The Kawasaki KLX230 weighs 22kg lighter than the Hero Xpulse 200 4V while making roughly the same amount of power.
We’ve had the opportunity to test the performance of the all new Kawasaki KLX230 and the Hero Xpulse 200 4V. While on paper both these motorcycles produce roughly the same output, our testing numbers shed light on how these numbers stack up in the real world.
Acceleration test
| 0-100kph acceleration test | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki KLX230 | Hero Xpulse 200 4V | |
| 0-40kph | 2.04s | 2.22s |
| 0-60kph | 3.90s | 4.33s |
| 0-80kph | 6.75s | 7.61s |
| 0-100kph | 11.51s | 13.52s |
This test is conducted from a standstill and tests how quick these motorcycles are and how easy they are to launch. Yet again, thanks to its lighter weight and shorter gearing, the KLX230 accelerates to 60kph 0.43 seconds quicker and to 100kph a whole 2 seconds faster than the Xpulse 200 4V.
In-gear acceleration test
| In-gear acceleration test | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki KLX230 | Hero Xpulse 200 4V | |
| 20-50kph (2nd gear) | 2.23s | 2.73s |
| 30-70kph (3rd gear) | 4.31s | 5.24s |
| 50-80kph (4th gear) | 3.89s | 5.55s |
For our in-gear acceleration tests we take both motorcycles and test how quick they are in 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear. Thanks to its shorter gearing and lighter weight, the KLX230 is ever so quicker than the Xpulse 200 4V. This lead becomes even more prominent in the 4th gear where the Kawasaki managed to go from 50kph-80kph a whole 1.66 seconds quicker.
0-60kph braking test
| 0-60kph braking test | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki KLX230 | Hero Xpulse 200 4V | |
| 0-60kph | 17.52m | 18.11m |
This test focuses on testing the braking performance under hard or emergency braking situations. In this test we accelerate up to 60kph and slam on the brakes with ABS turned on. In our test both motorcycles performed almost on par and only had a negligible difference of 0.59m.
Kawasaki KLX230 vs Hero Xpulse 200 4V price
| Price | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki KLX230 | Hero Xpulse 200 4V | |
| Price | Rs 3.30 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) | Rs 1.51 (ex-showroom, Mumbai) |
With the KLX230 priced at Rs 3.30 lakh and the Xpulse 200 4V costing between Rs 1.52 lakh and Rs 1.65 lakh, for the standard and Pro variants respectively, there’s really no comparison here when it comes to price. What we can tell you is that the KLX230 feels significantly more competent and focused in its approach when ridden back-to-back with an Xpulse. Whether or not the Kawasaki is worth double the money that the Hero commands (literally) is a question that will have different answers depending on the buyer in question.
Let us know if you would opt for the KLX over the proven Xpulse in the comments below.
Also see: Kawasaki KLX230 vs Hero Xpulse 200 4V Pro: specifications compared
