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My epic ride across North East with the Hero Xpulse 210

29th May 2025, 19:45 by Sarthak Bhadane

I was one of the lucky few who was selected by Hero MotoCorp to ride the Xpulse 210 to Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam for their 2025 Unbound North East tour

BHPian udey recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hey folks,

We were all given white colored base variant of Xpulse 210 and the most thrilling experience was of course Tawang and Sela Pass on black ice.

Since childhood, I wanted to see what i heard and read about Kaziranga National Park and that got covered on this ride as well.

Lot of photos of course and then tons more from the Media Team hired by Hero for promoting Hero XClan , Hero Xpulse 210 and the few lucky ones selected to be in promo with Rannvijay (Hero sponsors MTV Roadies).

Nature Encounters:

A very few of us got our safari timed luckily to spot the golden tiger of Kaziranga -- the one with not a single black stripe -- he just majestically strolled and crossed the road behind us. Too many rhinos there--very easily found--spotted a mother and calf as well as two male rhinos fighting over a female.

This was the frst time i rode with a group as diverse as possible with riders from all over India. Otherwise i had been restricting myself with riders from Maharashtra, Goa and maybe Gujarat. All of us got along well and rode in formation.

Experience with the bike:

Funny how i talk about these instead of Xpulse 210 --because you hardly notice the vehicle when it is providing you all the power and performance and features you need for such a diverse terrain and climate that we experienced in those Three States.

We were on good roads, bad roads, no roads, rocks, wet mud, rubble, etc -- then also hot sun, rain, windy weather and snowfall too.

Once riding from Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) to Tezpur (Assam) in a single day -- which is not easy when there is a large group plus need to stop or go slow for Media Team to capture its targetted photos and videos -- and then we experience 4 different weather situations in a single day. From Tawang-- from nice to snow to hot sun to windy to rainfall in pitch black mountain roads-- we did that in a convoy in a single day's ride with plenty of captured moments to showcase on instagram.

I had booked the Xpulse 210 on 20-March-2025 as soon as the booking was announced for that day (online booking). I was hoping to ride it a few days before the Unbound North East expedition to get familiar with it and maybe get an edge compared to other participants. We were all so competitive initially and then we really opened up and embraced each other's priorities and conveniences and limitations.

Booking and change of decision:

I cancelled my Xpulse 210 booking because:
1. delivery was not happening before i left for North East (25-April to 5-May 2025)
2. I saw the beautiful powerful Xtreme 250

So -- i am waiting to test ride this Xtreme before i go all out on my XClan membership. I even got to talk about all this at an event organized in Mumbai by Hero for dealerships and customers to appreciate the XPulse and its possibliites and potential on Saturday 24-May-2025 marking one month since the adventure in the East.

Having gone by road from Mumbai to Rajasthan (right up to Longewala border and Sam desert) in December 2024, thanks to The Musafirs motorcycle club, on my Xpulse 200 (2V) i knew i could do just about anything i needed to do on the available Indian roads and Indian road and riding conditions with an Xpulse. It is perfect for city and long-distance for India's situation of road / highway / freeway / flyover access allowed and terrain and cost effectiveness of parts, maintenance, repairs --- and even mileage or its speed of 125 Kmph with full tank of petrol, heavy tailbag and heavy tankbag loaded on to it.

While I love Xpulse 210 after utilitizing it thoroughly at North East -- i don't want to have two motorcycles -- so if I choose Xtreme 250 -- i will neither have Xpulse 210 nor the current Xpulse 200.

Of course, there are prettier and more powerful motorcycles out there on my wishlist -- such as Aprilia RS 457 and Royal Enfield Interceptor BEAR 650 and Shotgun 650.

I recommend the Xpulse 210 highly to people wanting an all-round motorcycling exprience--- and after 15 years of riding Enfield Bullets
(350 cast iron engine, 500 cc engine and again a 350) -- i am sticking to Hero MotoCorp for now (past i did have a 100cc cafe racer from Hero called Classic Pro Splendor--- what a zip zap fun that was).

I hope you forgive the excess photos in here. Hero and the tour management of Maxperience was awesome as well -- they accepted us with our skills, diversity, moods and changing needs and made us feel privileged -- putting us up in 5-star hotels and twice at two different Vivanta by Taj hotels and the very best restaurants while riding between destinations of the day.

I was riding motorcycle numbered 5 on the convoy.

Emotional aspects of the tour were visit to HQ of Assam Rifles -- the oldest and most decorated Regiment of the Indian Army-- and the visit to Tawang War Memorial. Those who have been there and understood it would empathize.

Hope you check out the two new rides Xpulse 210 and Xtreme 250 -- i wish i could have them both.