Key highlights
- Hero could be revisiting the Impulse name for a new adventure motorcycle
- The original Impulse was India’s first modern, affordable on-off-road motorcycle
- Hero is currently expanding its premium motorcycle portfolio
The Hero Impulse was never a runaway sales success. But ask motorcycle enthusiasts about it today and the response is usually quite different. The lightweight adventure bike has developed something of a cult following since it was discontinued.
Now, Hero MotoCorp could be looking at the Impulse name once again. The possibility comes as the company is expanding its premium motorcycle portfolio, with new products planned across the 150cc-350cc space and beyond.
The Impulse was ahead of its time
The original Impulse arrived in India in 2011. It was a rather unusual motorcycle for its time, combining a small-capacity engine with long-travel suspension, a 19-inch front wheel and an off-road-friendly riding position.
Power came from a 149.2 cc, air-cooled single-cylinder engine making around 13.2 bhp and 13.7 Nm, paired with a five-speed gearbox. The problem was that India simply wasn’t ready for it.
Adventure motorcycles were still a niche concept, and most buyers wanted a commuter that was cheap to run rather than a lightweight machine that could leave the tarmac behind. Hero eventually discontinued the Impulse. But its basic idea didn’t disappear.
Enter the XPulse
Hero effectively revived the concept several years later with the XPulse 200. The XPulse was positioned as the modern successor to the Impulse, but with a bigger engine, better equipment and a much stronger focus on off-road ability. It also arrived at a much better time. Adventure motorcycles had become considerably more popular, and the XPulse gave riders an affordable way into the segment.
So why bring the Impulse name back now?
Hero has been steadily moving away from being seen only as a commuter-bike manufacturer. Hero is also developing the much larger Xpulse 421, which is expected to use an all-new liquid-cooled engine and premium hardware. That leaves room for an entry-level adventure motorcycle that could carry the Impulse name while sitting below the more capable XPulse models.
There is no confirmation yet that Hero will actually revive the name, so this remains speculation rather than a confirmed upcoming launch.
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