The 200cc adventure motorcycle segment is a popular category as it offers the right balance between power and practicality while being a great platform to hone one’s skill. The category’s most popular motorcycles are the Hero XPulse, the newly-updated Honda CB 200X, and the Suzuki V-Strom.
These motorcycles have adequate power for occasional highway use and are good in the city, while also being capable of exploring the roads less taken. So how do they compare and which of them should you choose? Here’s a detailed comparison.
Honda CB 200X vs Hero Xpulse 200 4V vs Suzuki V-Strom – Design
Starting with the Honda CB 200X, the motorcycle has a unique, angular front fairing, giving the motorcycle a beefy adventure tourer look, while it offers an upright seating position, side-slung exhaust, alloy wheels, and a distinctive LED headlight design.
The Suzuki V-Strom takes its design inspiration from its larger V-Strom siblings and features an angular design, with a narrow front fairing and a tall beak. The V-Strom also runs on alloy wheels and offers an upright seating posture.
The Hero XPulse 200 4V takes a completely different design approach and unlike the CB 200X and the V-Strom, the XPulse is more of a dirt bike with a tall suspension setup, no fairing, high front fender, spoke wheels, and a high-mounted exhaust.
Honda CB 200X vs Hero Xpulse 200 4V vs Suzuki V-Strom: Features and equipment
The Honda CB 200X gets USD forks, monoshock at the rear, disc brakes at both ends with single-channel ABS, 17-inch alloy wheels, full LED lighting, and an LCD instrument cluster amongst others.
The Suzuki V-Strom gets traditional telescopic front forks, a monoshock at the rear, disc brakes at both ends, 19-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels, and an LCD instrument cluster with phone connectivity, navigation, call alert and SMS notifications.
Coming to the XPulse, the motorcycle gets telescopic front suspension, monoshock at the rear, 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheels, disc brakes at both ends, LED lighting, and an LCD instrument cluster with three ABS modes. In terms of features, the Hero XPulse and the Suzuki V-Strom are well-equipped, but with different features.
Honda CB 200X vs Hero Xpulse 200 4V vs Suzuki V-Strom: Engine specifications
All three motorcycles come with a single-cylinder air-cooled engine, mated to manual gearboxes with different power outputs. All three motorcycles make adequate power to tackle city commutes and weekend getaways.
| Specifications | CB 200X | V-Strom | XPulse |
| Displacement | 184cc | 249cc | 199cc |
| Power | 17bhp | 26bhp | 19bhp |
| Torque | 15.9Nm | 22Nm | 17.3Nm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 6-speed | 5-speed |
The Suzuki V-Strom clearly has an advantage as it has the highest displacement engine that also makes the most power and torque, while being paired to a 6-speed gearbox instead of a 5-speed unit like the XPulse and the CB 200X. The Honda is the least powerful amongst the three.
Honda CB 200X vs Hero Xpulse 200 4V vs Suzuki V-Strom: Which one should you get?
If you are looking at city commutes and a reliable motorcycle, the Honda CB 200X is a great choice, however, if you are looking at a motorcycle that can do it all, be it city commutes, long highway rides, and have connectivity features, the Suzuki V-Strom is the one you need to be looking at.
However, if city commutes and off-roading is your cup of tea, the Hero XPulse 200 4V is the right motorcycle, as Hero offers a host of accessories, including taller suspension, seat, and more to make the XPulse a true dirt bike with road manners.
