Hero MotoCorp has added another member to their evergreen Splendor series. With a host of all-new features to its credit the Hero MotoCorp Splendor 110 iSmart has been launched for a price of INR 53,300 (Ex-Showroom Delhi) making it the most expensive of the current Splendor lot. Baked out of Hero’s Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) at Jaipur, the motorcycle features no ingredient from its previous partner’s factory. The Splendor portfolio has undoubtedly been the bread and butter of Hero for a very long time now and Hero would always want to go from strength to strength with the model. With this latest 110 cc entrant the company is back with its economuter game. We had the motorcycle with us for a while and here is our first ride impression!
What’s new?
The answer is simple, almost everything! From its bolting bolts to its hearty heart, everything on the iSmart has been tailored by the folks at Hero by themselves. It took them almost five years to get the recipe right and here it is. This bike does not only serve its basic purpose but gets smart with Hero’s i3s technology. The maker promises that the iSmart tech will squeeze every possible mile from the fuel. The new economuter tries its best to take the Splendor game to a premium level, let’s see how it fares.
Design and Styling
The all new treatment is not just reserved to the engine but is also visible through the body. The company has tried to lend more sharpness to its Splendor segment styling which is evident from the new design upgrades. The new, angular headlamp, body coloured rear view mirrors, and the refreshed decals accentuate the new sharp styling. The red and white livery is similar to the one on the lower spec Splendor iSmart. We had the one in the blue-black colour scheme with us. While it wasn’t with us for much time, the darker themed model managed to grab more eyeballs.
The reshaped fuel tank features an updated fuel cap (unhinged). The tank appears to be slightly on the healthier side but holds lesser fuel than the 97.2cc iSmart with a capacity of 8.5 litre. The grab rails and the reworked tail light also add to the aesthetic appeal. Over the Splendor iSmart, the 110 iSmart has gained length by 50mm and stands at 2015 mm while the width has been maintained at 770mm. The wheelbase and ground clearance measure 1245mm and 165mm respectively. With all of the tech and mechanicals, the bike tips the weighing scale at 115 Kg.
Another visual difference that also doubles up as a mighty new mechanical upgrade is the cylinder orientation of the engine. Losing the traditional sloper setup, the 110 iSmart gets a modern upright positioning. This also gets rid of the hollow space and adds chunk to the engine area. The 109.15cc power plant dwells in a new double cradle frame that is claimed to have improved the riding experience and durability. The exhaust canister gets premium styling with a chrome tip.
Electricals
Speaking of the new illuminating unit in the front, now you won’t have to take pains to switch on/off the headlight as this Splendor here features an ‘Automatic Headlamp On’ feature that we get on premium bikes. The switchgear is quite basic with no new bits and pieces with only the blue coloured i3S on/off switch located on the right hand side offering some novelty. The instrument panel is a cluster of two analogue dials (Speedo and fuel gauge), tell tale lights, and a small LCD display. The LCD display lights up in blue and shows the Odometer, trip meter and service reminder.
Ergonomics, ride and handling
As soon as you are on the bike the first thing that makes you smile is the comfy-cushiony single piece seat, not just for the rider but for the pillion as well. The seating positions are also supported by the well placed foot pegs. The suspension set up at both ends is basic but does a decent job of soaking undulations that we bumped onto on an enclosed roadway we rode on, However, the road was maintained pretty well, so we didn’t have a chance to put it through a torture treatment that almost all of us face on our daily commutes.
The tyres at both ends are Ceat Secura Zooms which offered decent levels of grip, nothing to complain about here. Full disclosure – we didn’t find any good enough corners to test them to the hilt. Brakes are drum units at both ends and do a reasonable job of dropping the anchors. Overall, the iSmart 110 came across as a nicely balanced, easy to ride and reasonably fun motorcycle for its class. We’d reserve our definitive verdict on ride and handling for the time we have been provided a test bike for a longer duration.
Engine and performance
The Hero Splendor 110 iSmart is powered by an all new 109.15cc engine and the company likes to call it the ‘Torque on Demand’ engine. As far as the numbers are concerned, the four stroke single cylinder unit is capable of generating maximum power of 9.38 Bhp at 7500 rpm. Interestingly, the folks at Hero were persistent in emphasizing the improved torque output by the new motor that stands at 9 Nm at 5,500 rpm. Hero says that the peak torque is available from as low as 3000 rpm, and that really seems to be the case.
As soon as you are on the bike, key in and started, this 110 iSmart alters your pre conceived notions about Splendors. The engine is smoother and calmer than the lower displacement iSmart. It is definitely not the bike you want to fire up and make the engine scream while you are on the way to high speeds. The throttle response is snappy and lets you climb the speedo quick and easy. The gears are well distributed and are enough to take care of the whole torque band. The strapped 4-speed manual gearbox channels the torque to the rear wheel, and the iSmart 110 chugs along even in top gear at some really low speeds.
iSmart i3s Technology
This is Hero’s patented start stop technology that is claimed to get the best results in the fuel economy column. Placed on the switch gear exactly as the engine kill switch on many bikes, the i3S tech can be switched on/off as per convenience. When the i3S mode is activated, the tech puts the engine into hibernation when the bike is idle (only in neutral gear) for around 5seconds and wakes it up as soon as the clutch is pulled. In short it is an automatic engine kill switch that saves fuel. If you have several traffic signals or heavy traffic that makes you halt on your way to work, this tech should be able to save some fuel for you.
Here are more details of the bike through images and captions!
New vertically shaped headlamp is wrapped in a bikini fairing with subtle decals
Fuel tank with modern fuel filler cap (still unhinged) and Splendor branding flanking it. We also quite like that red stripe running longitudinally over the tank
Ceat Secura Zoom80/100-47 P Tubeless tyre on 5 spoke alloy at front
Ceat Secura Zoom 80/100-47 P Tubeless tyre on 5 spoke alloy at the rear
Body painted rear view mirror with contrasting black highlights
130mm drum brake setup up front
Front number-plate mount
Exhaust canister with chrome tip
109.15cc Air Cooled, 4 Stroke Single Cylinder , OHC engine
Single piece cushion seat is quite comfortable
Heel-toe gear shifter won’t ruin your work shoes
Rear brake lever with safety guide
Instrument cluster with small LCD display
Fuel tank decals include a large but subtle i3S branding
Right-hand side switch-gear with blue i3S and red ignition buttons
Left-hand side switch-gear setup. The switchgear quality is rather plasticky and could most definitely have been better
Taillight, turn indicators. and grab rails. Do you notice the unique trapezoidal shape of the blinkers?
Under seat helmet lock and seat opener
Plastic fuel valve knob
Saree guard
Rider’s point of view
Verdict
We rode the Splendor 110 iSmart through straight stretches and didn’t put it through the daily road conditions that commuters face during everyday travel. However, we can say that the bike has a lot to offer when it comes to your daily commute. It gives you a mature ride, fuel efficiency, and surely a few head turns if not many. Also, this new Splendor package comes at a price which a common man can afford without drilling a crater in their bank accounts. Highlights include a smooth engine, the i3s tech and a rather nice styling and colour scheme for the segment.
For the company, the Hero Splendor 110 iSmart is here to level up the game and stand stylish, tall, and smart against its competition. At INR 53,000 ex-showroom Delhi, the iSmart sounds marginally steep compared to its immediate competitors. Hero has positioned it slightly on the premium side, owing the stop start tech incorporated. It’s a nice, distinctive, efficient machine which you cannot go wrong with. Though as mentioned before, we’ll reserve our final verdict once we get the bike for a longer period of time. Stay tuned!
Specification
| Engine | |
| Type | Air Cooled, 4 Stroke Single Cylinder , OHC |
| Displacement | 109.15cc |
| Max. Power | 9.38 Bhp at 7,500 rpm |
| Max. Torque | 9 Nm at 5,500 rpm |
| Compression Ratio | 10:01 |
| Transmission & Chassis | |
| Clutch | Multi-Plate, Wet Type |
| Frame | Tubular Double Cradle |
| Suspension | |
| Front | Telescopic Hydraulic Shock Absorbers |
| Rear | Swing Arm with Adjustable Hydraulic Shock Absorbers |
| Brakes | |
| Front Brake Drum | 130mm |
| Rear Brake Drum | 110mm |
| Wheels & Tyres | |
| Tyre Size Front | 2.75 x 18-4 PR | 80/100-47 P Tyre w Tube | Tubeless Tyre |
| Tyre Size Rear | 2.75 X 18-6 PR | 80/100-54P Tyre w Tube | Tubeless Tyre |
| Electricals | |
| Battery | MF4 3Ah |
| Head Lamp | HS1 Bulb (35W/35W) |
| Tail/Stop Lamp | P21/5 Bulb (5W/21W) |
| Dimensions, weight, and volume | |
| Length | 2015mm |
| Width | 770mm |
| Height | 1055mm |
| Wheelbase | 1245mm |
| Ground Clearance | 165mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 8.5 Litre |
| Reserve | 2 Litre |
| Kerb Weight | 115 Kg |
| Max Payload | 130 Kg |
Here are a whole bunch of images of the Hero MotoCorp Splendor 110 iSmart!
