Is There A Place For a Scooter Like the Hero Xoom 160 On US Roads?

The Xoom 160 is Hero’s answer to the Honda ADV160 “adventure scooter.”

Photo by: Hero MotoCorp

By: Enrico Punsalang

Jan 28, 2025 at 8:55am ET

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While folks in the US might not give too much thought about scooters, over in Asia, these light and nimble two-wheelers are absolutely necessary. They’re quite literally everywhere—zipping through tight streets, weaving through traffic, and carrying all sorts of things scooters don’t really have any business hauling.

And no country in the world loves its scooters quite like India does. Over there, pretty much every single motorcycle manufacturer makes its own interpretation of the ideal scooter, and one of the newest ones to enter the scene comes from one of the biggest motorcycle makers in the country: Hero MotoCorp.

Over the years, the Hero brand has become synonymous with dependable and affordable workhorses. But much more recently, thanks in part to a joint venture with Harley-Davidson, Hero MotoCorp has been able to penetrate the premium segment with machines like the X440 and Mavrick 440.

That being said, Hero’s latest release isn’t exactly a premium model—though it isn’t exactly a mass-market one, either. It’s called the Xoom 160, and it's Hero’s interpretation of the ideal adventure scooter. And let’s just say it looks like it borrowed a page straight out of Honda’s playbook—specifically the ADV160 chapter. But hey, it’s hard to complain especially given how ADV scooters have proven to be the latest craze to ravage the two-wheeled world.

Just like the Honda ADV160, Hero’s Xoom 160 aims to blend the best of both worlds—the capability and versatility of an adventure bike with the convenience and ease of a scooter. Its styling mirrors this to a tee, with angular bodywork, LED lights, and a stance that’s noticeably taller than most other commuter scooters. It’s powered by a liquid-cooled 156cc thumper, and even comes with features like turn-by-turn nav, Bluetooth connectivity, and a smart key with remote seat access. It’s all pretty well-rounded, and quite frankly, a fine addition to Hero’s growing lineup of mid-to-premium models.

So yeah, scooters like the Xoom 160 are changing the game, particularly in the Asian market where scooters are and always will be a primary means of mobility for folks of all backgrounds.

What do you think?

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But perhaps the bigger question is: could something like this catch on in the US? I mean, we’re starting to see more and more scooters on the roads, particularly for folks moving around town and using them for door-to-door delivery services like DoorDash. Plus, the general direction of the motorcycle industry seems to be heading in the direction of smaller engines. And so maybe, just maybe, the US will soon see a scooter revolution.

Let’s say that actually happens, and scooters like the Xoom 160 land stateside, would you rock one of these as your daily ride? Let me know in the comments below.