Hero Xtreme 125R Road Test Review: The Sportiest 125

The latest addition to our garage is the Hero Xtreme 125R. It is the sportiest 125cc commuter from Hero MotoCorp, and offers a lot of segment first features. After riding it for around 400km in the city and on the highway, we have a good idea of what the bike is like and what it has to offer. Here’s what we think about its real-world performance.

Design

The Xtreme 125R has a really sporty and aggressive look, which makes it feel like a higher-capacity bike. This look comes down to the aggressive headlight design, which looks like it has taken some inspiration from the Ducati Streetfighter V4, along with the sharp tank extensions. 

The bike’s angular tank, with the Xtreme badging, looks premium. At the rear, the raised tail section goes well with the aggressive design. The fit and finish are also good, with very little exposed wiring here and there. 

The switch gear quality also meets segment expectations. Overall, the Xtreme feels like the sportiest-looking 125cc commuter bike. Hero MotoCorp has done an amazing job making this bike look and feel premium.

Ergonomics

When sitting on the bike, you can either go for a slightly more sporty and committed riding posture or a more relaxed and upright one. This is because the rider’s seat is long and roomy. This adds a bit of versatility and makes both relaxed commuting and slightly more sporty riding possible. 

When it comes to seating comfort, cushioning is decent but slightly towards the firmer side. Short rides are comfortable but sitting on the saddle for longer durations can cause a bit of discomfort. I think this comes down to the firmness which can make your butt go numb after a while.

Engine, Power And Performance

The Hero Xtreme 125R is powered by a 124.7cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 11.4PS and 10.5Nm. In the real world, riding the bike in the city is a really fun experience as the engine offers good bottom-end torque along with a decent mid-range performance.

During my time riding in the city, the engine was able to pull from low speeds of 25kmph in 5th gear. This tractable nature of the motor also makes it quite nice when riding in the city, as you don’t have to constantly keep shifting gears.

When it comes to highway performance, the bike is able to sit comfortably at speeds of 80kmph without feeling stressed. As someone who rides on the highway almost on a daily basis, this is something I really like. But once pushed beyond that, the engine starts feeling stressed and there’s very power and torque left.

Refinement is another major plus point of this motor. There are very little vibrations present, and most of it is only noticeable once you push the bike past 90kmph. Overall, performance-wise this engine really shines, and as a daily commuter, it is quite a fun bike.

Handling And Ride Quality

Sporty handling is what the Xtreme 125R promises, and also delivers. When riding in the city, cutting through traffic is effortless thanks to the agile and nimble nature of the bike. But what makes this bike stand out is how well it handles corners. The bike leans into turns quite easily and feels extremely stable as well. 

This comes down to two major advantages the bike has in terms of underpinnings. The first is the addition of a 37mm telescopic fork which is the largest in the 125cc commuter segment. The second is the addition of a 120-section rear tyre, which is the widest in the segment. 

The suspension setup is slightly towards the stiffer side, and this keeps the bike quite stable at higher speeds and when leaned over. The MRF Nylogrip Zapper-C tyres also provide excellent grip in most riding conditions.

The bike is able to handle most bumps and potholes on the road, but the sharper ones will be felt. The ride quality overall is quite balanced, and with a pillion on board, it tends to improve a lot.

Braking performance is another area where the Xtreme 125R doesn't feel like a typical 125cc sporty commuter. The bike has a 276mm disc brake at the front which is the largest in this segment. The disc brake offers really good stopping power and feel, bringing the bike to a halt in a jiffy. 

The addition of single-channel ABS, another segment first feature also elevates the riding experience giving an additional layer of safety. The rear drum on the other hand offers decent stopping power, but not enough feel. It is easy to accidentally lock up the rear, with hard braking so I tend to use both the front and rear brake in combination for better stopping power.

Features

The Xtreme 125R’s instrument console is a rather small unit, which offers essential readouts like speed, time, fuel level, trip and odometer readouts. But overall, the console feels a bit too basic. 

The fuel gauge is not very accurate, and it is quite difficult to get a decent idea of how much fuel is actually there in the tank. Another issue with the console is the low brightness which makes it extremely difficult to read under harsh sunlight. 

Should You Buy The Hero Xtreme 125R?

The Hero Xtreme 125R is a really good bike, and it manages to offer everything it promises. The bike offers premium sporty looks, good performance and amazing handling.

The many segment-first and largest-in-segment bits make the bike feel like a more premium proposition. It is offered in three variants with the following prices:

Overall, at this price point, the bike is a really good value-for-money proposition. If you are someone who is looking to upgrade from a 100cc bike, like say the Splendor then the Hero Xtreme 125R will be a really good choice. That said, the only issue with the bike is the rather basic instrument console when compared to rivals. Other than that, the bike manages to check off all other boxes and is a choice you won’t regret.