Hero Splendor : The sun was shining bright and the Tricolor-inspired graphics glistened as I thumb started the new Hero Splendor “Desh ki Shan” special edition.
The customary purr of the 100-cc machine, a sound that has entered India’s soundscape over the last three decades, also seemed a little more assured, a little more willful.
I can tell you this that after clocking in north of 500 kilometers, over a week, on the varied riding conditions Delhi NCR has to offer, what those burly claims from Hero MotoCorp promise – the Splendor iSmart 110 actually does deliver some truly dhakad mileage that sets a new high water mark in the commuter segment.
“We wanted to offer something extraordinary that respects our heritage, yet accentuates the individuality of the common Indian motorcyclist,” Rajiv Bajaj, Hero’s Regional Marketing Head for North India told me at the launch event I attended in Gurugram last Thursday.
“The Desh ki Shan edition is our salute to the spirit of India and the people who make the Splendor a symbol of pride for them.
This isn’t just a patriotic paint job slapped onto India’s bestselling motorcycle. Under the striking new livery are massive under-the-hood changes that everyone from mechanics to compact enthusiasts will appreciate supplanting this legendary Splendor with even better efficiency and dependability.
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Hero Splendor Mileage That Defies Belief
Let’s start with the hero and the most anticipated aspect – the fuel economy that Hero has been promoting in its advertising campaign.
The firm states a figure of 93.2km/l (ARAI-certified), which it believes is going to be the most frugal production motorcycle in India right now. Of course I took this with a grain of salt.
After an exhaustive five days of testing through traffic-ridden Delhi, open city roads, and everything in between, I ended up with 85.7 km/l – and this despite the fact that real-world efficiency is always slightly less than the brochure figure! It’s a phenomenal result, which is miles ahead of the standard Splendor’s already jaw-dropping efficiency.
While I had the test car, I kept meticulous records of fuel consumption and recorded some interesting trends.
In real-world city riding that number ranged between 78-82 km/l however, on steady highway runs at 50-60 km/h I always got over 90 km/l – close to company claims.
“Yeh toh kamaal ka average de raha hai,” (This is giving amazing mileage) said Suresh Yadav, a courier delivery ride whom I met at a petrol pump in Noida.
When I told him that I was testing the new Desh ki Shan edition, he quickly took a good look at the bike as only a biker would.
I ride close to 100 kilometers everyday on my Splendor. If this gets 10% better mileage, it will save me almost 1,000 rupees a month.”
This evolution, however, has nothing to do with any major redesign – but rather with the small revision of what already existed.
Hero engineers have done a new combustion chamber and valve-timing tuning, reduced friction by way of better surface finishes and also thrown in the Spledor platform’s first sixth gear (effectively an overdrive for relaxed highway cruising).
Hero Splendor The Patriot Design That Turn and Eye
The “Desh ki Shan” (Pride of the Nation) Special Edition clearly stands out thanks to its unique touches that honour our national pride, and yet it remains tasteful and not in-your-face gaudy.
The fuel tank is subtly gradient and reflects the Tricolors with Saffron flowing into White and becoming Green in a suave manner and not through abrupt barriers.
The Indian subcontinent, meanwhile, features as a tasteful outling on the side panels, with the Ashoka Chakra motif subtly visible on the mudguards.
I got admiring looks and comments while riding through Delhi’s crowded streets. At a traffic signal in Connaught Place, a rider pulled up to ask her about it.
“Bhai, this Splendor is from where?” (Brother man from where do you get this Splendor). In the conversation that ensued, he mentioned he owned an old Splendor and was looking to upgrade to a newer model.
What actually impresses me most is the way in which Hero has managed to seamlessly incorporate this patriotism into the bike, all while preserving the understated, timeless quality of design that has helped the Splendor remain in fashion for all these years.
This is not some flash-in-the-pan limited edition that will look out of date in a year — this is a thoughtful design that should age well.
Hero Splendor Well-tamed Performance for Daily Use
Now, the Splendor has never been about performance per se, but the ”Desh ki Shan” edition does bring noticeable changes in the ride experience.
The refined 97.2cc single-cylinder motor makes 8.2 bhp and 8.05 Nm of torque – a small bump of 0.3 bhp and 0.15 Nm over the standard version, which does make a difference on a daily use basis.
The instant low-end torque was a great help as I found my way through the bumper to bumper traffic of Gurugram during my commute.
The motorcycle pulls smoothly from as low as 20 km/h in third gear – a blessing when you’re battling stop-and-go conditions that’s all-too prevalent on Indian roads.
The 5-speed-configuration of the new gearbox provides for a significantly more precise gear-shifting, equipped with lighter clutch action relieving the rider from unnecessary fatigue during long races.
“We’ve concentrated on the areas that matter most to daily commuters,” said Vikram Singh, a senior engineer at Hero, whom I met at the company’s technical center.
“Raw power is not as significant as how it is delivered. Our ideal rider values smoothness, dependability, and optimised efficiency over raw top speeds or acceleration.”
That philosophy correlates with how the motorcycle conducts itself on the road. Even loaded up with a pillion and a few grocery bags (a real world test in which I was able to test thanks to my cousin’s residence in South Delhi), the Splendor doesn’t sweat, and keeps climbing up hills that would make some of its rivals think twice.
Particlar mention should also go to the upgraded suspension. It has new gas charged rear shock absorbers that damp better than those of the standard bike, giving a controlled ride on bumpy surfaces.
Riding over particularly rough section of road near Mehrauli that had more potholes than pavement, the motorcycle tracked straight and true without bucking like a bronco, an issue more common on hyper lightweight commuters.
Hero Splendor Useful features for the Indian rider
The “Desh ki Shan” edition adds more than just efficiency figures on the brochure and partiotic livery though; there are a few convenience features that appear to have been developed specifically for Indian conditions.
And the new seat, with better contours and stiffness, was surprisingly nice even after a three-hour ride up to Sonipat and back.
The low 785mm moot concern for those with shorter inseams is 5mm, but the extra legroom it offers over the standard version proves a godsend on the longer hauls.
Real world function to the integrated USB charging port under the instrument cluster. I was able to keep my phone topped up while driving and using Google Maps for navigation with no problem – a minor yet significant convenience for daily commuters.
Not only that. The new instrument cluster looks smart too – the speedo is still analog but a small digital meters is added for real-time fuel efficiency display, estimated range and service reminders.
This enables riders to adapt to their riding style to enhance fuel efficiency – a nice little diligence that fits well with the bike’s economic theme.
Hero Splendor Market Positioning Statement and Value Proposition
The “Desh ki Shan” edition carries a sticker price of ₹75,499 (ex-showroom Delhi), making it a premium offering over the standard Splendor Plus to justify its premium over the standard version with actual updates, as opposed to being just a cosmetic update.
With today’s fuel prices, an average commuter riding about 50km daily can save about ₹400-500 every month on fuel bills vis-a-vis a regular Splendor model.
That’s the poster boy definition of “value for money” for you and the price premium might be effectively refunded in 7-8 months of use – that’s a deal very tempting to the wallet-watchers that are the Splendor’s bread and butter.
This is not a limited edition just for the collectors,” emphasised Bajaj when I caught up with him at the launch.
“We’ve made this to be a long life addition to our lineup, which gives real benefits to our core customers – the millions of Indians who depend on their two-wheelers for daily transport and whose livelihoods depend on the low running costs of such vehicles.”
Hero Splendor Cultural Icon Focuses on Building Roots as It Moves Forward
The Splendor’s fantastic three-decade run in the Indian market has few counterparts in the world of automobiles.
With more than 30 million units sold since it was introduced, the cheap but indestructible footwear has evolved from product into cultural touchstone, symbolising trustworthiness, usefulness and affordability.
The Desh ki Shan version pays tribute to this legacy while taking the formula forward keeping in mind the evolving tastes of the audience.
In an era of feature–laden tech–heavy motorcycles, there’s something refreshingly honest about a bike that just wants to concentrate on doing the basics really, really well, without any gimmicks.
Or, as Ramesh Kumar, a veteran motorcycle mechanic in the crowded auto market of the Karol Bagh neighborhood I spoke with, put it: “Logon ne Splendor ko apnaya hai kyunki yeh unhe dhoka nahi deta.
(People love the Splendor because it never lets them down.) Nothing sums up the enduring appeal of the model better than that humble line – it does what it says on the tin, and then just gets on with life.
With the “Desh ki Shan” edition, Hero has done something quite extraordinary – they have succeeded in making a product that was already as close to perfectly suited for its purpose as one could hope, even better.
By concentrating on what matters so much to its most loyal customers – efficiency, reliability, and day-to-day utility – they’ve all but guaranteed that this motorcycle will continue to enjoy national icon status for many years to come.
