The Kawasaki KLX230 had been localized to bring the cost down and that brings it closer to the price of the Xpulse 210. We conducted our performance tests for the Xpulse 210 back in September, the India-spec KLX230 in November, and here is what our performance tests revealed:
Hero Xpulse 210 vs Kawasaki KLX230: Acceleration
The Xpulse 210 was tested in damp conditions while the KLX was tested on a dry road.
In the sprint to 100kph, both bikes are almost on par till 80kph. The Xpulse 210 is about 0.5 seconds quicker than the KLX230 to 100kph. This difference will hardly be noticeable in the real world. The Xpulse 210 can cruise more comfortably at higher speeds, while the KLX230 is the lighter machine suited for technical off-road trails.
Hero Xpulse 210 vs Kawasaki KLX230: Roll-on acceleration
The Xpulse 210 makes more power and torque than the KLX230.
Roll-on acceleration figures are also not very far apart. The Xpulse 210 is more powerful and the quicker bike, but by a very slight margin. The KLX is almost on par thanks to its light kerb weight. In the second gear run, there is hardly any difference in the acceleration times. In the third gear run, the Xpulse is 0.18 seconds quicker and in the fourth gear run, the difference is just 0.15 seconds. In the real world, both bikes feel quick enough when it comes to making overtakes in the city.
Hero Xpulse 210 vs Kawasaki KLX230: Braking
The Xpulse 210 gets a 276mm petal disc at the front while the India-spec KLX230 gets a 290mm standard disc brake at the front.
Braking distance was almost the same in our tests but as mentioned above, the testing of the Xpulse 210 was conducted in damp conditions. In dry conditions, braking of the Xpulse 210 should be even better. Considering the nature of these motorcycles, riders will feel the front fork diving under hard/emergency braking scenarios.
Hero Xpulse 210 vs Hero Xpulse 200 4V: Specifications and price
The KLX230 is priced Rs 13,000 more than the Xpulse 210.
There are two variants of the Xpulse 210: Base and Top where both variants use the same engine, but the Top variant gets a TFT display and dual-channel ABS instead of the single-channel system on the Base variant. Additionally, it also gets knuckle guards and a windscreen for a more rugged look. On the other hand, the India-made KLX230 is available in a single variant and priced Rs 13,000 more than the top variant of the Xpulse 210. Both bikes offer good value for money and will appeal to different riders based on their real world usage. The KLX230 will be more suited to riders who want a lightweight beginner trail bike, while the Xpulse 210 is for those that want an all rounder.
