Hero Honda Launched New Pleasure Special Edition in India

World's largest two-wheeler company, Hero Honda has launched a new Pleasure Special edition today in India. Hero Honda Pleasure Special Edition is launched to celebrate the Women's Day that comes with Pearl White with red colour. In the true spirit of "Why should boys have all the fun", the special edition Pleasure will be available in a stunning new colour - Pearl White body with a blast of red.

The special edition Pleasure comes like a breath of fresh air with distinctive new features. It has new exciting body graphics, a stunning new elliptical meter console, an attractive new red muffler cover, and a stylish white body coloured rear grip to complement the uniquely designed tail light. To ensure that nothing comes in the way of having fun, Pleasure now comes equipped with a maintenance free battery for complete peace of mind. There is a new elliptical meter console along with new graphics and a maintenance free battery.

Mr. Anil Dua, Sr. Vice-President (Marketing & Sales), Hero Honda Motors Ltd said, "Right from its launch in 2006 , Hero Honda Pleasure has always embodied the spirit of the modern woman who is fiercely independent, youthful, fun loving and has her own unique style. The new special edition Pleasure is a tribute to the women of substance and hence, we have chosen Women's Day, a day the celebrates the spirit of the modern women for its launch"

Women can shop for the Special Edition Pleasure at exclusive Just 4 Her outlets in an environment designed exclusively for them. The Special Edition Pleasure will also be available at regular Hero Honda authorised showrooms. The scooter will be available at a price of Rs.37, 250 (Ex-Showroom price, Delhi.)

Courtesy: Hero Honda India

New Hero Honda Super Splendor: Price, Features, Specifications

Hero Honda Motors Ltd, the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has launched the All-New Super Splendor with new value-added features to further strengthen its leadership in the deluxe segment. The all-new Super Splendor 125cc features aesthetic and technological advancements for superior performance and exceptional riding experience.

Commenting on the launch, Anil Dua, Sr. Vice-President (Marketing & Sales), Hero Honda Motors Ltd said, "The strategy of constantly updating the product portfolio has been key to the success of Hero Honda. Our Splendor range is the leading volume driver in the deluxe segment. And today, it is further bolstered by the introduction of the all-new Super Splendor. This bike caters to the changing needs of customers and offers them more contemporary styling and efficient performance. With this launch, we are confident of further strengthening our leadership position in the domestic motorcycle market."

"With consecutive months of four-lakh-plus sales since the month of May, our sales are moving at all-time-high levels. We are looking to build on this momentum with a slew of new launches leading up to the festive season." In a segment where customers seek styling, performance and higher efficiency, Super Splendor offers a perfect blend of features at an attractive value proposition.

The new Super Splendor is supported by new-age technology featuring the Honda Intelligent Ignition System (HIIS). The motorcycle also features a newly designed Carburetor and ACG for improved engine performance. The 5-step adjustable rear shock-absorber provides a smoother drive and comfort. The well-rounded, universal appeal of the all-new Super Splendor is further enhanced by its upgraded external features such as new body-art on fuel tank, new seat design, new wind screen and tail light, uniquely styled front & rear fender, and an elegantly stylized rear grab-rail that hugs the side cowls – thereby marking its unique aesthetic appeal.

The new Super Splendor (drum version with self-start) is attractively priced at Rs 45,950/- (ex-showroom Delhi). It is being made immediately available through Hero Honda's wide network of over 4200 sales and service points across the country. Hero Honda's Splendor brand was first launched in the year 1994 and since then the brand has become a legend in the motorcycle industry in the country, and indeed across the globe, surpassing a series of milestones on the way.

The Super Splendor 125cc was introduced in early 2005 with the path-breaking Quantum Core engine and enhanced features to give fuel economy even with higher engine power. Since then, the bike has been regularly upgraded to meet customers' evolving preferences and tastes.

Source: Hero Honda Motors Ltd

New Hero Honda Karizma ZMR Launched @ 91000 Rs

Hero Honda has launched the revamped version of its performance motorcycle, the Karizma ZMR. Introduced at a price of Rs 91,000 ex-showroom Delhi, the new bike will go up against the likes of other performance bikes in the Indian market such as the Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi and the Yamaha YZF-R15.

Hero Honda has ensured that the new bike is not just a cosmetic upgrade, but the changes in the exteriors and the design are major and will establish the Karizma ZMR as an all-new bike. The ZMR now features a full fairing that clads the entire engine to pronounce the big-bike feel. Redesigned rear quarter panels and an all new LED taillamp round up the design changes on the new bike.

The engine sees a mild power upgrade from 16.8PS to 17.6PS, but now features fuel-injection that replaces the carburetor. Taking a cue from its competitors, the new bike has also been fitted with an oil-cooler, which should take some of the heat off the completely clad yet air-cooled engine.

On the features front, the new bike sports clip-on handlebars and an all-new digital speedo-tacho unit. The bike seems well kitted for its price, but the competition seems to have a headstart in terms of technology and outright performance. We should be getting our test bike soon, so watch out for a complete road test with performance figures real soon on ZigWheels.com!

Source: zigwheels.com

 

Hero Honda Launched New Pleasure Special Edition in India

World's largest two-wheeler company, Hero Honda has launched a new Pleasure Special edition today in India. Hero Honda Pleasure Special Edition is launched to celebrate the Women's Day that comes with Pearl White with red colour. In the true spirit of "Why should boys have all the fun", the special edition Pleasure will be available in a stunning new colour - Pearl White body with a blast of red.

The special edition Pleasure comes like a breath of fresh air with distinctive new features. It has new exciting body graphics, a stunning new elliptical meter console, an attractive new red muffler cover, and a stylish white body coloured rear grip to complement the uniquely designed tail light. To ensure that nothing comes in the way of having fun, Pleasure now comes equipped with a maintenance free battery for complete peace of mind. There is a new elliptical meter console along with new graphics and a maintenance free battery.

Mr. Anil Dua, Sr. Vice-President (Marketing & Sales), Hero Honda Motors Ltd said, "Right from its launch in 2006 , Hero Honda Pleasure has always embodied the spirit of the modern woman who is fiercely independent, youthful, fun loving and has her own unique style. The new special edition Pleasure is a tribute to the women of substance and hence, we have chosen Women's Day, a day the celebrates the spirit of the modern women for its launch"

Women can shop for the Special Edition Pleasure at exclusive Just 4 Her outlets in an environment designed exclusively for them. The Special Edition Pleasure will also be available at regular Hero Honda authorised showrooms. The scooter will be available at a price of Rs.37, 250 (Ex-Showroom price, Delhi.)

Courtesy: Hero Honda India

New Hero Honda Super Splendor: Price, Features, Specifications

Hero Honda Motors Ltd, the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has launched the All-New Super Splendor with new value-added features to further strengthen its leadership in the deluxe segment. The all-new Super Splendor 125cc features aesthetic and technological advancements for superior performance and exceptional riding experience.

Commenting on the launch, Anil Dua, Sr. Vice-President (Marketing & Sales), Hero Honda Motors Ltd said, "The strategy of constantly updating the product portfolio has been key to the success of Hero Honda. Our Splendor range is the leading volume driver in the deluxe segment. And today, it is further bolstered by the introduction of the all-new Super Splendor. This bike caters to the changing needs of customers and offers them more contemporary styling and efficient performance. With this launch, we are confident of further strengthening our leadership position in the domestic motorcycle market."

"With consecutive months of four-lakh-plus sales since the month of May, our sales are moving at all-time-high levels. We are looking to build on this momentum with a slew of new launches leading up to the festive season." In a segment where customers seek styling, performance and higher efficiency, Super Splendor offers a perfect blend of features at an attractive value proposition.

The new Super Splendor is supported by new-age technology featuring the Honda Intelligent Ignition System (HIIS). The motorcycle also features a newly designed Carburetor and ACG for improved engine performance. The 5-step adjustable rear shock-absorber provides a smoother drive and comfort. The well-rounded, universal appeal of the all-new Super Splendor is further enhanced by its upgraded external features such as new body-art on fuel tank, new seat design, new wind screen and tail light, uniquely styled front & rear fender, and an elegantly stylized rear grab-rail that hugs the side cowls – thereby marking its unique aesthetic appeal.

The new Super Splendor (drum version with self-start) is attractively priced at Rs 45,950/- (ex-showroom Delhi). It is being made immediately available through Hero Honda's wide network of over 4200 sales and service points across the country. Hero Honda's Splendor brand was first launched in the year 1994 and since then the brand has become a legend in the motorcycle industry in the country, and indeed across the globe, surpassing a series of milestones on the way.

The Super Splendor 125cc was introduced in early 2005 with the path-breaking Quantum Core engine and enhanced features to give fuel economy even with higher engine power. Since then, the bike has been regularly upgraded to meet customers' evolving preferences and tastes.

Source: Hero Honda Motors Ltd

New Hero Honda Achiever 150cc Launched in 5 Colours

Hero Honda may be in splitting mood, but the company will not go this Diwali festive season without any firecrackers. Just when their is buzz about Hero Honda partnership is breaking, the largest two wheeler manufacturer comes with revamped model of its existing Hero Honda Achiever. The new upgraded variant comes with structural changes as well as cosmetic changes in design and style.

Launched in 2005 Hero Honda Achiever is one of the big flops of the largest selling two wheeler maker. The bike was relaunched in 2007, too. Both the launches in 2005 and 2007 failed to get a grip on market and thus Hero Honda have launched it again now in an altogether new avatar.

Technical specifications remaining same, the new Hero Honda Achiever features a 4 stroke engine with a displacement of 149.1cc that can generate a peak power of 13.4bhp @ 8000rpm. Frame also remaining same i.e. a diamond look but acceptable this time with some extra and glossy graphics. The engine has received a dark black color over its presentation which is really giving some value to bike and making it even in today’s market.

The new Hero Honda Achiever claims to be unique in 150cc segment offering better mileage in comparison to rivals. The bike is said to come with Tuff-Up tube that can decrease the possibilities of Tyre puncture.

It is available in 5 different colours: Magnetic Blue, Candy Blazing Red, Force Metallic Silver, Black Purple, Black Blue.

New Hero Honda Achiever Specifications:-

Engine Type: 4 Stroke, Single Cylinder,

Displacement: 149.1 cc

Max. Power: 13.4 BHP @ 8000

Max. Torque: 12.80 Nm @ 5000

Bore x Stroke: 57.3 x 57.8

Compression Ratio: 9.1:1

Ignition: AMI- Advanced Microprocessor Ignition

Carburetor: CV Type

Transmission: 5 Speed

Chassis: Tubular, Diamond Type

Front Brake: 240 mm Disc

Rear Brake: 130 mm Drum

Front Tyre: 2.75 x 18

Rear Tyre: 3.00 x 18 (Tuff Up)

Battery: 12 V – 2.5 Ah (Kick) / 7 Ah (Self)

Headlamp: 35/35 W Halogen

Starting: Kick / Self

Length x Breadth x Height: 2040 mm x 760 mm x 1120 mm

Wheelbase: 1290 mm

Ground Clearance: 160 mm

Fuel Tank: 12.5 (2.3 Lts Reserve)

Kerb Weight: 134 Kg (Kick), 138 Kg (Self)

New Hero Honda Achiever Features:-

Black Colored Engine cover and Foot Rests

New and improved graphic design

5 Spoke black alloy wheels

Powerful and efficient engine of 150cc with ATFT Technology that enhances performance and fuel efficiency simultaneously

Solid puncture resistant tuff up tube

Source: autoplugged.com

Hero Honda unveils a beefed up Hunk

Ahead of the festive season India's leading bike-maker, Hero Honda, has released a new upgraded version of its 150cc premium offering, the Hunk

With the onset of the festive season, India’s largest bike-maker Hero Honda has launched a range of upgraded models with new features and fresh sticker-jobs. The latest in the line of upgrades is the new Hero Honda Hunk up-to-date with modern-day features and improved graphics. Earlier upgrades include the New Super Splendor, Splendor Pro and a Commonwealth Games Limited Edition Passion that all received a very stylish makeover along with some added features.

The new Hunk comes equipped with an all-new redesigned instrument console with combination of analog as well as digital meters. The front visor too gets a new look that is more young and aggressive to suit the Indian youth’s needs. Complimenting the improved front appeal of the bike is the newly incorporated front fender that further adds to the bike’s character. One of the most significant improvements in the new Hunk is incorporation of a rear disc brake and tubeless tyres on both ends. The rear tail-light gets LED treatment for enhanced visibility as well as style. 

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Anil Dua, Sr. Vice-President (Marketing & Sales), Hero Honda Motors Ltd said, “We are excited to introduce a new version of the successful and popular Hunk. The New Hunk is sportier, sturdier and comes with additional features. I am sure, with its dashing appearance and great riding experience – it will be now even more appealing to youngsters. Hero Honda’s strategy of constantly upgrading its product range has been instrumental in driving our growth. The new Hunk is another step in this direction and the launch will be supported by a 360 degrees marketing programme.”

Priced at Rs 59,990/- (cast/disc/self, ex-showroom Delhi), the New Hunk is being made available at all Hero Honda dealerships across the country.

Hero MotoCorp unveiled

Hero MotoCorp finally showed its public face to the world in London with the launch of a new logo sans the Honda tag at a function in London attended by a small contingent of media and nearly 1500 dealers. The Munjals, the Indian half of the Hero Honda JV formalised the split with their Japanese partners in December 2010 with the purchase of Honda’s 26 per cent stake in Hero Honda for roughly $850 million. The star-studded launch event saw Pawan Munjal, the CEO, announce bold, positive new plans for the company.
 
As part of their export plans, Hero will start exporting their motorcycles, branded Hero, this year itself. Hero says they have identified as many as 30 markets, spread across the world, specifically including African countries, Latin America and Asia and have announced that they intend to ensure that 10 per cent of Hero’s revenue comes from the exports operation in five years time.
Hero also announced sweeping investment plans which will not only see the setup of a ‘Global Centre of Excellence’ in R&D in India but also see the commissioning of two new plants, one in South India and one in West India. Hero intend to invest US$1 billion over the next five years, which they say equals all the investment ever made in the company, over the past 27 years. Hero will also set up a global parts centre in Rajasthan. Hero intends to see their gross sales hit $10 billion in five years.
 
Hero showed off two products that will be launched within this calendar year. The first one to take the limelight was the Hero Maestro, an automatic scooter. The styling looked bigger and more masculine than all of the scooters on sale in India today. While no details were announced, it is expected that the Maestro will be based on the Activa platform, retaining the proven, market-leading 8PS 109cc single cylinder engine with a variomatic transmission.
 
The other product shown was the Hero Impulse, a motorcycle based on the Honda NXR 150, a small dirt bike. The motorcycle we saw had skimpy plastic bodywork, long travel suspension via a Unicorn-like linkage-less mono shock at the rear. Externally the engine panels looked like the Unicorn-CBZ Xtreme 150cc engine and we anticipate that the power outputs will be similar. The chassis is new along with completely new all-terrain tyres, a 19-inch in the front and a 17-incher at the back. We expect the Impulse to hit the showrooms just before Diwali. The first genuine Hero products will come in time, probably sometime towards the end of the 2014 calendar year.
 
Unveiling the logo, Hero said the red colour in the H represents their passion, the black their premium focus and position and the invisible white horizontal bar was engineering, suggesting that the latter was the invisible skill that linked the two. It also suggests clearly that Hero will look beyond its traditional strengths - awesome distribution and frugal, value-for-money motorcycles.
Honda is known to be on a path to an explosive expansion as it looks to reassert itself and regain the 51 per cent market share the company traditionally aims for in all markets. And the tussle between Hero and Honda will be epic. We understand that all the other companies are worried, in the meantime, since the manpower to fuel the expansion and the fight for market share is likely to affect the whole market. Which is great news for you and us, the customers. Expect the battle to be fought with attractive products and value pricing, which is always good.

NEW HERO MAESTRO

Having seen the Maestro in the flesh at the Hero MotoCorp brand launch in London, it is now time to ride and see what it is like. Hero already sell the Pleasure, billed as a ladies' scooter based on the Activa platform. The same platform underpins the new Maestro which targets men and is Hero's offering in the rapidly growing scooter market.
The Maestro is a large scooter which has a design that blends in with the current scooters except for its size. The large headlight looks nice, and even gets a tiny flyscreen that is purely cosmetic. Rear view mirrors are part body coloured and part black, and look neat. The dash is one of the most modern looking units in the business, and the Maestro gets an analogue speedometer along with a digital display with a tripmeter (first in the segment), fuel gauge and odometer with a service due indication. At the back, the Maestro gets a large tail lamp cluster, with a wide stop lamp and large turn indicators. The large grab rail is well-finished, and feels nice to hold. The seat is wide, but the short ride we had on the Maestro told us it could have been softer. Although until these (Activa-based) scooters summarily move on to telescopic fork front suspension, dramatic improvements in the ride quality and handling departments are hard to achieve and deliver.
The Maestro does surprise you, though with its ergonomic configuration. The seat is noticeably lower than you expect which is great for getting your feet down if you're vertically challenged or a lady of petite stature venturing out on a 'men's' scooter. But the handlebar is placed high in comparison which allows a very comfortable riding positing, good space for the knee but on the whole requires a five-minute adjustment period. Also possessing great space is the under seat storage which is a bit larger than the norm. Fit and finish levels and build quality is excellent as usual.
Sitting under the seat is the same 109cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine seen on the current generation Honda Activa that makes 8.2PS at 7500rpm, and feels super smooth. We haven't tested the scooter but it did feel a bit slower than the Activa in acceleration. Kerb weight for the Maestro stands at 110kg, as compared to the Activa’s 106kg, which could be one of the reasons for the Maestro feeling slower. The Pleasure on the other hand continues using the same 102cc engine, and will not get the new engine. The Maestro is on sale now and priced at Rs 3,000 more than the Honda Activa at Rs 45,000 ex-showroom Delhi. Our first impression is that the Maestro is a competent scooter based on a proven chassis and engine that should do well in the market if Hero can pull scooter buyers into its showrooms.

 

Hero Impulse roadtest

The sweeping corner I love so much on this road is coming up and the Hero Impulse is busy confusing the pants off me. Should I lean out, supermotard style, let the bike gain a huge lean angle with the leg out smartly to catch the front if it goes? Or should I slide my butt off the inside as usual, stick my knee out, load the inside peg up and slice through like I was on a road bike? Ah, the pleasures of having a choice. And that is what the Impulse really is about. It answers a question that has often popped into your head (and mine) but has, so far, neither been fully articulated nor ever answered. And the question is this. Do Indian streetbikes, the vanilla commuters, need to be erm, normal. Can’t one be unashamedly sporty? The sales figures of the Impulse, I think, will partially answer that question shortly.
Styling and design While you might get away by saying the Impulse is just a dirt-ified CBZ X-Treme, you would actually be wrong. Parked in a lot full of other Indian bikes, it sticks out even in black. It is taller than the rest though most of us managed to get our feet on the ground without undue stress and it is skinnier in appearance, the exhaust peeks out near the right end of the single-piece seat, dirt bike style and the whole appearance is an unfamiliar dirtbike styled thing. But it is well-made apart from some very ugly welding seams on the fairing and it looks distinctive enough. The chunky on-off-road style tread pattern, the tall 19-inch front tyre, the taller forks, spoked wheels and all make it poles apart from the current crop of 150cc machines.
Engine and gearbox The Impulse’s engine is substantially the same as the CBZ X-Treme but it wears a new cam, a new balancer shaft and a different carb spec which all make it very different from the Hunk/CBZX/Unicorn/Dazzler, the quartet sharing a much closer spec and a slightly more powerful state of tune than the Impulse.  The Impulse makes 13.4Nm at 5000rpm, and power peaks at 13.2PS at 7500rpm. The balancer shaft brings a wonderful smoothness to the engine at street and highway speeds and I like the fact that the Impulse engine sounds calmer and feels like it is breathing better than all four of the Hero/Honda siblings.
The gears were a bit notchy on our bike but I think they will smooth out. What won’t improve is the fact that the stubby gear lever is a bit short on the space for your toe to hook in for an upshift, especially when wearing race boots that most of Team OVERDRIVE does daily. In regular sneaker- or sandal-wearing use I think it might work just fine. Overall, it’s an eerily smooth motorcycle, something I didn’t expect it to be. I’ve ridden the likes of the Yamaha WR450F and I know for a fact that dirtbikes aren’t ever smooth. But then I was reminded of the other motorcycle I did ride that the Impulse closely resembles. The Honda FMX650, a trailie style motorcycle that turns out to be a softly-sprung, gently-powered machine that would do touring and commuting with great ease and an utter lack of strain. And I think the Impulse follows in those footsteps.
Performance Given the engine refinement, it’s easy to think that this ‘detuned’ 150 would turn out slow. But what you are overlooking is that the Impulse weighs only 134kg, which makes it 10-odd kilos lighter on average. The Impulse will hit 60kmph in 5.38 seconds, which is actually  quicker than all of its cousins by a few tenths of a second. The hundred comes up in 19.58s and the bike tops out at 107kmph, though past the hundred progress isn’t all fire and brimstone. The kicker? When you look at the performance figures, the Impulse is the quickest 150cc motorcycle save for the R15 (and I’m not counting the Apache which has a displacement advantage). What I really do like about the bike is how smooth it feels at all speeds from crawling in traffic to flat out during performance testing.
The engine doesn’t ever seem to lose its cool. But what the numbers don’t tell you, also, is the torquey feel of the motor. It appears to be willing to pull with genuine effort at any and all revs that happen to be on the tacho when you whack the throttle open.
Handling, ride and braking The Impulse wears an unfamiliar looking thin-tubed semi double cradle frame with gangly suspension and there’s a lot of air between the rear wheel and the rear fender. There’s a creamy softness to the suspension and the tyres feel like they’re slightly squishy. This makes feedback a bit distant and the tall posture and that exaggerated sense of leaning into a corner means that despite being as neutral and encouraging as any Honda I have ever ridden, turning into a corner is a bit of an adjustment. You learn to trust the suspension, which proves adept at dismissing potholes, dirt, rocks and overbanding without feeling overtly soft or wallowly and I absolutely loved the feel of the frame, which feels narrow between your legs, effortless in direction changes and as taut as the storyline of The Departed. I’d also be using a bit more than just the tarmac. The Impulse’s tyres are good on the road and adequate off it.
There is grip even on dry grass and while I’m sure full knobbies would add still more traction, the Impulse isn’t fazed by a rider straightlining a corner by running across the dirt in its middle or indeed, running wide on the exit, hitting the dirt briefly before returning to tarmac. Ride quality as you should have gathered is the star of the show. The Impulse makes the worst performances of our notorious civil contractors fade into the background as it carries you gently across the worst. I did think initially that the brakes felt a bit soft but then I realised that on dirt roads, the lack of sharpness helps. It allows more modulation and control and for those of us who (over)use the front brake thanks to the amount of time we spend on tarmac or at the track, it’s a crash-saver.
Verdict As you can tell, I really liked the Impulse. In traffic, the taller stance means you can see over cars which means a greater selection of gaps, better line choices and consequently, faster commutes with the same or less effort. The narrow frame and the flickability make the Impulse a massively accomplished traffic beater. It’s an urban demon and will handle all-day 80kmph when pushed out on to the highway. But given the sort of highway speeds we deal with, overtaking at 90-100kmph will be a bit slow and in that singular sense, the CBR250R is probably India’s sweetest highway tourer at the moment. At Rs 66,800 ex-Delhi, the Impulse sits at the premium 150 price point like the Yamaha FZ16. It’s between Rs 4 and 6,000 more expensive than the others generally. It’s a reasonable price for an awesome motorcycle in my books. Indian 150s have become too cookie-cutter and the Impulse is fresh.
In approach, in appeal and most crucially for me, in the Indian market. Here is a video of the first ride of the Hero Impulse

2012 Auto Expo - Hero MotoCorp unveils three new models

Hero MotoCorp launches three new products, a scooter – 110cc Maestro, the 110cc Passion X Pro and the 125cc Ignitor, at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi. All three models have been launched under the new Hero brand name. All 'new' Hero bikes are based on Honda products. The Maestro has an Activa engine, the Passion has the Twister engine while the Ignitor is an exact copy of the Stunner.

The Hero Ignitor, apart from the new graphics and new tank shroud, is essentially a Honda Stunner. The Ignitor’s 125cc engine makes 11PS at 8000rpm and gets a CV carburetor. It gets a digital-analog combo meter console. It also has tubeless tyres and an optional front disc brake.

The Hero Maestro is styled to appeal to men unlike the Pleasure which is a girl’s scooter. “Why should girls have all the fun?"  was what Anil Dua, senior vice president marketing and sales, Hero MotoCorp said in lighter vein during the launch. It gets a 109cc engine producing 8.2PS of power. It has a CVT transmission and digital CDI with swirl-flow induction for enhanced mileage. The Maestro also gets puncture resistant tyres, a service due indicator and combined brakes.

The Passion X Pro, which is Hero’s first 110cc bike borrows its engine from the Honda CB Twister. Its 110cc engine makes 8.7PS of power. The Passion X Pro also gets a service due indicator, new fuel tank shrouds, new graphics, maintenance free battery, tubeless tyres, optional front disc brake and wider seats.

During the launch, Pawan Munjal, managing director and chief executive officer, Hero MotoCorp said,” The calendar year of 2011 was a watershed year for us at Hero MotoCorp. We not only made a successful transition into a new entity during the year, but equally importantly, we also raised the bar several notches higher to significantly improve upon our earlier performance. The launches that you see today are not just new products, these models reflect the company’s intent and vision for the future, and a clear strategy to further consolidate our leadership position.”

Opinion: Give Hero a chance

Many people were surprised to see that the Ignitor, for instance, was a re-stickered and re-named Stunner. And that the Impulse is a copy of a Brazilian bike. And laments on the lack of originality and so forth.
But here is the thing. While all of the observations are true, I think the laments are unwarranted. Allow me to explain.
The company formerly known as Hero Honda was among the most effective marketing, sales and distribution organisations in India, and I personally think, in the world. Their sales record corroborates this beyond all doubt. And since Honda was their partner publicly from 1984 to last year, the motorcycles they sold, obviously, were Honda developed and jointly badged. You know this already. You also know that Hero Honda had a 100-odd man R&D team, largely restricted to development work related to aggregate parts for the motorcycles - though some would quip stickering - but clearly not aligned towards full-lifecycle product development. And this wasn't some blind stumble. There were two clear reasons -  first, Honda's role in the game was of the technology partner and Hero didn't need to duplicate efforts and second, later, when Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India was born, the contract required that Hero use the newly formed Honda R&D's services and not take on product development. That is the history.
Now, the terms of the Hero and Honda separation say clearly that Hero MotoCorp will have access to Honda products till June 2014. The badging on these products is Hero's call. Which means they are free to use Hero MotoCorp badging or Hero Honda badging as they see fit. Hero announced with their new logo at London that all Hero showrooms and products would wear the new look and logo. Just Hero. And that makes sense too. If you got divorced, what possible reason would you have to continue to use the joint surname or indeed, any part of your spouse's name? And since Hero was bound to make a brand change in 2014, why postpone it?
Now back up a minute and look at the global motorcycle industry for a minute. The average product development life cycle today is approximately 24 to 26 months. That's how long it takes for a product to go from an idea in a R&D or marketing guys head, to the design table, through the engineering process, to productionisation, to production and then finally, on sale.
We know Hero could not possibly have an R&D operation capable of developing its own products till the break-up was announced. That means, in the simplest terms that Hero's first indigenously developed product will probably come by at the very earliest, June 2013 using the accepted thumb rule of the 24-26 month all-new product development lead time. But hold on, that presumes that Hero will have had a fully functioning R&D setup, ready and able to develop a product from scratch on the day they announced that Honda and Hero were going their separate ways. And that, unfortunately, is simply impossible.
That is the reason why Hero will make the most of their access to Honda-developed products till 2014. It's the only logical way to tide-over the gap between becoming their own person, as it were, and nurturing to adulthood a fully-functioning R&D setup. The sole alternate is to pay an outside engineering firm to make products for you. There is no official word on this, but if I were Hero it's not an opportunity I would pass up either. But as it stands, it looks like all the products Hero has launched so far, and probably those that it will launch till 2014 have been based on - or are - Honda products. And to Hero's credit in my eyes, they have never been shy of accepting that fact. Even at the Passion X, Ignitor, Maestro press conference, Anil Dua, Hero's marketing and sales chief called a spade a spade and said they had contractual access to Honda's technology and that they were using it. That the Ignitor was in fact, the Honda motorcycle that everyone seemed too stunned to note it was. Where's the deception?
But there's more. The Splendor is still a super hit and don't for a minute assume that the Hero juggernaut will suddenly retire those products. The Splendor and its multifarious siblings are the foundation on which the cash-rich, market dominating company we know has been built. It would be pure foolishness to retire products with such great reputations and histories especially when you have free and legal ownership of the brands in question. The motorcycles themselves may not glow with a rosy halo in the eyes of the enthusiast, but the Splendor's band of brothers are the reason why all the motorcycle manufacturers look at India with such great interest and desire.
I've myself been guilty of forgetting that fact often enough, but it needs to be said. Were it not for the lakhs and lakhs of Splendors (et al) sold every month, the Indian motorcycle industry wouldn't be the second biggest motorcycle market in the world. And by direct extrapolation, the international interest in India would be lower by that much of a margin. Which means and forget the import duties for a moment, few manufacturers would be tempted to offer us the range of CBU motorcycles we get today at all.
I think Hero will continue to work on the Splendor and its brothers in the coming years. As their ability to develop products grows, they will make the necessary changes to keep the enduring popularity of these motorcycles as constant and enduring as humanly possible. If nothing else, Hero is going to have to make that 100cc engine meet emissions norms which grow tighter as time passes. And without a functioning R&D team that knows what it is up to, Hero may not be able to. They aren't going to make that basic a mistake, trust me.
That brings me to the final point I wanted to make. Can Hero suddenly up and produce a functioning R&D department? Well, I've said this before. I know they intend to. And I know that the company has both the financial resources needed for it as well as the intense pressure from its competition and its internal need to keep building on the success. Pride is a wonderful thing, and Hero is out to prove that they're as strong, as robust, as dynamic and as dominant an organisation today, post-split. I think they underestimate neither how critical a good R&D department is to success nor how difficult it is to setup one.
As I see it, Hero has the resources to make a resounding success of this. And I think they know what needs to be done to make it happen. And they're in the hunt. But no one can predict the future. I'm praying for them because at some level, whether enthusiasts get along with their products or not, they are Indian and in that I identify with them.
But forget the emotional angle. Just think. What kind of products will Hero need to succeed? Good ones. Ones that take on the competition, right? What kind of competition? All kinds of it. Hero can no longer afford to ignore the upper segments in the market because growth, the promise of bigger per unit returns, as well as export and expansion opportunities in the more mature overseas markets require them.
In India, I think they will need upper segment models to establish themselves as an effortless maker of (all kinds, and not just commuting) motorcycles. So Hero will not only have to stave off the challenge of the coming-shortly Honda mass-market motorcycle, but eventually, have to find a response to motorcycles as diverse as the Honda CBR250R and the Kawasaki Ninja 650R as well.
Think about it this way. Let's say you had to take on the CBR250R. Could you get away by making a meekly styled, ultra-frugal 250? No! There will be some takers for that as well - this is India, after all - but to go head to head, you would need a motorcycle that was in the same performance and appeal ballpark with some combination of features, characteristics and pricing that made it distinctive as a buying proposition. It could be as simple as 3PS more, or something as radical as a 250cc supermotard. Point is, it would have to be good to beat the competition.
And if one more good motorcycle entered a segment of the market, especially the upper end of the market, would you complain?

Hero MotoCorp partners with Erik Buell Racing

Hero MotoCorp has forged a partnership with Erik Buell Racing (EBR), through which Hero aims to make its first foray into the world of international motorcycle racing. Hero will be sponsoring two teams – Team Hero and AMSOIL Hero for the AMA Pro Racing National Guard Superbikes Championship. While multiple times AMA Pro Racing National Guard Superbikes champion Danny Eslick will represent Team Hero, long-time EBR associate racer Geoff May will represent team AMSOIL Hero. Both the riders will be riding EBR’s flagship, the 1190RS bike. The first race of this series is scheduled to be held in Florida, USA at the the Daytona speedway between March 15 and 17.
As a part of the partnership, Hero will receive technology inputs and design cues for their future models from EBR. Hero is also looking at bringing to India some of Buell’s high-end bikes.
Speaking at the announcement, Pawan Munjal managing director and chief executive officer of Hero MotoCorp said, “The Indian two-wheeler industry is set to evolve and it is only natural that as the a market leader, we are driving this change. As part of the plan, Buell will play an integral part in giving shape to some of my dream two-wheelers for the discerning youth of today. “
Erik F Buell, chairman and CTO of EBR said, “EBR is delighted to partner with a company as iconic as Hero MotoCorp. Both Hero and EBR share the common commitment of manufacturing world class two-wheelers with technology of the future.”

Hero Honda Passion Plus Pro Arrives in India With A New Avatar

In a bid to boast of a stronger product line in the Indian two-wheeler market, Hero Honda India has recently come up with a face lifted version of its immensely popular Hero Honda Passion Plus Pro model.

The new version of the Hero Honda Passion Plus Pro comes with many additions and changes apart from enhanced looks. Hero Honda Passion Plus Pro now has a new black kick start lever. The roller mechanism of the new Hero Honda Passion Plus Pro engine too is further tuned for reducing friction and vibrations.

Among the other great features in the latest version of the Hero Honda Passion Plus Pro is an integrated electric starter motor to start the bike with the push of button. Hence the Hero Honda Passion Plus Pro bike now has a standard electric start or self start options.

In the looks department, the Hero Honda Passion Plus Pro has become flashier with new stickers and graphics on the body panel. The shock absorbers have been pained red to give the bike a sporty look. The newly added silencer-guard further adds to the modern look of the new Hero Honda Passion Plus Pro bike.

New Hero Honda Hunk Special Edition Bike: Reviews, Features, Specifications

Hero Honda recently launched the special edition of the much hyped popular bike, Hero Honda Hunk in India. Among the many features of the new Hero Honda Hunk are a racing bull insignia on new Hunks tank, alloy wheels at the front and rear and many more.

The Hero Honda Hunk Special Edition has a racy appeal with dual tone seat. There is also a Gas Reservoir Suspension and telescopic forks that further add to its sporty outlook.

Hero Honda Hunk Special Edition is to be mentioned here that the bike is a part of the company's celebration on completing 25 years of existence.

New Hero Honda Hunk Special Edition Features & Specifications:

* Red front and rear alloy wheels.
* Dual tone seat with red colour driver's seat
* GRS - gas reservoir suspension
* Telescopic forks gets sports red finish
* Red theme is carried to spark plug cap and cylinder head as well
* Racing bull insignia on fuel tank
* A special edition badge on the scoops

New Hero Honda Glamour-Fi With Fuel Injection Technology

Hero Honda, the leading two wheeler maker in India, launches the improved Hero Honda Glamour-Fi with fuel injection technology. The new technology offers consistent performance with enhanced drivability and decreased emissions.

The newly introduced technology is bound to offer improved fuel economy and extended engine life, adding to the allure of the bike. Embedded with a superior design, black pattern and a distinct logo; the Hero Honda Glamour Fi is all set to take on the Indian roads. The design is similar to the previous edition of Hero Honda Glamour with the exception that its engine incorporates better graphics.

The main highlights are tubular double cradle type body frame, body colored grab rail and rear view mirrors; dual-tone theme on the front mudguard and chain guard, and matching side and rear panels. Hero Honda Glamour-Fi has improved fuel efficiency and is environment friendly.

The dynamics is highly advanced with programmed Fuel Injection technology and the Electronic Control Unit. It runs on unleaded petrol and is certainly a bike to look forward to. The new innovative technology improves the mileage and rider control, taking it to a higher level, unfeasible in bikes running on older and not so advanced technologies. Besides, the innovative safety features offered by the PGM-FI system are incorporated in the bike.

Hero Honda Launches New Karizma ZMR at Rs 91000

Hero Honda launches the all new Hero Honda Karizma ZMR Fi technology. The new Karizma ZMR is not just another upgrade but there are quite a few changes in its exteriors and designs with minor changes in the engine.

Besides, on the features front, the new bike sports a clip-on handlebars and an improved digital speedo-tacho unit. Hero Honda Karizma ZMR seems well kitted for its price, but the competition seems to have a head start especially in terms of technology and outright performance. Hero Honda Karizma ZMR will be available with new graphics and re-profiled body work. The Hero Honda Karizma ZMR Fi will be available in colors like Diamond White, Deep Red, Sapphire Blue & Midnight Black.

Hero Honda Karizma ZMR has retained most of the features like the 223cc engine but gets itself a fuel injection technology which increases the power by 16.8PS to 17.6PS. It incorporates fuel-injection which has replaced the carburetor. It looks like Hero Honda is inspired by its competitors; and gone ahead with the incorporation of an oil cooler which might remove some of the heat, off the air-cooled engine. It has a redesigned rear quarter panel and an all new LED tail lamp that makes up the external design changes in the new bike. The bike looks classy with a gold colored engine with front forks and iGRS; carried forward from the hunk.

Hero Honda has assured that the bike is not merely a cosmetic upgrade; nevertheless the upbeat changes in the exterior and designs will establish the bike as an all new bike. Hero Honda Karizma ZMR features a full fairing that covers the entire engine to pronounce the big-bike feel. It has been redesigned especially in the rear quarter panels with the new LED tail lamp which enhances the new look.

New Hero Honda Karizma ZMR will be available for Rs 91,000 ex-showroom; Delhi and its main competitors would be Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSi and the Yamaha YZF-R15.