Hero MotoCorp rides back fast and strong in bustling 110 cc segment

Hero MotoCorp, the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the country, is repositioning itself in the two-wheeler market with the launch of its first in-house designed and developed motorcycle, Splendor iSmart 110. It also marks Hero’s efforts to redefine the brand by style, refinement, usability, efficiency, and other features.

During the launch of the motorcycle, Hero MotoCorp Chairman, Managing Director and CEO Pawan Munjal told DH that the launch of the all-new Splendor iSmart 110 marks the achievement of yet another significant milestone in our solo journey.

“It is the first completely in-house designed and developed motorcycle at our Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur.” said Munjal.

The Splendor iSmart 110, designed for the gen-next, not only in cities, but also in villages, has all new features which will attract the youth.

Design element
Hero made a deliberate attempt to give a new look to the vehicle with its sculpted tank and engine with a slanted position. The new design element like trapezoidal headlight and indicator lights add value to the product.

The design facets of the model are unique, which include pointer bikini fairing, sharper trapezoidal headlight and the new clear lens. Besides the two analogue dials for the speedometer and fuel gauge, the Splendor iSmart 110 has an LCD panel for odometer and trip information.

Its sturdy forks and tyres, and fairly standard upright commuter stance, keeps the bike apart from the other vehicles in the range. Its braking, handled by a 130-mm drum at the front, and a 110-mm drum at the rear, gives ease of driving. It is available in silver and black, red and black, blue and black, and sports red combination.

Hero has given high priority to the thrust of the vehicle with the new 110cc engine. The engine is capable enough of giving 9.5 hp, and a healthy 9 Nm of pulling power backed by its friction-busting technologies. 

The Bharat IV compliant 4-stroke new engine with i3S technology, offers 9% more power with a higher fuel economy. The bike engine, with its 4-speed gearbox shifts in an all-up pattern, pulls you flawlessly as low as 20 kmph without any stuttering.

In second gear, the bike can pick up you from a standstill without any clutch use. Since the bike can dispense off the dash from 0-60 kmph in a company-claimed 7.45 seconds, we can say it is ideal for city traffic. The vehicle’s latest system is responsible for making the Splendor iSmart 110 one of the more fuel-efficient bikes in India, giving it a mileage of 68 km per litre.

Automatic headlight
When you drive the vehicle, its taller, more sculpted tank will give you a feeling that you got into a saddle that the vehicle is a no-frills commuter motorcycle. Since I had experienced the Splendour with its awesome sound, I reminisced it. But the true differentiator to be an international bike is that the Splendor’s i3S (Idle Start Stop System) and its automatic headlight, giving it two uniquely awesome features.

The engine of the Splendour automatically switches off after five seconds when you put the bike in neutral and the revs drop to idle.

To restart, all you need to do is pull in the clutch, and the motor immediately kicks into life. Besides giving the convenience of switching off, the system also starts off manually when the traffic light is on. The headlight switches on as soon as the bike starts and no off-switch.

Launched at a price of Rs 53,800 (ex-showroom Bengaluru), the Splendor iSmart 110 enters the market within six months of it being showcased at the Auto Expo 2016. It also comes on the heels of the successful launch of the first range of endogenously developed scooters last year.

During the launch, the Hero MotoCorp chief, said that he is hopeful of the growing two-wheeler demand in the country, backed by a good monsoon and the announcement of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendation.

“We are expecting to retain our leadership position in the motorcycle segment and the company will come up with more products in both scooter and motorcycle segments,” he said.

With its mature design and premium look, the Splendor iSmart 110 will give a serious ride experience for buyers with its new engine, and entirely new chassis with more improvement on its traditional tubular dual-cradle game.

Hero has indeed come back in all its ‘Splendor’, to a segment which is the bread and butter of India’s bike market.