Bajaj Hero Xpulse rival to come soon

Bajaj is finally entering the dual-sport motorcycle segment. A heavily camouflaged test mule has been spotted on Indian roads. It is directly targeted as a rival to the highly popular Hero Xpulse series. Experts note that the design mimics a lean, lightweight dual-sport rather than a bulky adventure tourer. If you love off-road riding and adventure touring, this new Bajaj could be a great option.

The motorcycle was spotted testing right alongside a Bajaj Pulsar N250. It is highly anticipated to use the same 249cc single-cylinder oil-cooled engine. This engine produces roughly 24.1 horsepower and 21.5 Nm of torque. A simpler air or oil-cooled engine with a 5-speed gearbox keeps the initial pricing aggressively competitive against Hero. Unlike extreme off-roaders that use a 21-inch front wheel, Bajaj seems to be testing a more balanced 19-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheel configuration. This strikes a clean middle ground between trail riding and highway stability. The prototype features a high-set off-road exhaust muffler, long-travel front suspension, a link-type rear monoshock, and disc brakes on both ends. A fully digital TFT console, Bluetooth smartphone navigation, traction control, and switchable dual-channel ABS for dirt sliding are all expected on the final production model.

The bike looks quite production-ready. Rumours from industry trackers point to a launch during the 2026 festive season or early 2027. To undercut established rivals, the ex-showroom price is expected to be around ₹1.80 lakh to ₹2 lakh.

If you are thinking of buying this upcoming Bajaj dual-sport motorcycle, you should do so if you want an affordable adventure bike that can handle both off-road trails and highway touring. You want a lightweight bike that is easy to handle in the dirt. You want modern features like a TFT screen, Bluetooth navigation, and switchable ABS. You have a budget of around ₹1.8 to ₹2 lakh. You can wait until late 2026 or early 2027 for the launch.

You should consider the Hero Xpulse 210 if you need a bike right now and cannot wait. The Xpulse is already a proven and popular adventure bike. You should also consider the Suzuki V-Strom SX or the Yezdi Adventure if you want other options in the same segment. But if you can wait, this new Bajaj could be a very strong competitor with a great price.