Hero MotoCorp is working on a larger displacement engine and this new platform will underpin multiple motorcycle styles. The engine in question is rumored to be a 421 cc single cylinder liquid cooled unit with the best performance metrics ever for the brand and the first motorcycle to be powered by this new engine will be the XPulse ADV, which looks to be production ready.
Although the name is not confirmed, Hero XPulse 421 ADV is the unofficial name given to this motorcycle by enthusiasts. The latest spy shots were from the Ladakh region and the test riders were Ross Branch and Nacho Corenzo from Hero MotoCorp’s Dakar Rally team. The new spy shots also show the bike’s fascia and LED headlight design.
Hero XPulse 421 ADV
ADVs are very popular at the moment and are emerging as the default choice of OEMs if they want to launch a new platform or a new engine or both. This is the path that Hero MotoCorp has chosen for its upcoming large displacement ADV, rumored to be called the XPulse 421 and rumored to feature its new 421 cc liquid-cooled engine.
The latest spy shots show the front facia of the bike with an LED headlight setup. This LED signature seems to be in the DNA of the company’s motorcycle and scooter family. It follows a vertically stacked LED reflector chamber design, but can also include projectors. There is a long windshield with smoked effect at the front.
The fairing extends to its engine, which should provide good wind protection for highway touring. Other protection includes knuckle guards, an engine bash plate, front fork cover and more. The front forks may be USD and we hope they are fully adjustable. The rear suspension is handled by a mono-shock setup.
Other notable elements include wire-spoke wheels, which we hope are compatible with tubeless tyres. We can see a strong looking box-section swingarm, a strong looking rear luggage rack with mounting for a tail bag, an upswept exhaust that helps wade through water and the bike appears to have a single-piece seat with a scooped out section for the rider.
Testing by Hero’s Dakar Rally Team
It was interesting to know that the Hero Xpulse 421 ADV test mules were being tested by Hero MotoCorp’s Dakar Rally team which included star riders like Ross Branch and Nacho Cornejo. These were Hero’s 450 cc Dakar Rally race bikes along with the Xpulse 421 (name not confirmed) test mules and some Xpulse 210s and some that looked like they had adjustable suspension with high ground clearance.
The current largest air cooled engine offered by the company is a 440cc unit with the Maverick 440, the current largest liquid cooled engine is a 250cc and the current largest engine is a 210cc with the XPulse family. When launched, the Hero XPulse 421 will compete with ADV tourers like the KTM 390 Adventure and TVS Apache RTX 300 as well as off-roaders like the Royal Enfield Himalayan, Yezdi Adventure and similar.
