Just a few weeks after we reported about Hero MotoCorp filing a design patent for an all-new air-cooled dualsport bike, images of that very machine in production ready guise have surfaced online. Going by the fact that this bike appears to be more approachable than the Xpulse models on every front, we are looking at the likely possibility of Hero resurrecting the Impulse moniker nearly a decade after the original model went off sale.
All prices ex-showroom, Delhi
- Appears to use a 19-inch front wheel for approachable seat height
- Could use a retuned version of Xtreme 160R 4V’s engine
- Expect it to be priced below the Xpulse 200 4V (Rs 1.48 lakh)
Are we looking at images of the 2027 Hero Impulse?
Uses an air/oil-cooled engine, has different styling to Xpulse
The original Hero Impulse had angular body panels, a sharp headlight and a small amount of cladding surrounding the headlight. While it was surely capable of tackling everything Indian roads and trails threw at it, crucially, it retained a sense of friendliness in terms of an approachable seat height and decent on-road manners which was equally as important on a daily basis.
From earlier patent images and the rather grainy image circulating online, it appears that Hero MotoCorp is now gearing up to launch a motorcycle very similar in ethos to its Impulse. There are several attributes that support this theory. The front wheel appears to be a smaller and more all-round capable 19-inch unit, not a 21-incher like on the Xpulse. Suspension travel and ground clearance can both best be described as ready to tackle almost anything you subject the bike to while retaining a friendly perch - an important consideration for the Indian market. Expect a seat height in the 800mm ballpark and both suspension travel and ground clearance numbers to hover around the 180-200mm mark.
Since this is likely to be an approachable bike (both in terms of dimensions and pricing) expect a single-channel ABS which will also suit the on/off-road usage this machine will be expected to handle. On the features front, expect this new Hero motorcycle to be rather simple to withstand the rigours of off-road use as well as be easy to fix and repair on the go. A simple LCD display is the more likely candidate than a more expensive colour TFT. We can however see LED indicators, which means it won’t be a no-frills, bargain-basement offering.
Coming to the powertrain, the casings on the air/oil-cooled engine - while different - do bear more than a passing resemblance to the ones on the Xtreme 160R 4V. What also solidifies this theory is that this new Hero dualsport machine is likely to be positioned as an entry-point into off-road riding, exactly like the 149cc Impulse did back in 2011. The Xtreme’s 163.2cc single-cyl motor is rated for 16.9hp at 8,500rpm and 14.6Nm of torque at 6,500rpm.
If this is indeed the motor Hero decides to employ on this new dualsport, expect the company to - at the very least - retune and remap it for this application, if not delve further into the engine’s internals. Earlier design patent images also revealed that the engine will feature a kickstarter, but it is safe to assume that an electric starter will also be present.
While there is no official confirmation on this upcoming Hero dualsport being called the Impulse, the brand equity that the name carries in our market can’t be ignored. Another argument to support this statement is that all the visual and mechanical signs point to it being more approachable and simpler than the Xpulse 200 4V.
Expect this new bike to slot in below the Rs 1.48 lakh price tag that the Xpulse 200 commands and it is more likely to be positioned somewhere around the Xtreme 160R 4V’s price point (Rs 1.33 lakh - Rs 1.38 lakh). Given that Hero also exports motorcycles to Latin America, Africa as well as numerous Asian and European markets which have demand for simple, affordable and do-it-all machines like this one, this bike could be shipped overseas as well. EICMA 2026 is drawing quite close and perhaps the company will use that show as a launchpad for what appears to be a reincarnated Hero Impulse.
Image Source: xtremeAnkit on Reddit
Ved Janve
Vishal Venugopal
Stephen Raj Antony
