Hero’s Xpulse 421 Spied Testing: Upcoming RE Himalayan 450 Rival!

Hero MotoCorp’s upcoming flagship adventure motorcycle has been spotted testing again, this time in Ladakh. The heavily camouflaged prototype, expected to be called the Xpulse 421, appears to be in an advanced stage of development as the company continues to evaluate it in high-altitude conditions ahead of its global debut. After the launch, the bike is expected to face competitors like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450.The latest spy images reveal a few design touches despite the camouflage. Up front, the bike sports a rally-inspired stance with a tall windshield and vertically stacked LED headlamps housed within a sharply sculpted frame. While the front end appears muscular and substantial, the rear profile is relatively thin.The Xpulse 421 is expected to ride on long-travel upside-down front forks paired with a rear monoshock. Hero is likely to offer adjustable suspension, with compression and rebound adjustments at the front and preload adjustment at the rear. The test mule also appears to have a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel wrapped in dual-purpose tires. Braking duties are expected to be handled by disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS.The new adventure bike will be powered by an all-new liquid-cooled 421cc single-cylinder engine. While Hero MotoCorp is yet to reveal the official specifications, the engine is expected to produce around 40 bhp and is likely to be mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The test bike also gives a glimpse of what appears to be a fully digital TFT instrument panel. While Hero MotoCorp has not officially announced a launch timetable, repeated sightings of the bike in real-world testing suggest that development is progressing steadily. We can expect a global presentation later this year.