Dec 02, 2015 11:25 AM
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I have been a supporter of Honda and its Activa for more than a decade but was always eager for our Indian brands to come out with its latest and greatest.
Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer, in September 2015 launched two of their in-house developed scooters, the Hero Maestro Edge and the Hero Duet with much fanfare. I will be reviewing the Hero Duet, a unisex scooter, which I recently took out for a test drive.
The Duet comes in 2 variants, i.e. the LX and VX and 6 colours. The higher variant, i.e. the Duet VX comes added with telescopic front suspension and digital-analogue console. Rest of the features are common such as the 110 cc engine, all new metal body design, chrome-highlights on the front and rear panels, 3D emblem, twin-hold grab rail, tubeless tyres, CBS(combined braking system) brakes, external fuel filler, under-seat light and USB charging port.
Mileage(company claim): 58-63 km/l
Price(approx. on-road in Mangalore): Rs 64, 000(LX variant) and Rs. 66, 000(VX variant)
Thoughts: The Duet is meant for city use with occasional highway sprints. It was stable and comfortable at speeds of 60 kmph. The placement of the handlebars is comfortable and does not strain your shoulders or back. The ride is comfortable with the supple front telescopic suspension and soft seat. The CBS equipped brakes have decent bite and bring the scooter to a quick halt in a controlled manner. The quality of the switch-gear is top notch.
Improvements: They could have provided 12 inch wheels in the front for better stability and alloys to further enhance its looks. In future, they can also provide a 125 cc variant.
Conclusion: Though my first short ride on the Hero Duet helped me shower it with praises, only time will reveal the success and reliability of this scooter. However, I can say that it is a worthy alternative to the Activa range of scooters. So you can go for it. Please rate my review and leave your comments. Cheers!
