Your Weekly Dose of Bike Updates: Hero Xpulse 421, Bajaj Pulsar 220F, and More!

A bunch of new two-wheeler launches took place last week, but what truly grabbed the attention of the Indian motoring fraternity was the clear spy shots of Hero’s upcoming Xpulse 421. In case you couldn’t keep track of these developments, here’s a round-up.

2026 Bajaj Pulsar 220F Launch

The 2026 Bajaj Pulsar 220F was launched at Rs 1.36 lakh (ex-showroom). The bike has been updated with a new LED projector headlight and LED position lights. The new headlight cluster comprises a single projector unit that houses both the low and high beams. The outgoing model featured a projector for the low beam and a multi-reflector unit for the high beam. The position lights on the 2026 Pulsar 220F have also been upgraded to LED units. The revised lighting setup adds a much-needed dash of freshness to the bike’s fascia.

2026 Kawasaki Ninja 500 Launch

Kawasaki has updated the Ninja 500 for 2026 in India. The motorcycle now comes in a new Lime Green livery and costs Rs. 5.76 lakh, ex-showroom, which makes it Rs. 10,000 more expensive than the outgoing model. The motorcycle is also E20-compliant now. Besides the introduction of a new paint scheme, the 2026 Ninja 500 remains the same as before. It runs on a 451cc, parallel-twin engine, which is mated to a six-speed gearbox and an assist and slipper clutch.

Aprilia SR 175 Tribute Launch

The Aprilia SR 175 Tribute Edition was launched in India at Rs 1.21 lakh (ex-showroom). This special edition scooter pays tribute to the Indian Armed Forces. It gets a unique colour scheme inspired by army fatigues. Mechanically, the Aprilia SR 175 Tribute Edition remains the same as the rest of the SR 175 line-up. The scooter is powered by a 174.4cc, single-cylinder engine that produces 13.08bhp at 7,200rpm and 14.14Nm at 6,000rpm. This engine is paired with a CVT and is known to offer good performance, enabling the scooter to reach a top speed of 95kmph.

Hero Xpulse 421 Spotted

The upcoming Hero Xpulse 421 was recently spotted testing, sparking fresh speculations about its impending launch. The spy pictures have revealed that the Hero Xpulse 421 will feature proper ADV styling and there are hints of styling cues from the Yamaha Tenere 700. Powering the bike will be an all-new, in-house developed 421cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. The motorcycle also appears to be riding on a 21/18-inch tube-type spoke wheel setup, wrapped in dual-purpose Metzeler Tourance tyres. However, we do hope Hero MotoCorp offers a tubeless spoke wheels as an option.

Ducati Desmo250 MX Details

The Ducati Desmo250 MX was released as the brand’s latest motocross motorcycle for those serious off-road enthusiasts. The price has not been announced yet, but the motorcycle will first be available at selected European dealerships from July 2026, India market will follow later. Ducati has used the lessons learnt from the 450 and scaled them down into a lighter, high-revving package that looks aimed at serious racers with this screaming little 250.