Bit crowded of late. You have the TVS Jupiter, the Scooty Zest, the various Hondas, a few Suzukis and some Mahindras as well. Not to mention the Heros that were born out of the Hero- Honda alliance.So how does one stand out amongst the crowd? You need to offer something that others don't. With a long list of features andan all-new design, both inside and outside, the new scooters from Hero – the Maestro Edge and Duet – are looking to do exactly that. You can read about the Maestro Edgehere, but right now let's find out how well the Duet does as Hero's first in-house scooter effort.Design and featuresWhen OVERDRIVE spoke to representativesof Hero when they first unveiled the two scooters, they told us that what they tried todo with the Duet was to get customer feedback and create a design that would bepleasing to the target customer.So all the styling cues you see in the Duet are a result of that. And being positioned asa family scooter unlike the Maestro and the Pleasure, the Duet was made to look stylishwithout being over the top. I think subtle is the word. In that regard, Hero has succeeded. It is a design that is similar to some of the most successful scooters in the segment.Of course it is only similar in terms of the thought behind it – the “V” up front, the chrome strips on the side, the steel body. Inthe whole, it is a handsome looking scooter that doesn't look dated, but at the same time doesn't look outlandish either.It is also one scooter that comes loaded with features. It gets telescopic suspension, an optional fruit cargo box, an analog instrument console with a digital odometer, trip meter and fuel gauge, an external fuel filler, a USB 3.0 charging point under the seat, Hero's integrated braking system and a small luggage rack at the rear that has a 10kg load rating.Engine and performanceLike the Maestro Edge, the Duet too uses a 110.9cc motor that makes 8.4PS and 8.3Nm. The engine is quite refined and peppy too. Progress from standstill is quite brisk with the scooter hitting 60kmph in 9.8 seconds. This is a bit slower than the Edge because, thanks to its metal body, the Duet weighs an additional 6kg. The additional weight also affects top speed a bit, which, at 82kmph, is lower than the Maestro's by 2kmph.
