature suspension behaviour offers a nice balance between ride quality and handling

What you won't:

• Front brake feels wooden and lacks progressive feedback. Rear brakes are devoid of any bite
• Some quirks in the ergonomics department, including placement of rear view mirrors, handlebar & side-stand lever
• Windblast and buffeting even at moderate speeds
• Sporty only within urban confines. Not very composed at highway speeds or during fast cornering
• 2-valve engine runs out of breath with climbing revs. Lack of sixth gear reduces the fun factor on highway rides
• Quality of plastics and decals, although better than before, has room for improvement
• Bajaj bikes are not known to age very well and it remains to be seen how long-lasting the refinement levels and plastic quality will prove to be over a few years of usage

Review Link

Bajaj Dominar 250