Riding the Hero Xoom 160Powering the Xoom 160 is a 156 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with 4-valve technology. It produces 14.6 BHP and 14 Nm of peak torque. The engine has been tuned to offer strong low-end performance with the peak torque kicking-in at around 6,500 rpm. As a result, the scooter is quick to accelerate up to 80 km/h, after which there is a noticeable drop in performance. Hero claims a top speed of 100 km/h for the Xoom 160, but it can cross the triple-digit mark with some help from the gradient. While the performance feels adequate for a single occupant, the additional load of a pillion and touring box might dull things down. A major reason for this is the kerb weight of the scooter, which stands at 142 kg. For reference, the Yamaha Aerox 155 weighs just 126 kg. The extra weight on the Hero is courtesy of the bigger 7-litre fuel tank, wider tyres at the front and rear, chunkier front suspension, and the overall larger dimensions compared to the Aerox. On the positive side, the engine on the Xoom 160 offers excellent refinement throughout the rev range. I hardly noticed any vibrations or sense of strain on the engine at higher revs. The scooter feels at its best at speeds of 80 to 90 km/h, which should be more than enough for cruising on our highways. In the city, the scooter feels quite manageable to ride despite its large dimensions. The wide handlebars offer good leverage, and the Xoom 160 is quick to make direction changes. Having said that, the 120-section front tyre does slow things down a bit. The suspension, especially the rear, is set up on the stiffer side. Hero says the rear damping has been done keeping the extra weight of the pillion and touring box in mind. And things do improve when there’s a pillion on board. However, for a single occupant weighing close to 70 kg, the rear damping felt inadequate, especially on sharp bumps. On the flip side, the Xoom 160 feels very stable when the roads are smooth, and the suspension does a great job of masking speeds. Out on the highway, the 80 km/h felt more like 60 km/h. The stiff suspension and low centre of gravity also help with handling. The Xoom 160 is eager to lean and confidently holds its line in the corners. Braking is taken care of by a 240 mm front disc and 140 mm drum brakes at the rear. There’s also single-channel ABS on offer. The front offers good braking power with a decent bite. Meanwhile, the rear brake is progressive but lacks any kind of feel. The braking setup works best when used in tandem. However, I do feel a rear disc should have been offered considering the weight of the scooter. The block-pattern tyres offer decent grip on both dry and wet road conditions. The riding ergonomics are definitely the highlight of the package. You sit nice and upright with a commanding view of the surroundings. The extended floorboard is spacious and lets you stretch your legs for a laid-back riding posture, similar to what you see on a cruiser motorcycle. The seating felt more than enough for my slim frame, and I liked how the seat had been contoured to offer good support for the rider’s back. Overall, the seat is well-padded and feels suitable for spending long hours on it.Petrol Tank Capacity, MileageThe Xoom 160 comes with a 7-litre fuel tank, which is larger than the Aerox 155’s 5.5-litre unit and similar to what Aprilia offers on the SXR 160. Hero officially claims a fuel-efficiency of around 40 km/l for its maxi-scooter. This should translate to a tank-to-tank range of more than 250 km, which is great for highway touring. The Xoom 160 also features Hero’s i3s silent start/stop technology. Once you come to a halt, the on-board computer waits for around 4-5 seconds before turning off the engine. Twist the throttle while pressing one of the brakes, and the engine comes back to life in no time. This should help improve the fuel efficiency in the city.Final Thoughts Hero has managed to deliver a strong product for what is its first maxi-scooter offering. The rugged styling on the scooter looks appealing, and the build quality is surprisingly impressive for a Hero product, along with decent fit and finish levels. The engine does feel a bit underpowered above 80 km/h, but it makes up for it with its smoothness and refinement. Unlike its competition, the Xoom 160 is designed for relaxed and laid-back riding, and it manages to do that quite well. The handling characteristics complement the overall nature of the scooter. However, the rear suspension could have definitely been more forgiving. Overall, the Xoom 160 is a good addition to the maxi-scooter segment with a few standout bits. Like most recent Hero products, it does possess the right ingredients to succeed, but only time will tell if it manages to that. One thing is for sure, though: the Xoom 160 will spark some interest in the maxi-scooter segment, which should prompt other Japanese and Indian manufacturers to bring more options to the market.Read Team-BHP’s detailedHero Xoom 160 review here.2025 Hero Xoom 160 review: Observations after a day of riding
Riding the Hero Xoom 160Powering the Xoom 160 is a 156 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with 4-valve technology. It produces 14.6 BHP and 14 Nm of peak torque. The engine has been tuned to offer strong low-end performance with the peak torque kicking-in at around 6,500 rpm. As a result, the scooter is quick to accelerate up to 80 km/h, after which there is a noticeable drop in performance. Hero claims a top speed of 100 km/h for the Xoom 160, but it can cross the triple-digit mark with some help from the gradient. While the performance feels adequate for a single occupant, the additional load of a pillion and touring box might dull things down. A major reason for this is the kerb weight of the scooter, which stands at 142 kg. For reference, the Yamaha Aerox 155 weighs just 126 kg. The extra weight on the Hero is courtesy of the bigger 7-litre fuel tank, wider tyres at the front and rear, chunkier front suspension, and the overall larger dimensions compared to the Aerox. On the positive side, the engine on the Xoom 160 offers excellent refinement throughout the rev range. I hardly noticed any vibrations or sense of strain on the engine at higher revs. The scooter feels at its best at speeds of 80 to 90 km/h, which should be more than enough for cruising on our highways. In the city, the scooter feels quite manageable to ride despite its large dimensions. The wide handlebars offer good leverage, and the Xoom 160 is quick to make direction changes. Having said that, the 120-section front tyre does slow things down a bit. The suspension, especially the rear, is set up on the stiffer side. Hero says the rear damping has been done keeping the extra weight of the pillion and touring box in mind. And things do improve when there’s a pillion on board. However, for a single occupant weighing close to 70 kg, the rear damping felt inadequate, especially on sharp bumps. On the flip side, the Xoom 160 feels very stable when the roads are smooth, and the suspension does a great job of masking speeds. Out on the highway, the 80 km/h felt more like 60 km/h. The stiff suspension and low centre of gravity also help with handling. The Xoom 160 is eager to lean and confidently holds its line in the corners. Braking is taken care of by a 240 mm front disc and 140 mm drum brakes at the rear. There’s also single-channel ABS on offer. The front offers good braking power with a decent bite. Meanwhile, the rear brake is progressive but lacks any kind of feel. The braking setup works best when used in tandem. However, I do feel a rear disc should have been offered considering the weight of the scooter. The block-pattern tyres offer decent grip on both dry and wet road conditions. The riding ergonomics are definitely the highlight of the package. You sit nice and upright with a commanding view of the surroundings. The extended floorboard is spacious and lets you stretch your legs for a laid-back riding posture, similar to what you see on a cruiser motorcycle. The seating felt more than enough for my slim frame, and I liked how the seat had been contoured to offer good support for the rider’s back. Overall, the seat is well-padded and feels suitable for spending long hours on it.Petrol Tank Capacity, MileageThe Xoom 160 comes with a 7-litre fuel tank, which is larger than the Aerox 155’s 5.5-litre unit and similar to what Aprilia offers on the SXR 160. Hero officially claims a fuel-efficiency of around 40 km/l for its maxi-scooter. This should translate to a tank-to-tank range of more than 250 km, which is great for highway touring. The Xoom 160 also features Hero’s i3s silent start/stop technology. Once you come to a halt, the on-board computer waits for around 4-5 seconds before turning off the engine. Twist the throttle while pressing one of the brakes, and the engine comes back to life in no time. This should help improve the fuel efficiency in the city.Final Thoughts Hero has managed to deliver a strong product for what is its first maxi-scooter offering. The rugged styling on the scooter looks appealing, and the build quality is surprisingly impressive for a Hero product, along with decent fit and finish levels. The engine does feel a bit underpowered above 80 km/h, but it makes up for it with its smoothness and refinement. Unlike its competition, the Xoom 160 is designed for relaxed and laid-back riding, and it manages to do that quite well. The handling characteristics complement the overall nature of the scooter. However, the rear suspension could have definitely been more forgiving. Overall, the Xoom 160 is a good addition to the maxi-scooter segment with a few standout bits. Like most recent Hero products, it does possess the right ingredients to succeed, but only time will tell if it manages to that. One thing is for sure, though: the Xoom 160 will spark some interest in the maxi-scooter segment, which should prompt other Japanese and Indian manufacturers to bring more options to the market.Read Team-BHP’s detailedHero Xoom 160 review here.
