EICMA 2026: Hero Xpulse 450 Unveiled With 421cc Engine

The Hero Xpulse 450 has made its debut at EICMA 2026, powered by an all-new 421cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that makes 46.7hp and 38Nm. Europe gets it first, with India to follow.

Hero MotoCorp says the motorcycle was built with direct inputs from its Hero MotoSports team and learnings from the Dakar Rally programme. Development began in 2020, and earlier EICMA editions showed a rolling chassis prototype and a concept sketch.

Image Source: Hero Motocorp on Instagram

Hero Xpulse 450: Engine, Suspension & Features

The 421cc engine produces 46.7hp at 9,100rpm and 38Nm at 7,500rpm, and it's paired with a 6-speed gearbox. A slip-and-assist clutch is standard.

Up front sits a KYB 43mm cartridge-type USD fork with 225mm of travel and 22-step adjustability for compression and rebound. The Xpulse 210's non-adjustable fork has 210mm of travel, which is 15mm less.

Tubeless spoke wheels carry what appear to be a 19-inch tyre at the front and a 17-inch tyre at the rear. Built-in Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a segment-first feature, comes via what appears to be a 7-inch TFT display.

Rear suspension details for the Hero Xpulse 450 haven't been revealed, and the full specification list is still awaited.

Hero's rally participation, Dakar in particular, has fed back knowledge on durability, suspension behaviour, weight distribution and rider ergonomics. The company hasn't said which components or engineering solutions carry over from its rally motorcycles.

Hero Xpulse 450: Launch Timeline & Rivals

Hero hasn't announced a price or an Indian launch timeline for the motorcycle. It will join the Xpulse 200, Xpulse 210 Dakar Edition and Xpulse 210 MX in the company's dual-sport line-up.

Once it reaches India, it'll rival the KTM 390 Adventure S and R (Rs 4.06 lakh and Rs 3.87 lakh) and the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 (Rs 3.08 lakh). The Norton Atlas is also due in the segment soon.