It was back in 2012 when Hero MotoCorp tried to play a new symphony that was aimed to attract customers in a market which was heavily dominated by its erstwhile partner and now known as, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India, with the Activa. The Maestro, with its muscular styling and features, was a commendable attempt by Hero MotoCorp to gain share in the Indian scooter market. Before we talk any further about the new Maestro Edge, let us clarify that the new scoot will not replace the standard Maestro but will be sold alongside the earlier model. The new Maestro Edge shares various components with its sibling, the new Hero Duet, a review of which has been shared by my colleague elsewhere on this website.
September 2015 saw the arrival of a feature packed version of the Maestro with an additional Edge badge. So does the new Edge variant of the 110cc scoot deliver a performance to keep the audience on the edge of their seat? We rode the new Maestro Edge for several days on various surfaces to bring you this detailed review.
How does it look?
The Maestro was designed with the male buyers in mind and the Edge is no different. In terms of design, the new Maestro Edge receives a massive overhaul as compared to the first generation model. The front mudguard is a smaller, sharper and unlike what you’ll see on most scooters in India.
The apron gets a dual tone colour finish and the refreshed creases on the unit make it look more muscular and appealing. The turn indicators on the apron are at the same position as the previous model but now sport a sharper design and mix well with the overall design of the Maestro Edge. The panel that surrounds the headlamp and the small windscreen too have been treated with a dose of masculinity with new creases. Body coloured mirrors have been replaced by dual tone units too.
The simple side panel from the Maestro with very few creases has been replaced by a brawny unit that seems to have been inspired by a sci-fi flick. But the biggest change lies under the side panel. A massive, motorcycle like exhaust outlet is like no other in its segment (or a segment above). The neatly designed heat shield in its matte form, enhances the aesthetics while also offering ample protection from the exhaust pipe.
The tail of the scooter is another well designed unit. The awkward looking setup from the standard model has been replaced by a new LED tail light. Apart from the updated and better looking tail piece, the Maestro Edge also gets an external fuel filler cap that is operated from the ignition keyhole. The fuel cap can be distinguished with the chrome strip at the centre, right above the tail light.
The storage is quite sufficient to carry a small hand baggage or an open face helmet (I could not fit in my full face helmet inside the storage). While the storage falls short of offering space for a full face helmet, you do get a USB port, and illumination inside the storage, although you will have to shell out extra moolah for those fancy pieces. Those features are available only on the fully loaded VX variant.
Overall, the new 110cc variant looks pretty neat and we could not admire the overhauled design of the scoot enough. Here’s the flashy looking scoot in some more detail.
New Hero Maestro Edge at a glance:
The new Maestro Edge gets a muscular design with overhauled body panels and a new exhaust. The plastic panels on the Edge shave off at least 6 kg over its Duet cousin
Ride quality is commendable thanks to the telescopic front suspension and large 12-inch five-spoke alloy wheels
There is plenty of storage space with the front (optional) box and various hooks behind the front apron and under the rider seat, near the footboard. The box could have been made of a better material, and finished better too.
The underseat storage could not store the full face helmet from MT and you can see the seat unable to close. That being said, you can store small handbags easily in that crevice
We particularly like that new exhaust – won’t look too out of place on a performance motorcycle
The underseat storage also gets a small bulb to illuminate the space while a USB port can be used to charge a mobile phone on the go. There is even some place to hold the mobile phone in position so it does not bounce around
The MRF rubber works pretty well on the scooter, providing ample grip for everyday use
The seat is well padded and can comfortably accommodate a rider with pillion. The carbon-fibre texture is a neat addition
The external fuel lid is smartly hidden above the tail light under a panel. which can be flipped open with from the ignition key slot
Understanding the function of the key hole is no rocket science either with neatly printed instructions. The key gets a microchip which is part of the scooter’s next generation immobilizer (Anti-Theft System). The system is activated once the key is taken out.
The semi-digital instrument cluster provides all the necessary information including side-stand warning light and a service reminder
Throw in some extra bucks and get yourself the safety of what Hero calls Integrated Braking. It would eventually turn into a norm in a few years anyway.
How does it ride?
The new Maestro Edge gets an all new engine which it shares with the recently introduced Hero Duet. When compared to the standard model, the motor on the Maestro Edge delivers slightly higher power, albeit with marginally lower torque. The 110.9cc air-cooled, 4-stroke single cylinder OHC engine delivers 6.20 kW or 8.31 bhp of power at 8000 rpm and 8.30 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm ( against 8.04 bhp / 9.10 Nm of the Maestro).
The refinement levels are commendable and the scooter has no trouble operating in city speed limits, and venturing at velocities much higher above. That being said, it isn’t as peppy as maybe a TVS Jupiter or Scooty Zest. The power delivery is pretty linear and the scooter makes the speedo needle climb the analogue arc reassuringly. The eco-mode, similar to other scooters in its segment, is marked between 30-50 kph where it would be spending majority of its life and the motor feels just about perfect in that zone. Maestro Edge does not disappoint as you wring the throttle harder, though a few vibrations creep into the foot-board as the speedo needle swings past the 80kmph mark – nothing really complaint worthy here though.
Torque is well spread across that new motor’s operating range. Acceleration from that new motor in early to mid revs is commendable without compromising at refinement and efficiency front. The variomatic gearbox further complements the engine well. The response to throttle inputs is swift.
Braking is appreciable – you get a decent pair of brakes along with the optional Integrated Braking System which is Hero Speak for Honda’s Combined Braking System. The front and the rear brake work together to provide confident, slither-less braking once the anchors are dropped.
How is the ride quality?
The riding position isn’t much different from other products out there. Compared to the standard model, the new Maestro Edge gets a telescopic, hydraulic shock absorber instead of a bottom link with spring loaded hydraulic dampers which has improved the ride quality and handling characteristics by a good margin. The ride quality is further improved by the well-cushioned seat. The footboard too is sufficiently wide for the riders to place their legs comfortably within the edges.
The chassis, which also underpins the Hero Duet, is remarkable. You feel equally confident on the new Maestro Edge on open highways as you do while carving corners. You can cruise in the eco-mode or slightly above that while you admire the refinement. But as you climb the speed ladder, you notice some vibrations, especially on the footboard around the 80 kph mark which could and should have been taken care of by the engineers. The Maestro Edge comes with 90/90-11-54 J tyre up front and 90/100-10-53 J at the rear from MRF which perform a decent task at providing ample grip.
So what’s the final word?
The new Maestro Edge is a pretty commendable attempt by Hero MotoCorp. The muscular body along with features such as external fuel filler cap, storage space illuminator and USB charger are good additions to the list. With prices starting at Rs 49,500 for the self start drum brake (LX) and Rs 50,700 for the self start drum brake alloy wheel (VX), the new Maestro Edge is indeed a good deal. We do wish to see a 125cc variant of the Maestro and the Edge would have been just the right contender for the job. But we guess we will have to wait a bit more on that front.
Here are some more detailed images and technical specification sheet of the new Hero Maestro Edge. Do let us know your views about the Hero Maestro Edge through the comments section below.
| ENGINE | |
| Type | Air-cooled, 4-Stroke Single Cylinder OHC |
| Displacement | 110.9 cc |
| Max. Power | 8.31 BHP (6.20 KW) @ 8000rpm |
| Max. Torque | 8.30 Nm @ 6500rpm |
| Starting | Self-Start |
| TRANSMISSION | |
| Clutch | Automatic Clutch |
| Gear box | Variomatic Drive (2.51 – 0.85) |
| SUSPENSION | |
| Front | Telescopic, Hydraulic Shock Absorber |
| Rear | Unit Swing with Spring Loaded Hydraulic Damper |
| TYRES | |
| Front | 90/90 – 12 – 54J |
| Rear | 90/100 – 10 – 53J |
| ELECTRICALS | |
| Battery | 12V – 4 Ah – (MF Battery) |
| Head Lamp | 35W/35W – Halogen Bulb (Multi-Reflector Type) |
| Tail/Stop Lamp | 12 V – 0.4/1.6W – (LED Type) |
| Turn Signal Lamp | 10W x 4 Nos. (MFR – Clear Lens – Amber Bulb) |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Length | 1841mm |
| Width | 695mm |
| Height | 1190 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1261mm |
| Ground Clearance | 155mm |
| Kerb Weight | 110 Kg |
| Max Payload | 130 Kg |
HERO UNIVERSE
When will Hero start selling this scooter in south India?