Amit Saraswat 
Hero MotoCorp, the longtime king of India’s 125cc motorcycle segment, has faced growing challenges from stylish and feature-packed offerings from TVS, Bajaj, and Honda. In response, Hero launched the Xtreme 125R, a motorcycle that injects some much-needed excitement into their 125cc lineup. We spent a week with the Xtreme 125R, and here’s what we discovered.
The most striking aspect of the Xtreme 125R is its design. Borrowing cues from the Ducati Streetfighter, the Hero boasts an aggressive and head-turning presence. The elongated, chunky headlight with sharp LED DRLs dominates the front fascia, while the sculpted fuel tank with prominent extensions gives the motorcycle a muscular stance. The tail section, though short, maintains a substantial look thanks to a sharply designed taillight and integrated registration plate holder.
The heart of the Xtreme 125R is a familiar 125cc engine derived from Hero’s existing lineup, but with some tweaks. It produces a respectable 11.4PS of power at 8250rpm and 10.5Nm of torque at 6500rpm. This translates to effortless low-end grunt, perfect for navigating city streets. The engine pulls cleanly from as low as 12kmph in third gear, making crawling through traffic a breeze.
Power delivery is linear and predictable, prioritising ease of use over outright performance. While extracting maximum performance requires pushing the engine to higher revs, it does get noticeably vocal in this range. Thankfully, the soundtrack remains pleasant, even at higher rpm. Complementing the engine’s user-friendly nature is a super light clutch and a smooth-shifting gearbox. In our time with the motorcycle, we didn’t get a chance to put it through a fuel efficiency test. Since it doesn’t come with a fuel efficiency read out, it is not possible for me to share an approximate fuel efficiency figure.
Despite being a 125cc motorcycle, the Xtreme 125R delivers a confidence-inspiring ride. Its agile handling allows for easy manoeuvring and quick flicks into corners. The 90/90-17 front and 120/80-17 rear tyres provide sufficient grip for most riding conditions. I didn’t feel any compromise in confidence and its ability compared to its elder sibling — the Xtreme 160R — which also happened to be my long-term motorcycle for the last 6 months.
The suspension offers a good balance between comfort and handling. While the motorcycle feels planted on most surfaces, larger bumps can unsettle it slightly. The ride quality leans towards the firm side, which might be noticeable on particularly rough roads, especially for taller riders. The seat, however, provides adequate comfort for city commutes, although a wider seat would be appreciated for larger builds.
The Hero Xtreme 125R comes equipped with single-channel ABS, a feature absent in most of its direct competitors. While this is a welcome safety addition, the overall braking performance could be better. The front brake lacks initial bite and requires a firmer squeeze than ideal. Thankfully, the rear brake offers a more predictable feel with good progression.
The Xtreme 125R boasts a functional feature set that includes an all-LED headlight setup, LED turn indicators, a digital instrument cluster, an emergency override switch, a split-grab rail for the pillion rider, and single-channel ABS. However, feature-hungry riders might find the TVS Raider’s TFT display, riding modes, and Bluetooth connectivity more appealing.
The Hero Xtreme 125R marks a significant step forward for Hero MotoCorp in the 125cc segment. It boasts a stylish design, a friendly and peppy engine, and agile handling, making it a compelling option for urban commuters. While the suspension could be plusher and the brakes could offer better bite, the single-channel ABS is a welcome safety feature. Overall, the Hero Xtreme 125R is a worthy contender in the ever-growing 125cc segment, offering a stylish and practical package at a competitive price point.
