That the boffins at Hero MotoCorp are busy readying facelift models for their Karizma and Karizma ZMR premium Indian bikes is a well known fact.
The upcoming Karizma facelifts are speculated to get new features and slightly more powerful engines, along with, of course, more modern styling. While the Karizma ZMR facelift would rival the Yamaha R15 Ver 2.0 and the Bajaj Pulsar 200NS, the Karizma (ZMA) facelift would go up against Bajaj Pulsar 220, Yamaha Fazer and the TVS Apache RTR180.
Unlike what was being speculated earlier, the upcoming Karizma ZMR won’t be powered by a larger, 250cc motor. This means that the ex-partner’s Honda CBR250R won’t have any competition from the upcoming Hero flagship.
From what we have seen so far, it seems like the facelifts would stress more on endowing the bikes with a sharper styling than blessing them with better performance figures.
Here are our observations-
- The Karizma facelift will continue to have a drum brake setup at the rear and the spy pics have revealed that the wheels would be shod with Ceat Vertigo rubber, which don’t really stick to road like glue. The Karizma also doesn’t get clip on styled handlebars.
- The Karizma ZMR facelift will continue sporting a disc brake at the rear wheel. What also remains unchanged is the rear suspension setup, which doesn’t get a monoshock. The ZMR will be shod with MRF Zapper tubeless tires.
- Both the bikes will have alloy footrests.
- The pillion seat height reminds us of that of the R15 V2.0, which means that the bike would have at least some sporty aspirations.
- The ZMR will have a O-ring chain.
- We also won’t be surprised to see the bikes sharing some of the bodywork.
- The Karizma ZMR facelift does look bigger and heavier when viewed in profile.
- That probably is a lady rider in the first (and last) pic! Way to go we would say.
It is being said that the test mules seemed to be pretty relaxed even when cruising at triple digit speeds. Our guess is that the slight bump in power would bestow both the bikes with a true top speeds of around 135 kmph. The facelifts could be launched around Diwali.
Source: AutocarIndia.com