Key highlights
- Hero Xpulse 421 test bikes spotted in the Greater Himalayas
- Test bikes were ridden by Hero’s Dakar Rally riders
- The Xpulse 421 is expected to debut at the EICMA 2026 in November
Hero MotoCorp is rigorously testing the upcoming flagship adventure motorcycle, which will be called the Xpulse 421. While we were the first ones to leak the photos of the Xpulse 421 from Khardung La, the same test bikes have been spotted once again in the region.
The most interesting detail is the test riders themselves. Hero has sent its two world-class Dakar Rally race riders, Ross Branch and Nacho Cornejo, to test the upcoming adventure model in the Himalayas. We think it is a wise decision, as the Himalayas will offer a solid testing ground for the bike, and who could possibly test it to its maximum potential other than the Dakar Rally racers?
Speaking of the test bikes, both models were camouflaged, and the raspy, bassy sound of the exhaust note was captured in this leaked video. In terms of the design, the Xpulse 421 features a proper dual-sport outlook, as the front gets the long-travel USD suspension, a touring tinted windshield, a new LED headlamp, and a 21-inch spoked rim.
Meanwhile, the rider position reveals that it will get mid-controls, which will make long-distance riding easy. The bigger fuel tank hints at a long-range capability, while the long seat with a scoop for the rider makes us believe that it will be a comfortable option for touring buyers.
The rear section resembles the smaller Xpulse 210, as it features the upswept exhaust and a tail-mounted luggage plate for the top box. The test bike has complete LED lighting, and our previously shared spy shots of the Xpulse 421 have already revealed that it will get a big TFT screen, and features like cruise control, riding modes, navigation, and more.
Powering the Xpulse 421 is likely to be a 421cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled motor that is expected to make maximum power of around 40 bhp and 40 Nm. It will come mated to a 6-speed gearbox, and the slipper clutch will be offered as standard. Other hardware details include an 18-inch rear tyre with spoked rims, a preload-adjustable rear monoshock suspension, and petal disc brakes on both ends.
Hero is most likely going to debut it at the EICMA 2026, which is scheduled to take place in November in Milan, Italy. Post this event, Hero can possibly bring the production-spec model to India at the India Bike Week 2026. However, we believe that it will be launched by early next year.
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