Hero unveils the Xpulse 450, its most powerful motorbike
The Indian brand at EICMA with the new Xpulse 450, a new Harley-Davidson resulting from an India-US collaboration, two concept bikes and the electric models
India’s Hero MotoCorp has chosen EICMA to relaunch its international ambitions and unveil a new generation of premium models. The Indian manufacturer, which is celebrating 25 consecutive years as the world leader in sales volumes, is bringing a range to Milan that spans from adventure bikes to electric motorcycles, including new models developed in collaboration with Indian research centres and the Tech Centre Germany.
New ‘flagship’
The main new addition is the Xpulse 450, Hero’s new ‘flagship’ (as Hero has described it) adventure bike, developed on the basis of the experience gained by the Hero MotoSports Team Rally in international competitions, including the Dakar Rally. The design centres on a brand-new, liquid-cooled, 421 cc single-cylinder, twin-shaft DOHC, four-valve engine, capable of delivering 47 cv at 9,100 rpm and a maximum torque of 38 Nm at 7,500 rpm. The gearbox has six speeds and is paired with a power-assisted, anti-hopping clutch.
Particular attention has been paid to the chassis, featuring fully adjustable suspension and a 43 mm Kayaba upside-down fork, with 225 mm of travel and 22-position compression and rebound adjustments. Among the technological features, the integration of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay stands out – a solution that Hero presents as a first for the category. The Xpulse 450 joins the smaller Xpulse 200 and Xpulse 210, expanding the adventure-focused range. For the time being, this is a prototype, with the final version expected to arrive around 2027.
Partnership with H-D
Alongside the new adventure model, the Harley-Davidson X350T makes its debut, marking a further development in the collaboration between the two brands; it will be sold on the domestic market. The 350 cc model features a flat-track style, chequered graphics, electronic throttle, riding modes, switchable ABS and traction control. The engine is a new air- and oil-cooled single-cylinder unit, mounted in a trellis frame.
Two concept cars and the Vida electric model
Hero is also bringing two concept bikes to Milan – the Scrambler Concept and the Classic Concept – which offer a glimpse of possible developments in the future premium range.
