Xpulse review: If you want to go touring get the Xpulse 210 / for Offroad - Xpulse 200 pro
I had a xpulse 200 2v in 2021 but was a noob off roader and had to sell the bike due to issues. When Kawasaki launched the KLX I was super excited to restart my off roading hobby but the pricing put it out of reach. So i went for the next best thing or so i believed, the xpulse 210. (Note - all comparison below is against the 200 2v)
Requirement - hit trails, hard trails, enduro trails.
How the 210 faired:
The ergonomics for me (5'11) was spot on compared to the standard 200 both for standing and seated riding.
The engine definitely feels punchier even compared to the current 200 4v. There is much more torque and linear torque to play with which really helps handle tricky off road situations.
The suspension is a class act! From a off road pov, if I give the rally suspension 100 marks, the 210 will get 90 while the 200 will get 77. This is a huge upgrade.
The highway performance takes the cake! You can cruise at 100-110 easy and can go upto 125-30. Bike is smooth and fuss free which cannot be said for the 200.
Now coming to off road:
The biggest issue is the weight, as long the bike is upright you are all good but the moment you fall or on a slippery slope, you will feel the 170kgs hitting you hard. It also feels top heavy compared to the 200 which makes it worse when you are on a incline.
The second issue is the tank design, it is too high compared to the 200 which has a more flat design which allows you to move forward much further to use your weight against the terrain.
The third issue is the unprotected radiator. It's a stupid design. If you fall on regular road you will not face any issues but since trails has rocks jutting out they can easily damage the radiator. They did on mine and had to get it replaced. You can say add protection but that also adds unnecessary weight.
Hence my advice to my dear future xpulse owners, if you are looking for a touring bike that handles off road, go for the 210, eyes closed. Hero saw how the 200 was being used by the majority and literally made a bike for that exact purpose. If you are looking to do serious off road, go for the 200 4v pro.
I'm sure you are burning inside to ask about reliability. Compared to my first xpulse and other xpulse 200 pro owners, I really do not have any issues with this bike apart from the radiator replacement which did take 20 days to arrive but that is expected for a slow moving niche product. Kawasaki takes the same or more time.
AMA. Let me know if you have any other questions.