Xpulse 200 4V ownership experience: Knocking problem, trip to Ladakh and more

It will still be the best value ADV on the market, with great suspension and incredible off-road capabilities, better than the Royal Enfield Himalayan and others.

BHPian SidharthaN recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

My 2022 Hero Xpulse 200 4V has had the knocking problem since 9k on the clock, currently at 20k. When shown to the service center, as a solution they replaced the balance shaft (as far as I know they replaced this part on every Xpulse which causes engine noise). That said, the knocking problem persisted. I was told the piston was broken and needed to be replaced.

I chose to ignore their advice and continue with the knocking problem at idle. I did a Ladakh trip in May with no engine problems except it sounded rough towards the end of the 3 km trip.

On the downside: I had three flat tires, the bike had to be towed in a truck until Manali suffered serious external damage, which was not honored in the insurance claims. I revived the tank locally and had a few parts replaced without help from the service center.

As for the warranty part, even if your app doesn’t show any history, you are still eligible for engine parts replacement without having to pay any fees. Try to escalate to higher Hero authorities if the dealer exhibits tantrums.

Finally, don’t be too disappointed with the Xpulse. It definitely has a problematic engine, but learn to live with it. Although the engine feels and sounds rough, it is actually quite reliable.

Apart from a slight lack of power in the Ladakh region, it performed well without any altitude, fuel, etc. problems. Even after a twelve-hour jump cart ride through passes and severe body damage, the bike rode non-stop from Manali to Delhi without any hiccups.

It will still be the best value ADV on the market, with great suspension and incredible off-road capabilities, better than the Himalayan and others on the market.

Also, if you follow globetrotters, they prefer these lightweight dual-sport ADVs because of the multi-dimensional flexibility it offers. Honda and Kawasaki will soon launch CRF and KLR dual-sport products that are currently being tested at a much higher price point. You will find that the same Xpulse is sold a few lakhs cheaper.

Have fun driving!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.