Is Hero bringing the Impulse back?

Hero MotoCorp has filed a design patent for a new dual-sport motorcycle, with some details indicating that the model could enter a segment the brand last played in with the Impulse.

1. Air-cooled engine with kickstarter visible in the patent drawings
2. Carburettor suggests it could also be for export markets
3. Disc brakes at both ends with what looks like long-travel suspension

New Hero dual-sport motorcycle: What the patent reveals

Design cues drawn from existing Hero models across different segments

The new motorcycle in the patent filing has an air-cooled engine with no oil cooler, suggesting that it will likely be a smaller-capacity powerplant displacing somewhere in the 150-200cc range, well below the liquid-cooled Xpulse 421 that’s currently under development. The images also reveal that the engine will feature a kickstarter, but it is safe to assume that an electric starter will also be present. If this is indeed a small-capacity engine as we suspect, the Impulse moniker could even be in contention for a revival.

While this means the new model could sit close to the existing XPulse 200 4V and XPulse 210, the overall profile appears slimmer, and the potentially smaller engine could also make it lighter and easier to handle.

The silhouette and tank shrouds also bear a closer resemblance to the old Impulse than to the current XPulse range. Lighting elements seem to be drawn from existing Hero models – the tail-lamp resembles the unit on the Xtreme 125R and XPulse 210, while the headlight is similar to the one in the Xtreme 160R and now-discontinued Passion Pro 110 XTEC. Other visible elements include a raised front mudguard, a high-mounted exhaust, a telescopic fork and monoshock suspension setup, and disc brakes at both ends.

However, there is one aspect that is a little puzzling. In the images, we can see what looks like a fuel tap on the left side of the engine and a choke knob on the left handlebar – both indicating a carburetted setup. It is highly unlikely that it would comply with our country’s emission norms, so the bike in this specific form could be intended for export markets where carburetted engines are still permitted.

That said, other details suggest a different version of the bike seen here could make it to India. Regulatory requirements such as the front number plate and a saree guard are both visible, suggesting Hero could also be designing the bike with the local market in mind.

There’s little other information right now, but we’ll update this story as we learn more. A patent filing also doesn’t necessarily mean that the bike will go on sale in the near future. As for the confirmed upcoming products from the brand, we can expect the production-ready Xpulse 421 to make its official debut at EICMA 2026.