Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 125R mileage and running cost

Expect 53–59 kmpl from the Xtreme 125R in everyday use against a claimed mileage of 66 kmpl. The 15% gap is about average for the class.

Among the 21 commuter bikes we have reviewed it ranks 10th for mileage, 1 kmpl above the group average of 65 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 56 kmpl, the Xtreme 125R costs about ₹1.69 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹1,320 a month, or ₹15,845 a year, before servicing.

The 10-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 560 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 3 weeks.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the Xtreme 125R works out to about ₹4.5 per km all-in, of which 38% is fuel and 51% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; expect roughly 50–60% of ex-showroom after five years for a well-kept example.

The quickest wins for the Xtreme 125R: keep tyres at the recommended pressure (under-inflation by 5 psi can cost 2–3 kmpl), shift up early and avoid idling at long signals, which the idle start-stop system handles for you.

Short trips hurt most. A cold engine on a 2 km run can return half its normal mileage; if that is your use, expect the low end of the real-world band.

Service on time. A clogged air filter or old spark plug shows up in mileage before it shows up anywhere else.