Mar 23, 2005 09:41 PM
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(Updated Mar 23, 2005 09:41 PM)
Review : After being in the news for about the last 5 months,it was launched.Hero Honda's much touted 125cc badged the ''SUPER SPLENDOR''(Just to cash-on the name splendor which makes the name sound more kiddish).Well lets get on.
Design & engineering - 3.5/5
The build quality of this bike is upto the usual hero honda standards which makes this bike seemingly overpriced against the discover with which it is going to compete.Switch gear quality & instrumentation have a build to last feel.
The area where this bike disappoints is the looks.Head on it looks a littlebit bigger than actually it is.As you go backwards,that's when it really goes sour.The tank is too similar to the splendor as well as the body.The tail light in no way is attractive & the exhaust is okey dokey employing aluminium for less heating. The seat is narrow so comfort goes one stepdown.
No problem for tall riders & the driving position is very good for city riding conditions having a good upright position. It does away with a aircraft type fuel filler cap.The instrumentation is very readable but reminds me of govinda due to its colouring very funnily coloured red,yellow,orange etc.Ignition is via microprocessor & is throttle dependent.
In length this bike is shorter than the discover & fazer having a whelbase of 1265mm.The tank is of 12 ltrs having 2 in reserve.The headlight illumination is very good but not as focussed as the discover.It is available in 10 colours.
Engine,Gearbox & Performance - 3/5
If you are thinking of an adrenaline rush experience from this bike,keep dreaming you all HH fans,since this one is far from it.HH has used the name ''QUANTUM CORE'' just to lure the normal indian public who by now must have thought that there much loved bike has got an upgrade but sheer disappointment.
It's the same engine just for a minor changes but not enough to call it ground-breaking. The engine is a 124.7cc having a bore stroke of 52.4mm*57.8mm.The engine is the same horizontal one on the splendor just the iron block head has been replaced by a aluminium one providing better cooling.
The power is the least one in this segment 9bhp but what about torque? It is surprisingly 1.055 kgm reaching the peak at just 4000 rpm!.More than the Victor GLX & almost equal to Fazer(1.06 kgm) which reaches it at 6000 rpm while the discover reaches its 1.1 kgm at 6500 rpm.
Well all this translates into that the super splendor has got a good lower end performance while at the opposite end it runs out of breath at about 92 km/h.The super splendor for me recorded the 0-60 in around 6.57 secs.Slower than the discover.Refinement is excellent & gearbox the usual no probs 4-down.The kick & braking is positive.Clutch feel is excellent.Another first on any indian bike is oil drain period of 6000 kms(company claim).
Ride & Handling - 3.5/5
The ride is little bit hard due to the stiffer setting of the dampers providing better handling in the traffic.The rear tyre is 2.7518 which disappoints even the passion plus has a 3.0018 tyre.This model gets a box swing-arm section.It's a double cradle frame.The forks are very good tuned so no shocks are transmitted to your hands.
Riding two up if especially you are heavy is uncomfy on this bike better go for the fazer.The groung clearance of this less than the splendor+ at 150mm.
Fuel efficiency - 4/5
On its launch Mr.Munjal had said that it would give more mileage than the splendor+.(good word of mouth publicity to lure customers from the splendor+).In my tests it gave an average of about 61 kmpl in the city(at an average speed of 45 km/h including long stretches) & 64.8 kmpl on highway( at an average speed of 70 km/h).I had used 91-octane fuel in my tests which will be available as standard fuel in 11 metros april 1st onwards.
Verdict - 3.5/5
Well mixed reactions.On one side there is this build to last feel which every splendor owner must be well acquainted with by now.The service network & satisfaction which none could match especially in the current indian market.The trust that it imbibes in you that whatever the condition that this HH bikes will not fail.But what do we get for our trust? Nothing but disappointment.
On the other hand there are two superb bikes, the segment leader BAJAJ'S DISCOVER & the strong & comfy YAMAHA FAZER.Also this bike seems very overpriced against the discover which is gives more for less money.
In looks this bike loses it to the discover & fazer by a fair margin(yes the fazer's insect eyes are better not b'coz they are weird but for yamaha's vow to give us something new as against HH).In performance & ride & handling,the discover & fazer score exception there gearboxes especially discover's. But this coming 1st of april the prices of fuel are going up by INR 3.5, the super splendor scores there since the discover(city-53,highway-57) & fazer(city-50,highway-53) are behind here.
Out of these three I would prefer the DISCOVER but if you are a tall rider & comfort is your top priority I would strongly recommend the FAZER & this bike can outlast anything you throw at it.
But if you are the crybaby about petrol look no further than the super splendor since the basic version is almost priced same as the passion plus or if you are that die-hard hero honda fan.And if you going for it,no matter what,go for the kick & disc version.
Also you will get a 3-year or 40,000kms warranty first on any indian bike. Had Hero Honda put 25 more horses in the passion plus & 4 bhp more than the current rating of 7.5 & box swing arm section wouldn't that made the bikers world happy.
Lets hope that HH wakesup & makes their next 200cc bike, due in May, the nation rocker.
