Hero Xpulse 421 Sketch Unveiled – KTM 390, Himalayan Rival

Hero MotoCorp has expanded its portfolio by introducing higher-capacity bikes, similar to other Indian OEMs. Hero revealed a host of new 250cc two-wheelers at the 2024 EICMA, including its all-new…

By Ishika Setia

November 10, 2024

2 min read

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Hero MotoCorp has expanded its portfolio by introducing higher-capacity bikes, similar to other Indian OEMs. Hero revealed a host of new 250cc two-wheelers at the 2024 EICMA, including its all-new Karizma XMR 250 and Xtreme 250R, along with the Xpulse420 – which is set to take on rivals such as the Himalayan 450 and KTM390 Adventure.

Hero Xpulse 421 Sketch Revealed – Rival to KTM 390, Himalayan 450

The Hero Xpulse 421 will be driven by an all-new 420cc unit making between 43 to 45 bhp. That’s on par with the Himalayan 450, which also offers 40 bhp and 40 Nm, and obviously in line with expected power figures of around 45 bhp as well as a similar torque figure for the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure. In order to let the Xpulse 421 compete with its rivals in terms of performance as well as pricing, Hero would be looking at a competitive starting price for the bike that should sit around ₹2.80 lakh (ex-showroom).

Though only sketches and clay models were showcased at EICMA, prominent design elements on the Xpulse 421 include a distinctive LED headlamp assisted by DRLs, knuckle guards, and polygonal mirrors along with an aggressively styled fuel tank. The bike is also designed with protection in mind, featuring a robust bash plate and heat shield due to the high-mount exhaust pipe. It will be equipped with a horizontally mounted color TFT unit, Bluetooth connectivity, traction control, and drive modes, gold USD forks, mono-shock rear suspension, box-section swingarm, and switchable ABS among others.

The motorcycle will likely come equipped with a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear wheel, both wrapped in dual-purpose rubber. In terms of the launch timeline, Hero has not revealed a date yet. A launch is expected sometime in 2025 or early 2026 but we imagine this will be tested thoroughly as upon launch, the new bike would enter one of the most popular segments—the adventure bike market. We already know Hero has a hit on its smaller Xpulse, and the Xpulse 421 looks to cash in on that success.