Hero Xoom 160 Review: Apt For Global Aspiration May Have Tough Home Run

It's unfair to see the Xoom 160 in isolation. With a sizeable engine, bulky presence and comfortable cruise, maxi-scooters have been a global success story. Indian two-wheeler consumers are evolving and Hero MotoCorp is taking its chances. Hero plans a global ride on the Xoom 160. While it will fancy its chances in India against the Yamaha Aerox 155, the market is thin. The goal, in my books, is to find consumers in European and Latin America as well. With context set, let's dive straight into the product - The Xoom 160.

Hero Xoom 160 Looks: 'Motorcycle-ish'

The face is monstrous; almost instantly recognisable. The dual-bracket LED headlamps spread out like the wings of butterfly. The tinted visor, front cladding and fender streamline into a pointed beak. It feels I'm exploring about a new 'GS' in town. The 31-mm front telescopic suspension look skinny in between the bulky front end and chunky 14-inch tire.

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The 7-litre fuel tank is at the centre, compromising the floor board. The handlebars and cockpit view are again very motorcycle-ish. Long bar ends, wide handlebars and plenty of plastic on top, the digital console is set far and deep from the rider. The switches, mirrors and halogen indicators could be better. They feel cheap, and seem to have been borrowed from commuter bikes in Hero's line-up.

The rear-end appears skinnier than the front. The LED tail lamps are split and look sharp. The recesses on the side panel for grab railes are neat integration. The 6-spoke, Y-shaped alloy wheels are distinct. The exhaust is long and add to the bulk of the stance. Paint finish is satisfactory, and barring a few components, the Xoom 160 feels solidly put together.

Hero Xoom 160 Ergonomics:  

Sitting on the Xoom 160 is upright and comfortable. Feet are placed somewhat forward and leverage on the wide handlebars is easy. Weighing 142 kilos, pushing the Xoom 160 in and out of the traffic can be taxing on the limbs. The seat height 787 mm with wide profile can make life difficult for riders under 5.2 feet. The single-piece is nice and wide with slight downwards slope.

Hero Xoom 160 Engine:

Hero MotoCorp has developed an all-new 156-cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cool, 4-valve engine which makes 14.8 horsepower and 14 Nm of peak torque. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a belt-driven transmission. 

Hero Xoom 160 Performance:

It feels fresh, unlikely any Hero product you have experienced before. Gentle throttle, the Xoom 160 lunges ahead with excitement. Adequate performance on tap, 80-100 kmph can be easily attainable and maintained without breaking a sweat. Outright acceleration, my first impression says, Xoom 160 may lag slightly to Aerox 155 due to much lower power-to-weight factor. What's more bothering is the NVH level. Vibrations on the handlebars are a constant across the revv range. That being said, I like the throaty exhaust note which in many ways mimics a motorcycle.

Hero Xoom 160 Ride and Dynamics:

Xoom 160 is a sizeable scooter and there is no hiding the sheer size on the move. City traffic and tight corners, the rider will face the lack of agility. The wide handlebars, 14-inch wheels and all that weight make the Xoom 160 so pleasant on the highways. It's planted, holds its line gracefully and instilled plenty of confidence in the rider. The ride quality is on the firmer side, and even minor undulations, if not tackled with care, can be discomfort on the handlebars and footrest. 

Hero Xoom 160 Features:

The characteristic headlamp and tail lamp units are LEDs while indicators remain halogen. Underseat storage is 22 litres. The head unit is a basic digital screen, much like other Hero motorcycles. The LCD screen displays information like speed, fuel gauge, tripmeter, fuel efficiency, and engine status keys. It comes with a two-in-one switch for ignition and fuel tank opening. The party tricky has to be the keyless feature on the scooter. The stock visor is decently large to counter wind blast. There is a while host of touring accessories to choose from. The engine gets i3S technology for maximising mileage in stop-and-go traffic. 

Hero Xoom 160 Verdict:

Xoom 160 breaks the mould for Hero MotoCorp as a star product that may attract foreign markets immensely. Parts and components could have been slightly better, but overall product comes out as a solidly-built once. Priced at Rs 1.50 lakh (ex-showroom), the Xoom 160 will be sold through the Premia dealership chain. The scooter should start arriving at dealerships pan-India in coming weeks and minor price reduction is expected with the GST 2.0 implementation.