Hero Honda, the single largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world, has declared its first new model in ages. Intelligently coined the 'Super Splendor' to cash in on the earlier bike's image, it is built with know-how from conglomerate Honda and has to its advantage the gain of becoming the latest entrant to a booming 125cc market. We take a close look at a motorcycle backed by impeccable ancestry, tall expectations and one that comes close on the heels of the heady success of the original Splendor.:  The Super Splendor is unashamedly bland and does not deviate from the tried-and-tested Splendor styling. This seems to be the latest trend. Apart from a few manufacturers ready to stick out their necks and bring in modern designs, bike-makers seem to be building conservative-looking motorcycles. The dashboard is a fresh article and comes with a trip-meter and fuel-gauge as standard, while a tachometer is not an option. Levers and grips are classy articles and completely revised switchgear is a real breeze to live with — high and low beam simply available at the push of a button instead of a switch. A pass-light flasher has been incorporated and all the switches work with a precise and comfortable feel. The skinny tank and seat seem identical to the Splendor units. While the Super Splendor's side panels are contoured with a difference, the tail fairing is nearly similar to that of the original Splendor. A black silencer with a massive chrome heat shield is part of the package. Build and paint quality as well as fit-and-finish remain at just the high levels that one now takes for granted from all Hero Hondas.  The Super Splendor engine is revised. This four-stroke comes with the option of a self-start, or fires to life via a heavy and rather mediocre-feeling kick-lever. The punchy exhaust tune all through the rev band is similar to the original Splendor. The most visible change to the air-cooled, single-cylinder motor that thrusts its head out forwards, is an alloy long-stroke cylinder lump. Its 124.7cc makes a feeble 9bhp at 7000rpm. The engine uses a pair of valves driven by a single overhead camshaft and has adopted the now-regular roller bearings for its rocker arms. The all-aluminium-cased engine uses an array of plumbing and electronics to help obtain good mileage and meet the country's uncompromising new emission norms. The Super Splendor uses a conventional slide-type carburettor and remains one of the few 125cc bikes in the country not to upgrade to a Constant Velocity (CV) unit. Gearshifting through the four-speed unit on the Super Splendor is via a heel-and-toe-operated lever in an all-up pattern. The shifts are decently smooth and trouble-free, while gear ratios are on the taller side in the interests of keeping engine revs and fuel wastage as low as possible. In many ways, the Super Splendor engine makes no bones about being an out-and-out miser's delight. Performance is a bit dull and converse to feeling like a modern 125cc, the bike performs just a notch faster than the current crop of 100cc bikes. Our quickest run from rest to 60kph came up in 7.37 seconds and the fastest top speed on flat and windless tarmac, was a tardy 93kph. Our test equipment trapped a hefty speedometer error on this bike, with the gauge reading 80kph at a true 72kph. What must be mentioned to the bike’s merit though is that the new engine never fails to impart a refined and dependable feel. The Super Splendor comes with Hero Honda's time-tested riding position from the older bike and feels very comfortable. The seat is narrow and a bit stiff with matters compounded by a poor ride. Both the front telescopic forks as well as the dual rear shock absorbers are a tad on the harsher side. The upside to this firm behaviour is smart handling — as smart as is possible with narrow tyres. The handlebars steer neutral through any situation and the bike handles tautly lending credit to its flex-free, dual down-tube frame. At the same time, it imparts a pleasant light feel while tackling crowded city traffic. Tall gear ratios, roller bearings for rocker arms and slim tyres are the fail-proof formula Hero Honda has used to come up with the best possible mileage, in keeping with its Splendor lineage. The bike delivers excellent figures in this critical aspect of a 125cc motorcycle. While running through the bowels of the city under the roughest traffic conditions possible, it turned out 55.9kpl, this rising to 58kpl when the bike's long legs were stretched out on the highway.    The Gurgaon-based factory seems to have created its very own blend of a motorcycle within the Super Splendor. It's a bike that tries to identify the most concrete needs of the masses, and attempts to provide just this. No fancy styling, no flying performance, only good mileage in a familiar-looking and reliable package. If that's what the riding populace want and vehemently demand, who are we to argue with this Splendor sequel? A competitively priced motorcycle, the Super Splendor stands tall by itself. But with today's cut-throat competition and a varied model choice, will it stand apart and make a mark for itself? |
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