Hero Xtreme 160R 4V Review: Quick and Tidy But With A Few Niggles

The Xtreme 160R 4V has spent three years chasing the Pulsar NS160 and the Apache RTR 160 without ever matching their popularity. Late last year Hero added the Combat Edition with cruise control and ride-by-wire. Now the 2026 edition of the Xtreme 160R has been restyled, given three variants with the new top-spec Carbon version also getting a TFT console.

We rode the updated Hero Xtreme 160R 4V in the Pink City, Jaipur. Here are our thoughts about the Xtreme 160R 4V after a few hours in the saddle about whether the changes brought about by Hero are enough to bring the latest evolution of this sporty 160cc commuter back into the conversation.

Hero Xtreme 160R 4V Review - Design & Features

Hero calls the new design language used for the updated 2026 Xtreme 160 R 4V, Cybersharp. The bike's tank shrouds and rear seat cowl are now sharper than before and the stance is more muscular, and the tank has been reworked to give your knees a better grip. The headlamp is now an auto-illuminating Class D LED unit with a projector high beam, an ambient light sensor and H-shaped DRLs. The tail lamp is H-shaped too, and every indicator is also LED.

The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V Standard variant comes in Firestorm Red and Pearl Black, while Pro is offered in Pro Red and Pro Black. The Carbon gets four shades: Carbon Red, Carbon Black, Carbon Grey and Abrax Orange.

The Standard and Pro variants sport the LCD console from the previous Combat Edition. Only the Carbon gets the new 4.2-inch TFT, the same unit as the Xpulse 210 with a layout reworked for a sportier bike. The TFT shows ride modes, gear position, shift advisory, cruise control status, distance to empty and real-time fuel economy. Bluetooth brings call and message alerts, music controls, phone battery info and turn-by-turn navigation.

The switchgear is now illuminated and soft-touch, and there's a hazard light button and a Type-C fast charger. Both the brake and clutch levers are five-step adjustable. Hero has also added Panic Brake Alert, which flashes to warn traffic behind you under hard braking. The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V's seat is now 16mm longer at 642.9mm and comes in single and split layouts, with a 805mm seat height and a 149kg kerb weight on all three variants.

The Standard variant is still the odd one out. It keeps a mechanical throttle and a telescopic fork, and makes do with single-channel ABS. The Pro and Carbon get ride-by-wire with Rain, Road and Sport modes, cruise control, a 37mm KYB USD fork and a preload-adjustable monoshock. Both run dual-channel ABS with a 276mm front and 220mm rear disc.

Hero Xtreme 160R 4V Review - Riding Impressions

The engine is the best thing about this bike. Every variant of the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V uses the 163.2cc, oil-cooled, four-valve engine. It now makes 17.1p and 14.6Nm of peak torque and is paired to a 5-speed gearbox. On the go it is smooth and refined, but it's also properly peppy, and makes you want to keep pushing it.

Pickup from low revs is good, and the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V gets going quickly when you open the throttle. We timed 0-60km/h in 5.10 seconds, which was quite a bit more than the 4.4 second time that Hero claims. There's also a slight buzz if you rev it hard in third, but you have to go looking for it.

Unlike many other bikes, Sport mode on the Hero Xtreme 160R 4V isn't a gimmick. Pickup is noticeably stronger, and the bike pulls hard in second and third. The 5-speed gearbox shifts smoothly, and the clutch is super light, so it's easy to live with in traffic. First-time riders might stall it a couple of times before they get used to that feeling. The five-step lever adjustment helps you set the reach to suit your hand.

The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V's riding position works well for most riders. The handlebar sits neither too low nor too high, so you can sit upright and stay comfortable through a city ride. The new seat is wider and longer, which gives both rider and pillion more room than before.

Hero Xtreme 160R 4V is also quite fun to ride when you find a road with a few bends and curves. The Xtreme 160R 4V changes direction willingly and feels good leaning into a corner. The suspension did a good job on our ride and never became a talking point. At higher speeds the bike stays stable, which gives you the confidence to go faster.

The brakes are where it falls short. The rear feels too light, and from higher speeds it takes longer than you'd like to stop. You end up leaning on engine braking to help it along. Better rear brake response would have made a good bike feel a lot more trustworthy.

The cruise control works once it's engaged, but getting it to engage is the problem. Sometimes it doesn't activate the first time, and you have to press the button again. It's a small annoyance, but it's the kind of thing you notice every time you use it.

Hero Xtreme 160R 4V Review - Verdict

The updated Xtreme 160R 4V has a great engine, light controls, a comfortable riding position and handling that makes you want to find some corners. Sport mode adds real punch, and the bike stays calm at speed. Add the sharper styling and the ride-by-wire and cruise control on the Pro and Carbon, and it's a far more complete motorcycle than the one it replaces.

The rear brake is the weak spot, and it matters more because the bike is so willing to go fast. The cruise control also needs to engage more reliably. The light clutch might catch a new rider out too, though you'll get used to it soon enough.

Riding Impressions By Varun Bhatt, Images By Mufeed Qasim