Just a few weeks after we reported on 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 more approachable than the Xpulse models on every front, we are looking at the possibility of Hero resurrecting the Impulse moniker nearly a decade after the original model went off sale.
The front wheel appears to be a smaller, more all-round-capable 19-inch unit, not a 21-incher like on the Xpulse. Suspension travel and ground clearance can 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 around 180-200mm.
Coming to the powertrain, the casings on the air/oil-cooled engine bear a close resemblance to those on the Xtreme 160R 4V. The Xtreme's 163.2cc single-cylinder mill is rated for 16.9hp at 8,500rpm and 14.6Nm of torque at 6,500rpm, making it an approachable entry point into off-road and trail riding.
Expect this new bike to slot below the Xpulse 200 4V (which costs Rs 1.48 lakh) and sit closer to the Xtreme 160R 4V's price point around Rs 1.35 lakh.