The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V enters a highly competitive segment and while we have ridden it recently, here’s how it stacks up to its nearest rivals on paper. For the purposes of this comparison, we have chosen the top-spec variants of each bike.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: engine & output
| Engine & output | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Xtreme 160R 4V | TVS Apache RTR 160 4V | Bajaj Pulsar N160 | Bajaj Pulsar NS160 | |
| Engine | Air/oil-cooled, 163cc, single-cyl | Air/oil-cooled, 160cc, single-cyl | Air/oil-cooled, 164cc, single-cyl | Air/oil-cooled, 160cc, single-cyl |
| Power | 16.9hp at 8,500rpm | 17.55hp at 9,250rpm (Sport)/15.64hp at 8,600rpm (Urban/Rain) | 16hp at 8,750rpm | 17.2hp at 9,000rpm |
| Torque | 14.6Nm at 6,500rpm | 14.73 Nm at 7250 rpm (Sport)/14.14 Nm at 7250 rpm (Urban/Rain) | 14.65Nm at 6,750rpm | 14.6Nm at 7,250rpm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 5-speed | 5-speed | 5-speed |
The Xtreme 160R’s biggest handicap was its engine and with this new 4V update, the company seems to have addressed most of those concerns. While it still isn’t the most powerful engine here, the deficit to the leader is just 0.65hp now. When we rode it, we felt that this engine was just marginally down on the refinement front compared to the Apache RTR 160 4V and the Pulsar N160.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: weight & dimensions
| Weight & dimensions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Xtreme 160R 4V | TVS Apache RTR 160 4V | Bajaj Pulsar N160 | Bajaj Pulsar NS160 | |
| Kerb weight | 145kg | 146kg | 154kg | 152kg |
| Seat height | 795mm | 800mm | 795mm | 807mm |
| Wheelbase | 1333mm | 1357mm | 1358mm | 1372mm |
| Fuel capacity | 12 litres | 12 litres | 14 litres | 12 litres |
| Ground clearance | 165mm | 180mm | 165mm | 170mm |
At 145kg, the Xtreme 160R Pro variant with the USD fork is the lightest of all the bikes here and by quite some margin. It also has the shortest wheelbase and lowest seat height in this company. None of the bikes here are particularly unwieldy machines but the Xtreme 160R takes that one step further.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: suspension & brakes
| Suspension & brakes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Xtreme 160R 4V | TVS Apache RTR 160 4V | Bajaj Pulsar N160 | Bajaj Pulsar NS160 | |
| Suspension (f) | USD fork | Telescopic fork | Telescopic fork | USD fork |
| Suspension (r) | Monoshock | Monoshock | Monoshock | Monoshock |
| Brakes (f) | 276mm disc | 276mm disc | 300mm disc | 300mm disc |
| Brakes (r) | 220mm disc | 200mm disc | 230mm disc | 230mm disc |
| Tyres (f) | 100/80-17 | 90/90-17 | 100/80-17 | 100/80-17 |
| Tyres (r) | 130/70-R17 | 130/70-R17 | 130/70-17 | 130/70-17 |
With a 37mm KYB USD fork and a Showa monoshock, the Xtreme 160R certainly packs in some very premium hardware and its ride quality is quite supple as well. The Pulsar NS160 is the other bike here to have a USD fork but its setup is biased slightly more toward sportiness. While the Apache and Pulsar N160 both come with a simpler telescopic fork, we have found them to be sweet-handling bikes. The Xtreme and the Apache are also the only bikes here to come with a radial rear tyre.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: features
The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V has a digital dash with Bluetooth connectivity and all-LED lighting but still makes do with a simpler single-channel ABS setup. The two Pulsars come with dual-channel ABS but make do with simpler digi-analogue displays. The Apache RTR 160 4V takes it even further with different riding modes, adjustable levers and glide through technology, although it too comes only with single-channel ABS.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: price
| Price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Xtreme 160R 4V | TVS Apache RTR 160 4V | Bajaj Pulsar N160 | Bajaj Pulsar NS160 | |
| Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs 1.27 lakh – Rs 1.36 lakh | Rs 1.24 lakh – Rs 1.32 lakh | Rs 1.23 lakh – Rs 1.30 lakh | Rs 1.37 lakh |
At Rs 1.36 lakh, the Xtreme 160R 4V is the second most expensive bike here but it also brings a fair few features to the table. The Bajaj Pulsar NS160 despite its age, is the most expensive bike here, however, it is the only one here to have a more sophisticated perimeter frame. The Bajaj Pulsar N160 and the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V are priced very similarly and only a proper comparison will reveal whether the Xtreme 160R 4V has got what it takes to usurp the 160cc throne.
