The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V has been updated with features like cruise control and ride-by-wire throttle, positioning it as a feature-packed motorcycle in the competitive 150-160cc segment. It faces stiff competition from the Bajaj Pulsar N160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, both of which are pretty impressive motorcycles in their own regard. Here’s how they stack up on paper.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: engine and output
The Apache RTR 160 4V makes the most power
| Engine and output | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Xtreme 160R 4V | Bajaj Pulsar N160 | TVS Apache RTR 160 4V | |
| Engine | 163.2cc, single-cylinder, air/oil-cooled | 164.8cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled | 159.7cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled |
| Power | 16.9hp at 8,500rpm | 16hp at 8,750rpm | 17.5hp at 9,250rpm |
| Torque | 14.6Nm at 6,500rpm | 14.65Nm at 6,750rpm | 14.7Nm at 7,500rpm |
All three motorcycles use single-cylinder engines, but the Xtreme 160R 4V and Apache RTR 160 4V, as their names suggest, feature a 4-valve head instead of the simpler 2-valve setup on the Pulsar N160. This shows in the output figures. Despite having the largest displacement, the Pulsar makes the least peak power. And on the flipside, the RTR, despite having the smallest engine, produces the most power and torque, and does so higher up in the rev range.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: weight and dimensions
The Pulsar N160 the heaviest motorcycle here
| Weight and dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Xtreme 160R 4V | Bajaj Pulsar N160 | TVS Apache RTR 160 4V | |
| Kerb weight | 147.5kg | 152kg | 146kg |
| Seat height | 800mm | 795mm | 800mm |
| Ground clearance | 165mm | 165mm | 180mm |
| Fuel tank | 12 litres | 14 litres | 12 litres |
| Wheelbase | NA | 1,348mm | 1,357mm |
The Apache is the lightest bike in this comparison, but the Xtreme isn’t far behind, weighing just 1.5kg more. The Pulsar adds another 4.5kg on top of that, and its larger fuel tank likely contributes to the extra weight, but that should also offer a longer range between fill-ups.
Another area where the Apache has an advantage is ground clearance. At 180mm, it offers the most clearance here, making it less stressful to tackle larger speed breakers and rough patches. Seat heights, meanwhile, are nearly identical across all three motorcycles, keeping them accessible to a wide range of riders.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: suspension, brakes and tyres
Top variants get USD forks on all three bikes
| Suspension, brakes and tyres | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Xtreme 160R 4V | Bajaj Pulsar N160 | TVS Apache RTR 160 4V | |
| Front suspension | USD fork | Telescopic fork / USD fork | Telescopic fork / USD fork |
| Rear suspension | Monoshock | Monoshock | Monoshock |
| Front brake | 276mm disc | 300mm disc | 270mm disc |
| Rear brake | 220mm disc | 230mm disc | 130mm drum / 200mm disc / 240mm disc |
| Front tyre | 100/80-17 | 100/80-R17 | 90/90-17 |
| Rear tyre | 130/70-R17 | 130/70-R17 | 110/80-17 / 130/70-R17 |
The Hero Xtreme 160R 4V is the only bike in this comparison to offer a USD fork even on the base variant. Both the Pulsar and Apache reserve this feature for their top-end trims. Braking hardware and tyre setups on the Apache also vary depending on the variant. While all versions get the same size front disc and wheel, the rear brake and wheel sizes differ between the single-channel ABS and dual-channel ABS variants. On the top-end variants, all three motorcycles run a 130-section rear tyre, but the lower-spec Apache trims come equipped with a slimmer rear tyre.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: features
The Xtreme 160R 4V is the only bike to offer cruise control
The updated Hero Xtreme 160R 4V gets ride-by-wire tech that enables cruise control and three riding modes (Rain, Road, Sport), along with a colour-LCD instrument cluster and an LED headlight borrowed from the Xtreme 250R. It’s also the only motorcycle in this comparison to offer cruise control.
The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is similarly well equipped, with its comparably priced top-end variant offering a 5-inch TFT display, three riding modes (Sport, Urban, Rain), traction control, a slip-and-assist clutch, TVS’ Glide Through Technology (GTT), and adjustable levers. This variant also gets a projector LED headlamp with LED DRLs. Aside from the absence of cruise control, it’s the more feature-rich motorcycle overall.
Finally, the Bajaj Pulsar N160 offers a digital instrument cluster and three ABS modes (Road, Rain, Off-road). Only the top-spec variant gets USD forks, making it the most affordable motorcycle here to offer this feature.
Hero Xtreme 160R 4V vs rivals: price
The Apache RTR 160 4V is the most affordable and most expensive bike here, depending on the variant
| Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Xtreme 160R 4V | Bajaj Pulsar N160 | TVS Apache RTR 160 4V | |
| Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs 1.30 lakh – Rs 1.34 lakh | Rs 1.13 lakh – Rs 1.26 lakh | Rs 1.12 lakh – Rs 1.36 lakh |
The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is both the most affordable and the most expensive motorcycle here, depending on which variant you choose. The base variant, however, misses out on many of the features listed above and also uses a drum brake at the rear. When you compare the top-end variants across all three bikes, the Xtreme 160R 4V and Apache RTR 160 4V are separated by only about Rs 2,000.
On paper, the Apache has the upper hand in both performance and features – cruise control being the only notable omission, and that’s a feature many riders may not use regularly. The top-spec Pulsar N160 is nearly Rs 10,000 cheaper than these two, but it comes with a simpler engine, fewer features, and is a notably heavier bike.
Ultimately, if you’re after the most comprehensive feature set and strongest value proposition, the Apache RTR 160 4V makes the most sense. That said, real-world testing could shift the picture, so stay tuned for our full comparison.
