Hero MotoCorp, the company that redefined the two-wheeler segment in India as Hero Honda, has now lost a considerable chunk of its market share to the hands of its main competitors Bajaj, Yamaha and its own partner Honda. However, the company has regularly been updating and face-lifting the models that had earlier lost the battle to its contemporary peers. The year 2016 has been quite an eventful year for the company as they have successfully launched newer versions of its old motorcycles which has already, to some extent, succeeded to get back the lost touch.
In case you are planning to buy a motorcycle from the house of Hero MotoCorp, here we have made a list of top five motorcycles that the company has launched recently. This list goes on to prove that the company is successfully getting back its grip on the market segment that it once had.
Hero Karizma ZMR
The Hero Karizma ZMR has been recently facelifted to get a fresh aesthetic design. The fairing of this new version looks very much similar to that of the Bajaj Pulsar 220. Up at the front, there are two projector headlamps, placed one over the other, vertically. The turn indicators are installed on the fairing itself, just beside the lower headlamp. The rear view mirror is attached on the high windscreen up front.
The Karizma ZMR comes with a fuel injected 223cc single cylinder motor which produces maximum power of 20 bhp at 8,000 revs per minute and 19.7 Nm of highest torque at 6,500 revs per minute. However, much like the earlier version of the ZMR, this facelifted version too comes with a tri-pod instrument cluster with analog tachometer and speedometer. This, for many, might be little drawback as they are used to read a more detailed full digital instrument cluster.
The Karizma is priced at around Rs. 1.05 lakh to Rs. 1.10 lakh as the exclusive showroom price.
Hero Xtreme Sports
The new Hero Xtreme Sports looks like an entirely different package than its predecessor. At least, it’s fully facelifted aesthetic design suggests so. The headlamps and tail lights are an entire different story compared to the older CBZ Xtreme. The DRLs are placed on top of the headlamps, rendering a devilish look. The body gets a lot of graphical updates with split seats. The number plate is now placed on the windscreen, against the earlier which had its number plate below the headlamp in the conventional spot.
Mechanically, the new Hero Xtreme Sports makes slightly more power than its older version. The air cooled, 4-stroke, single cylinder 149.2cc engine makes a whopping 15.6 bhp of power at 8,500 revolutions per minute and a peak torque of 13.5 Nm at 7,000 revs per 60 seconds. With a fuel economy of 50 km per liter and a top speed of 107 kms per hour, it makes a perfect sports motorcycle.
However, the USP of this motorcycle is the pricing. Despite being a powerful sports motorcycle, it comes with an exclusive showroom price of around Rs. 75,000 in Delhi.
Hero Karizma R
An exact copy of the Karizma ZMR, the Karizma R 2.0 comes with slightly different features that are not noticeable with naked eyes. Physically, the v2.0 of Karizma R has the same high windscreen fairing as we see on the ZMR along with two vertically placed projector headlamps.
The dimensions, seat height and other body graphics are the same as its sibling.
The biggest difference comes in the engine capacity. Even though there is the same 223cc motor at the heart of the Hero Karizma R, the carburetor motor makes a marginally lower power of 19.2 bhp at 7,500 revs per minute and torque of 19.35 Nm at 6,000 revs per minute. The motorcycle runs at a top speed of 126 km per hour.
The all new Hero Karizma R is available at a much lower price tag compared to the ZMR variant. This Karizma R is available for Rs. 85,000 exclusive showroom price in Delhi.
Hero Hunk
Once a much loved motorcycle because of its hunky and beastly aesthetics, the Hero Hunk is back again to thrill. The overall platform is identical to the older model. The lower half of the Hunk including the alloy wheels and suspension gets an all-black colour tone. The headlamp and tail section is the same as the earlier version. However, the instrument cluster gets an evolution from the older version and wears an all new design.
At the heart, the Hero Hunk has a significantly more powerful engine than the older model of an air cooled, single cylinder 149.2cc engine which produces 15.6 bhp of power at 8,500 revolutions per minute and 13.5 Nm of highest torque at 7,000 revolutions per minute. The power is transmitted via a 5-speed constant mesh gearbox. The older Hero Honda Hunk made lesser power of around 14.2 bhp power and 12.8 Nm torque.
The Hero Hunk is sure to give other sports motorcycles a run for their money. With all the standard requirements of a sports motorcycles covered, the motorcycle is priced to kill. It runs ahead of all its competitors with a starting price of Rs. 70,000 exclusive showroom.
Hero Glamour FI
The Hero Glamour can be rightly termed as a legendary commuter motorcycle as it was once the most selling two wheeler in India. Despite having the same aesthetical build, the new Glamour does feel like a new breed among motorcycles. The 125cc petrol engine makes 9 bhp of power at 7,000 revolutions per minute and 10 Nm of torque at 4,000 revs per minute. The engine is a single cylinder motor with fuel injection delivery system.
However, the USP of this master commuter motorcycle is that it is extremely efficient with a fuel economy of 75 kms per liter. The Hero Glamour FI is available at an exclusive showroom price of about Rs. 54,000 in Delhi.
Summing up
After a glorious patch of time in the initial phase, the Hero Glamour FI seems to be losing its way against the contemporary motorcycles. However, with the re-introduction of many of its models in a newer avatar, the company received a much needed revival. The current gallery of motorcycles, both sports as well as commuters, is equipped to stand head and shoulder at par with any other modern day motorcycle. So if you have a negative notion about Hero MotoCorp, or have completely written it off from your probability list, hold your breath, the good days are back.
