The Hero Xtreme 160R has been around since 2020 and has received a few updates over the years. For 2026, the bike gets a third-generation upgrade with a design overhaul and several new features. We spent some time with the bike in Jaipur to bring you our first impressions.
The design silhouette is now closer to that of the 250R, with similar LED DRLs and sharp panels all around. The bike we were riding was the top-spec Carbon variant, which gets faux carbon-fibre panels in a few places. Additionally, it also gets five-step adjustable clutch and brake levers. Overall, the bike certainly looks better than ever. A split seat is available as an accessory, but I feel it would have been nice to have it offered as standard on this variant.
The feature list is now extensive, with a TFT screen, ride-by-wire throttle with three riding modes (Rain, Road and Sport), cruise control, and a panic brake alert system. The engine is the same 163.2cc unit, making 17.1hp at 8,750rpm and 14.6Nm of peak torque at 6,500rpm. Compared to the Combat Edition from earlier, it is just 0.2hp more powerful, with this power being produced 250rpm higher in the rev range. Hero claims a 0-60kph acceleration time of 4.4 seconds.
I started my day riding in Sport mode and soon realised that the throttle response is very snatchy. The on-off transitions are not smooth, which gets a bit annoying when riding in stop-go traffic. In Road mode, it is not as snatchy but still feels inconsistent. The fuelling has clear room for improvement with this new ride-by-wire system, and this was not an issue with the previous cable throttle system on the older model.
Out on the highway, the sweet spot for cruising is around 85-90kph. Beyond that, there is a slight buzz through the handlebar and footpegs. The bike can show over 110kph on the display, but the engine does feel stressed at anything above 95kph. The cruise control system works well, and while it is not something I found myself using much, Hero tells us that its customers in more rural areas who have daily commutes on highway roads appreciate such a feature.
Another aspect of the riding modes I did not like is their user-friendliness. You need to long-press the down button on the left-hand switchgear, after which you have to press up or down again to select your preferred mode, followed by the select button. A single dedicated button to cycle through the modes would have been ideal and made switching modes on the go less distracting.
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The handling of the Xtreme 160R has always been good, and that remains unchanged. It is a nimble machine that is easy to flick into corners, and the tyres do a good job of providing grip. The suspension absorbs smaller bumps and undulations well, but you will have to slow down for larger potholes. The initial bite from the front brake is not as sharp as I would have liked with a spongy initial feel and the bite builds only after the lever has been pulled in halfway.
There are three variants of the bike: Standard, Pro and Carbon. The Standard is priced at Rs 1.27 lakh (ex-showroom) and is still equipped with a mechanical throttle. It gets a colour LCD screen, disc brakes at both ends with a single-channel ABS system, and a telescopic front fork. This variant will be available starting somewhere starting in the first quarter of next year.
The Pro variant, priced at Rs 1.37 lakh (ex-showroom), gets a ride-by-wire throttle, riding modes, dual-channel ABS, a USD fork and cruise control. Finally, the top-spec Carbon variant, priced at Rs 1.41 lakh (ex-showroom), gets a TFT console, illuminated switches, adjustable levers and coloured wheels.
At its price point, the top-spec Carbon variant we were riding offers good value for the features on offer. However, the fuelling certainly need to be worked on and the Xtreme 160R would be a much better all-round package when that happens. If you aren't someone who cares about a TFT screen, USD fork, and features like cruise control, the base variant with the mechanical throttle would be the one to wait for.
Dinshaw Magol
Rishaad Mody
