Hero Splendor iSmart Review: We extract more than 67 kmpl in real world!

Hero i3S – 10/10

Engine and Gearbox

The new Hero Splendor is powered by, you guessed it right, the same 97.2cc engine that has been in business since forever, and will probably continue to power bikes even after World War III! This single cylinder carburetted engine has a max power of 7.69 bhp BHP @ 7500 RPM and develops a peak torque of 8.04 Nm at 4500 RPM.While this age-old motor doesn’t exactly make the Splendor an obvious choice for drag racing, it does boast of class leading refinement and low NVH. The engine comes mated to a four speed gearbox (I bet you guessed it right again!), with relatively short first and second cog. The well thought-of gearing, along with sufficient torque levels, help the rider to almost forget about gear changes and the bike can trudge along in traffic conditions all day in third gear. It can also cleanly accelerate from speeds as low as 25-30 kmph to 80 kmph, in fourth gear!

Engine and Gearbox- 7/10

Ride, Handling and Braking

The new Hero Splendor iSmart sports conventional telescopic forks up front and a set of twin shock absorbers at the rear. Quite obviously, the new Splendor iSmart is no corner-carving tool and while the light weight and neutral ride handling manners ensure that the bike is fairly nimble while cutting though the traffic, it will disappoint you when you decide to go apex hunting. But then, worth keeping in mind is the fact that this bike has no intentions of coming across as a performance oriented machine and for what it promises, it more than delivers. In a manner typical of commuter motorcycles, the rider sits upright on the bike and the positioning of the handlebar is just spot on!

Hero commuters are known for their decent ride quality and the iSmart is no different in this area. At city speeds, the bike offers a fairly comfortable ride, which is further enhanced by the supportive and comfortable seat. However, it is to be kept in mind that the iSmart is a small bike, with a small wheelbase and skinny tyres, which means that at high speeds, undulations unsettle the iSmart.

The iSmart comes equipped with drum brakes on both its wheels and an optional front disc brake isn’t available even as an option. The front brake lacks in terms of bite and one needs to rely more on the rear drum for the stopping duties. A disc brake is solely missed here.

Ride, Handling and Braking- 6/10

Verdict

The new Hero Splendor iSmart is not the most powerful bike in its segment. It also doesn’t score too well in areas such as handling, braking, et al. However, in spite of all this, there are good chances that it will soon become the highest selling variant of the Splendor, the undisputed king of Indian entry level bike market. In a segment where fuel efficiency is the sole deciding factor for a prospective buyer, the new iSmart has a lot going for it. No Splendor variant has ever been as efficient and the i3s seems to have done a fine job with enhancing the FE of Hero’s most successful model ever. Factor in other plus points such as refreshed looks, adequately long features list and the peace of mind that comes associated with a Hero product, the new Splendor iSmart has a lot going for itself. And the icing on the cake- the new bike is priced less than INR 3000 higher than the standard variant! That’s quite a value for money proposition there.

Overall- 6.5/10

Hero Splendor iSmart Prices-

• INR 47,250 (ex-showroom Delhi)
• INR 49,967 (ex-showroom Mumbai)
• INR 48,192 (ex-showroom Chennai)
• INR 48,549 (ex-showroom Kolkata)
• INR 48,014 (ex-showroom Bengaluru)

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