Hero Xpulse 421 Spotted Testing by Hero’s Dakar Rally Riders

• Hero’s Motosports’ Ross Branch and Nacho Corenjo are testing the bike
• Will be powered by a 421cc, liquid-cooled motor
• Likely to debut at EICMA 2026

Hero MotoCorp appears to be leaving no stone unturned in the development of its upcoming Xpulse 421. A new video circulating on social media shows the motorcycle undergoing high-altitude testing in Ladakh.

What makes this sighting particularly interesting is the team involved in the testing process. The Xpulse 421 can be seen alongside a fleet of Xpulse 210s and Hero’s 450 Rally race bike, while the riders include members of the Hero MotoSports Dakar Rally Team. Dakar stars such as Ross Branch and Nacho Cornejo are reportedly part of the testing group, highlighting the importance Hero is placing on the motorcycle’s final development phase.

While the motorcycle continues to wear heavy camouflage, the video offers a few fresh details. Apart from subjecting the Xpulse 421 to extreme high-altitude conditions, it also provides one of the clearest recordings of the bike’s exhaust note. The exhaust appears to produce a deeper and throatier sound compared to the smaller Xpulse models, hinting at the character of the new liquid-cooled engine expected to power the motorcycle.

The Xpulse 421 is expected to sit at the top of Hero’s ADV range and will rival models such as the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the KTM 390 Adventure S. Previous sightings have revealed a purpose-built ADV design featuring a tall windscreen, large fuel tank, long-travel suspension, wire-spoke wheels, and a rally-inspired stance.

The Xpulse 421 will be powered by an all-new 421cc, liquid-cooled engine that will be housed inside a steel trellis chassis. The bike is expected to ride on a 21/18-inch spoke wheel setup, wrapped in dual-purpose rubber. Hero could debut the production-ready model at EICMA 2026, while the launch could take place in early 2027.

With testing now involving Hero MotoSports’ Dakar riders in one of the toughest riding environments in the country, it is evident that the company is working towards delivering a more serious adventure motorcycle than anything it has offered before.