Hero Xtreme 125R

The Xtreme 125R is Hero MotoCorp’s latest motorcycle in the premium, sporty 125cc segment. It was designed to offer the best of both worlds - Sporty riding and commuting, without compromising on fuel efficiency. It is also designed to look aggressive and be feature packed to appeal to a younger generation of urban riders who want a little ‘extra’ from their 125cc motorcycles.

How much does the Xtreme 125R cost?

Prices for the Xtreme 125R start at Rs 95,000 for the entry-level variant, going up to Rs 99,500 for the top end one (both prices ex-showroom Delhi).

How many variants does the Xtreme 125R have?

The Xtreme 125R comes in two variants - IBS and ABS, priced at Rs 95,000 and Rs 99,500 respectively. The IBS gets Hero’s Integrated Braking System (Hero’s version of combined brakes), where the front brake gets activated when the rider uses the rear brake. This adds a bit of safety in emergency braking situations by ensuring the braking forces are distributed to both front and rear tyres. The ABS version comes with Single-Channel ABS, which has a proper Anti-lock Braking System for the front wheel. Both variants offer a disc brake at the front as standard, and have alloy wheels with tubeless tyres, which should make puncture repairs much easier.

Which is the best variant of the Xtreme 125R to buy?

We would always recommend the ABS version as ABS will provide much better safety compared to IBS when braking hard on loose or slippery surfaces by ensuring the front wheel doesn’t lock, thereby preventing the bike from skidding. Also, the ABS variant gets a larger 276mm front disc while the IBS version gets a smaller 240mm disc at the front.

What are the colour options available for the Xtreme 125R?

The Xtreme 125R comes in three colour options - Cobalt Blue, Firestorm Red and Stallion Black. Both the Cobalt Blue and Firestorm Red have Blue and Red paint respectively on the bikini fairing, tank extensions, part of the front mud guard, part of the tail section and the grab handles. The rest of the bike has silver and black panels. The Stallion Black on the other hand is black all over.

Our favourite colour for the Xtreme 125R:

We really like both the Cobalt Blue and Firestorm Red colours in the Xtreme 125R as the contrast between the Blue or Red, and silver and black panels really stands out.

How is the Xtreme 125R’s pickup? (Key specs & tested figures)

The Xtreme 125R’s 125cc air-cooled engine produces 11.4PS @ 8250rpm and 10.5Nm @ 6500rpm. These figures are among the highest in the 125cc class. This gives the bike pretty brisk acceleration, and in our tests, it went from zero to 60kmph in just 6.28 seconds. Even when overtaking in the city, it is reasonably quick as it effortlessly accelerates from 30kmph to 70kmph in third gear in just 7.2 seconds. So whether accelerating away from a stop light or passing through traffic, the Xtreme 125R is very easy to manage.

Is the Xtreme 125R a sports bike?

Although the Xtreme 125R looks quite aggressive and sporty, and offers reasonably quick performance, it isn’t an out-and-out sports bike. The footpegs are more rear-set compared to regular 125cc commuter bikes, but the handlebar is tall enough to give you a fairly upright riding posture. So it is actually quite comfortable to ride in the city. Even the split seats have plenty of space for both rider and pillion. So the Xtreme 125R is best described as a sporty, premium commuter rather than a sports bike.

What is the mileage of the Xtreme 125R?

In our mileage test, the Xtreme returned an incredible mileage of 81.53kmpl in the city and 61.68kmpl on the highway. In mixed riding conditions you can expect a mileage of 65-70kmpl from the Xtreme 125, if ridden properly. With a fuel tank capacity of 10 litres, you are looking at a full tank range of at least 600km, so most city riders should be able to commute for a couple of weeks before having to refuel.

Is the Xtreme 125 a good bike for occasional highway use?

The Xtreme’s engine offers more performance than other 125cc commuter motorcycles. So on the highway, it can manage higher speeds quite easily. In our tests, we were able to push the Xtreme well past 100kmph on the highway, but it cruises quite comfortably at 70-80kmph. At these speeds, the engine feels really smooth. So while the Xtreme 125R isn’t designed for long distance touring, if your commutes include some highway sections, the Xtreme will handle them quite easily.

What features does the Xtreme 125R have?

The Xtreme 125R comes with all-LED lighting - headlight, tail light and indicators. It also gets a fully digital negatively-lit LCD instrument cluster that has a speedometer, tachometer, odometer, two trip meters, fuel gauge, as well as a clock, average fuel economy indicator and a gear position indicator. The display is a bit on the smaller side, but all the information is well laid out and easy to read. Apart from this, the Xtreme 125 gets alloy wheels, tubeless tyres and a front disc brake as standard (rear brake is a 130mm drum as standard). The ABS variant also gets a single-channel Anti-lock Braking System for enhanced braking safety as well.

Should you buy the Xtreme 125R?

The Xtreme 125R is a bike that’s great for city riding, and performs reasonably well for occasional highway use. Its nimble handling characteristics and punchy engine make it fun to ride as well. But what makes it really stand out is its aggressive design that makes it look like a much bigger bike. On top of that, it also offers great safety with Single-channel ABS. In fact, it’s the only sporty 125cc commuter bike that gets ABS. For those who want a 125cc bike that feels more special than others in its class, the Hero Xtreme 125R is a great choice.

What are the alternatives to the Xtreme 125R?

The closest competitors to the Xtreme 125R are the TVS Raider and the Honda SP 125. The TVS is on par to the Xtreme when it comes to performance and efficiency, but offers a lot more features such as a TFT console with Bluetooth connectivity (in the Raider’s top variant). The Honda SP 125 offers a funky design as well, but doesn’t match up to the Xtreme in performance or mileage. However, Honda’s bulletproof reliability might be a reason to consider the SP 125 over the Xtreme. However, where the Xtreme really shines over the other two is with regards to safety, thanks to its single-channel ABS, and that too under 1 lakh Rupees ex-showroom.