Xtreme ways

Does the newest member of Hero's Xtreme family have the credentials to be considered a fitting member? Can it hold its own in a segment which thrives on all-rounders that can be capable commuters with that sporty edge?

- Abhinav Jakhar

Hero MotoCorp recently added a new member to its family, and before you make any assumptions, no, we aren’t talking about the Mavrick 440. We’re talking about the ‘other’ new motorcycle to come from the homegrown manufacturer’s stable - Xtreme 125R. It is now the smallest member of the Xtreme family, which currently consists of the faired Xtreme 200S 4V along with the 160 and 160 4V street motorcycles. So, where does the 125R fit into the mix?

Well, for starters, it is meant to be a commuter with a sporty angle to it, or maybe it’s the other way around? To get a low down on what exactly is the Xtreme 125R, we took it out for a spin. But before diving into the ride experience, let’s dive deeper into the kind of features it has to offer along with the overall design language.

At first glance, the Xtreme 125R looks quite radical. Take for example the front projector LED headlamps, indicators and that funky headlamp cowl design. Then there’s the tank extensions, alloy wheel design and that extended rear section just behind the grab handles, which looks rather sleek and sporty. I also like the stickers that read ‘125R’ and those cool tiny DRLs.

Even subtle nuances like the reflector on the tyre hugger mudguard and well-integrated saree guard really blend in well together. Hero has tried to make sure that the Xtreme 125R has a big bike feel, and I must say, it has succeeded. Thanks to all those busy design elements, there’s an undeniable heft to the 125R. There’s a certain confidence to the Xtreme 125R’s design language that is hard to miss, and that is a crucial factor when it has to appeal to a buyer that is looking for an all-rounder of sorts.