Privateers race the Hero Impulse 150 on-off road dual purpose motorcycle at the 2012 Desert Storm rally!

When Hero MotoCorp launched the Impulse 150 motorcycle, many were stunned for the bold move by Hero to enter a segment that no motorcycle maker in India has a presence currently. Now, a bunch of privateers are racing the Impulse in terrain that this dual purpose on-off road motorcycle was originally designed for, off the road. The Hero Impulse 150 is competing in the 2012 Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm rally with many private riders using this motorcycle to compete in the tough and competitive rally. These private teams though are fending on their own as Hero MotoCorp isn’t backing this effort with factory support.

2012 Hero Impulse 150 Dual Purpose Motorcycle

While that is a golden chance missed by Hero(think about all the bragging rights and marketable material if the Impulse manages to bag top honours), it would nevertheless be interesting to see how the Impulse fairs in a terrain that is almost custom made for it. The Desert Storm rally features a heady mix of sands from the Thar desert and the salt flats of the Rann of Kutch. Traversing Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Impulse 150 will have to negotiate a gruesome 3,500 Kms of the Desert Storm rally, which will put both man and machine to a tough test.

2012 Hero Impulse 150 Dual Purpose Motorcycle

The Hero Impulse is based on the Honda NXR BROS 150 on-off road motorcycle that is sold in Brazil by Honda. Hero MotoCorp has used the 150cc four stroke engine from the likes of the CBZ X-treme and the Hunk, and has tuned this engine for more low end grunt for better off road performance. Also, the gear ratios have been altered to offer more low end torque for better off road ability. The Hero Impulse weighs a light 130 kilograms and comes with a mammoth 245mm ground clearance. The Hero Impulse also has long travel front suspension with 150mm clearance and a 19 inch front wheel to aid off roading.